Texas Food Handlers Certificate Courses

A Texas Food Handlers License is a certificate required for individuals who handle food in Texas. This includes positions such as cooks, servers, and kitchen staff. The license ensures that food handlers are knowledgeable about basic food safety practices, which reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses. 

To obtain the license, individuals must complete a state-approved food handler training course, such as the one we offer, which covers topics like hygiene, sanitation, and proper food handling techniques.

The Texas Administrative Code Rule §228.33 states that within 60 days of employment, all food employees must complete an accredited training course.

The TXDSHS clarifies that food employees refer to anyone who works with unpackaged food, food equipment or utensils, or food-contact surfaces.

Some examples of food service establishments that have food employees include:

• Casual and fine-dining restaurants
• Fast food restaurants
• Coffee shops
• Bakeries
• Convenience stores
• Food trucks
• Sandwich shops

After successful completion of the food handler training course, you will receive your Texas food handlers card. This course is a great learning experience to obtain basic food safety education.

Once you have your card, give your employer a copy so they can keep it on hand. State laws express that your employer must have your certificate of completion available on-premise at all times in either an electronic format or hard copy.

To earn a food handler’s card in Texas, you must:

1. Enroll in a state-approved food handler training course like ours.
2. Study the curriculum and learn food safety principles and guidelines.
3. Pass the final exam to prove mastery of the subject matter.
4. Provide a copy of your certificate of completion to your employer.
5. Repeat the training every 2 years for as long as you wish to be a food employee.
    

In Texas, minors are allowed to serve food, but only in businesses not licensed for on-premises alcohol consumption. At the age of 14 and 15, teenagers are allowed to work in non-hazardous occupations like food service as they don’t work during school hours or more than eight hours a day. Teenagers of 16 and 17 have no such restrictions on the days or hours they can work.

To serve food for a business with an on-premises liquor license in Texas, you must be 18 or older. At this point, you can legally serve or sell alcoholic beverages.

You can take your food handler training online or in person in Texas. Whichever you choose, the course must be accredited, meaning it's approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TXDSHS) or the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), like the Learn2Serve food handler course.

If you want to cover two requirements at once, bundling your food handler training with TABC alcohol certification is a convenient, cost-effective option. Learn2Serve offers two bundles: 

• Texas Food Handler Certificate + TABC
• National Food Handler Certificate + TABC

Approval and accreditation vary by course. Some Texas food handler courses are approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (TXDSHS), while others are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).

The specific designation depends on the course you choose:

• TXDSHS-approved: The Texas Food Handler Certificate course is approved for use in Texas.
• ANAB-accredited: The National Food Handler Certificate course is accredited by ANAB under the applicable food handler program standards.

Review each course description before enrolling to confirm its current approval or accreditation status and whether it meets your employer or local jurisdiction’s requirements. 

Your food handler license is valid for two years. Once the two years are up, your license will expire, and you’ll need to complete the online course again.

The cost of a Texas Food Handler course varies depending on the training option you choose. We offer both standalone Texas Food Handler courses and bundled packages that combine food handler training with TABC alcohol seller/server training. Visit our course listings to view current pricing and available options.

First, if you plan on working as a food employee, the state requires you to complete an online training course. Additionally, you need to know how to prevent foodborne illnesses.

In 2017, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a total of 27 foodborne disease outbreaks in TX. This is up from the 23 reported in 2016 and down from the 34 reported in 2015.

This course will help you understand what can lead to contamination of food, the proper flow of food in a kitchen, and how to clean food and food-contact surfaces. By requiring employers to have all employees obtain a food handling certificate, establishments can demonstrate that food workers are following food safety principles and are aware of the proper environment for food preparation.

A good training program teaches you best practices for food safety that will ensure you keep yourself and your customers safe from foodborne illnesses.

Texas Food Handler training can help prepare you for many food service jobs where employers require or prefer workers to complete food safety training, but it does not qualify you for a specific occupation or guarantee employment. Requirements vary by employer and local jurisdiction.

Common jobs that may require or prefer Texas Food Handler training include:

• Server  
• Cook or Line Cook
• Barista  
• Caterer  
• Deli Associate  
• Grocery Store Employee  
• Cafeteria Worker

Completing Texas Food Handler training demonstrates that you've learned essential food safety practices and can help you meet employer or local training requirements before starting work.

Salaries for food handler roles in Texas depend on the specific job, your experience, and where in the state you work. A food handler card does not determine your pay on its own.

Here's what some common food service roles pay in Texas, based on the most recent wage data*: 

*Source: BLS OEWS, May 2025. Figures are Texas median wages and do not include tips, so roles like Waiter/Waitress often earn more. 

Texas Secretary of State: Here, you’ll find the published versions of rules and regulations, including the Texas Administrative Code.

Texas Department of State Health Services: This department focuses on public health and publishes information on food safety, permits, and licensing.

*The food handlers card is a wallet card download that can be printed and used as proof of completion and should not be confused with a food handler card issued by the health department.