What do I need to be a Certified Food Manager in Texas?

To become a Certified Food Manager in Texas, you must pass an exam that’s been approved by the Texas DSHS—such as the one we offer at Learn2Serve by 360training. We also offer a training course to help you get prepared. Sign up now to get started!

What are Texas' food safety regulations?

The Texas Administrative Code Title 25 contains the food safety laws for retail food establishments. And within the laws, Rule §228.33 lists the requirements for certified food protection managers:

• At minimum, the establishment must have one employee with management responsibilities and the authority to control food preparation and service who is a certified food protection manager.
• The original food manager certificate must be posted in a location at the establishment that very visible to customers.
• Temporary food establishments are the only ones exempt from having at least one certified food protection manager.

What are the requirements for getting a food manager certificate in Texas?

In January of 2010, The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) stopped administering the Certified Food Manager (CFM) exam. Now, the DSHS approves outside providers that you can go through to earn your CFM.

There are two different programs you can choose to get certified: a DSHS-approved exam or an ANSI-CFP exam. At Learn2Serve by 360training, we offer both food manager exam option so that you can decide which program best meets your needs.

Texas DSHS-approved food manager exam

If you choose a Texas DSHS-approved food manager exam, you can complete the entire exam online from the comfort of your home at a time that works best for your schedule. However, your certification is only good in the state of Texas. So if you aren’t planning on moving out of state, this is a great option.

ANSI-CFP accredited food protection manager exam

On the other hand, the ASI-CFP accredited exam is good anywhere in the United States that accepts this program—which includes the majority of states. The downside is that the exam must be taken in-person at a PSI test center so that it can be proctored.

Either way, whichever option you choose, you’ll still earn a food manager certification that’s valid in Texas.

Additionally, you have the option of completing a food manager training course to help you better understand the topics covered on the exam. This is a great option if you are taking the exam for the first time, or you need a refresher on certain topics.

We offer two different packages that you can choose from that include a food manager training course with either the DSHS-approved exam or the ANSI-CFP accredited exam.

Can you take the Texas food manager exam online?

Yes, your exam will be administered through our online proctor service. The Learn2Serve Food Protection Manager Certification Exam is accredited by the American National Standards Institute and the Conference for Food Protection (ANSI-CFP).

Learn more about the policies and procedures required to successfully complete our online proctored exam.

How long is the food manager certification good for?

Your Texas food manager certification is good for five years. This is true for both exams. And once that time is up, you must pass the exam again to renew your certification.

What do food managers do?

Food managers in Texas can hold different job titles, such as operations manager, executive chef, assistant manager, or service manager, so their responsibilities many vary. But some common job duties include:

• Providing overseeing customer service, as well as handling customer complaints
• Executing on payroll, inventory, deliveries and sales projections
• Directing overall restaurant operations including cooking, cleaning, and ordering
• Creating schedules to minimize labor costs and maximize productivity
• Interviewing hiring, and onboarding new employees
• Ensuring all staff has received food handler training

To give you an idea of how much you can make, here are some wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that shows the average amount of money you can expect to make in senior management positions in the Texas foodservice industry:

Job Title	Average Hourly Wage	Average Yearly Wage
Food Service Manager	$29.62	$61,610
Chef	$25.56	$53,170

Getting your food safety manager certification is an important qualification for getting one of these jobs!

How can food managers in Texas improve food safety?

Because food managers have authority over an establishment’s food operations, they can have a big impact on health and safety—especially when it comes to preventing foodborne illnesses.

According to data from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, over a 10-year period (2003-2012), there were a total of 157 foodborne illness outbreaks in Texas. And the two most common pathogens found were Salmonella and Norovirus—which are both preventable with the right food safety protocols in place.

So as a food manager, you can ensure that staff members are properly trained in how to handle food, you’ve developed the right HACCP procedures, and you keep your certifications current.