Food Handler Card Requirements in Texas
Texas requires food handler training statewide: covered food employees must complete an accepted course and keep proof of it. This page lays out the deadline, which courses actually count, what it costs, and how long the card lasts — every fact checked against the official sources cited below.
Texas Food Handler Card at a Glance
- Card required?
- Required statewide
- Deadline
- Within 30 days of employment (25 TAC sec. 228.31(d), Texas Food Establishment Rules 2021, effective Aug 8, 2021: 'All food employees, except for the certified food protection manager, shall successfully complete an accredited food handler training course, within 30 days of employment'). The older 60-day figure came from the pre-2021 TFER (sec. 228.33) and is obsolete - see notes.
- Valid for
- Certificate valid until the expiration date shown; if no expiration date is printed, 2 years from issuance (DSHS FAQ).
- Approved courses
- Official Texas approved-provider list
This table shows only facts we could verify from official pages or Texas law. If a detail you need is missing, confirm it with the agency above before you rely on it.
FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.
Does Texas Require a Food Handler Card?
Every state writes its own food safety rules. Of the 10 states we have published so far, 8 require food handler training statewide, 1 leaves the decision to counties, and 1 requires no individual card at all. Texas sits in the statewide group: the requirement follows you to any food job in the state, though local health departments handle enforcement.
Your deadline
Within 30 days of employment (25 TAC sec. 228.31(d), Texas Food Establishment Rules 2021, effective Aug 8, 2021: 'All food employees, except for the certified food protection manager, shall successfully complete an accredited food handler training course, within 30 days of employment'). The older 60-day figure came from the pre-2021 TFER (sec. 228.33) and is obsolete - see notes.
Accepted Food Handler Training in Texas
An accredited food handler training course: either licensed/accredited by Texas DSHS (classroom, online, or private in-house programs) or accredited by ANSI (ANAB). DSHS FAQ: programs must be 'approved by TXDSHS or by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)'. Exemptions include Certified Food Managers, employees handling only pre-packaged items, and supervised individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Named on the official list
- 360training / Learn2Serve (license TXDSHS 9)
- StateFoodSafety (TXDSHS 3)
- eFoodHandlers (TXDSHS 40)
- ServSafe Food Handler (TXDSHS 84)
As listed by the official source cited below when we last checked — always confirm a course appears on the current official list before you pay for it.
FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.
Statewide vs. County Rules in Texas
The accredited-course requirement applies statewide. Retail food establishments are permitted/inspected either by local city-county health departments or by DSHS where there is no local program; check the local health department for permit specifics, but food handler certification from any DSHS- or ANSI-accredited course is the accepted training.
Food Manager Certification in Texas
The food handler card is not the only training rule — Texas also has a separate requirement for certified food protection managers:
Yes - all food service establishments under DSHS jurisdiction must employ a Certified Food Manager (DSHS Pub. 23-13105), with exemptions for non-profits, child care facilities, prepackaged-only sellers, and firms not handling exposed TCS foods. CFM exams are accredited by ANSI-CFP or DSHS; certification valid 5 years.
Preparing for a manager exam?
Manager exams go deeper than food handler courses — HACCP, active managerial control, and temperature rules in detail. Our free practice test mirrors that format, with an explanation for every answer.
Free Food Manager Practice TestTexas Food Handler Card FAQs
Do you need a food handler card in Texas?
Yes — the requirement applies statewide. Within 30 days of employment (25 TAC sec. 228.31(d), Texas Food Establishment Rules 2021, effective Aug 8, 2021: 'All food employees, except for the certified food protection manager, shall successfully complete an accredited food handler training course, within 30 days of employment'). The older 60-day figure came from the pre-2021 TFER (sec. 228.33) and is obsolete - see notes.
How long is a Texas food handler card valid?
Certificate valid until the expiration date shown; if no expiration date is printed, 2 years from issuance (DSHS FAQ).
What food handler training does Texas accept?
An accredited food handler training course: either licensed/accredited by Texas DSHS (classroom, online, or private in-house programs) or accredited by ANSI (ANAB). DSHS FAQ: programs must be 'approved by TXDSHS or by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)'. Exemptions include Certified Food Managers, employees handling only pre-packaged items, and supervised individuals with intellectual disabilities.
Does Texas require a certified food manager?
Yes - all food service establishments under DSHS jurisdiction must employ a Certified Food Manager (DSHS Pub. 23-13105), with exemptions for non-profits, child care facilities, prepackaged-only sellers, and firms not handling exposed TCS foods. CFM exams are accredited by ANSI-CFP or DSHS; certification valid 5 years.
Sources
Last reviewed July 21, 2026. Every fact on this page was checked against the primary sources below on the dates shown.
- Texas DSHS - Licensing of Food Handler Training Programs Accessed July 21, 2026
- Texas DSHS - Food Handler Education or Training Programs FAQ Accessed July 21, 2026
- Texas DSHS Pub. 23-13105 - Starting a New Retail Food Establishment (CFM + 60-day food handler rule) Accessed July 21, 2026
- Texas DSHS - Accredited Food Handler Internet (Online) Training Programs Accessed July 21, 2026
- Texas DSHS - Accredited Private Food Handler Training Programs Accessed July 21, 2026
- 25 Tex. Admin. Code sec. 228.31 - Certified Food Protection Manager and Food Handler Requirements (30-day deadline, subsection (d)) Accessed July 21, 2026
- Texas Health & Safety Code sec. 438.046 - List of Accredited Programs (no deadline in statute) Accessed July 21, 2026
- Texas DSHS - Licensing of Certified Food Manager Training Programs Accessed July 21, 2026
Ready for the Test at the End of the Course?
Approved courses end with a short exam. Our free practice test covers the same core food safety topics — hygiene, cross-contamination, temperatures, cleaning — with instant scoring and explanations. No signup.
FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.