Learn safe food handling practices. Designed for all food industry employees who handle, prepare, or serve at food-oriented establishments. Print your Texas Food Handler course certificate immediately upon completion.
We store a copy of your certificate so you can print now, print later, or email to your current or future employer. Remember the business where you work must have a printed copy on file.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Food Safety
Lesson 2: Biohazards, Foodborne Illness, and Food Spoilage
Lesson 3: Contaminants
Lesson 4: Temperature and Time Control
Lesson 5: Employee Health, Hygiene, and Training
Lesson 6: Purchasing, Receiving, and Storing Food
Lesson 7: Cleaning and Sanitizing

WHAT YOU LEARN
At the conclusion of the Texas Food Handler course, you will be able to effectively:

• Discuss food safety, its importance, and those who enforce it.
• Identify food borne illness and its causes.
• Identify biological, physical, and chemical contamination.
• Describe temperature control.
• Discuss the importance of proper personal hygiene in the workplace.
• Implement appropriate procedures to receive and store food.
• Discuss cleaning and sanitization.

THE QUIZ
Passing with 70% proficiency and you move onto the next section.

THE EXAM
Passing with 70% or higher proficiency and you’ll receive your certificate of completion!

PACE & PASS
On the Texas Food Handler course, you can set your own pace. You will have 2 attempts to pass the exam. If you fail both tries, the course will start you at the beginning again.

WHAT THE STATE OF TEXAS REQUIRES & SOME EXCEPTIONS
Renewals & Late Fees – Hurricane Harvey – City or County Fees

Licensing of Food Handler Training Programs
In accordance with section 418.016 of the Texas Government Code, the Office of the Governor temporarily suspended all necessary DSHS statutes and rules pertaining to professional and business license or certification renewal applications, including the suspension of any late fees related to renewal for a period not to exceed 90 days for those programs that are listed below.
The effects of this suspension are to:
Waive any required late fees related to renewal for a period not to exceed 90 days; and
Extend the term of any professional and business license listed below for a period of not more than 90 days to allow license/certificate holders affected by Hurricane Harvey time to submit the appropriate documentation and renewal fee.

The Declaration is for:
Angelina, Aransas, Atascosa, Austin, Bastrop, Bee, Bexar, Brazoria, Brazos, Burleson, Caldwell, Calhoun, Cameron, Chambers, Colorado, Comal, DeWitt, Fayette, Fort Bend, Galveston, Goliad, Gonzales, Grimes, Guadalupe, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kerr, Kleberg, Lavaca, Lee, Leon, Liberty, Live Oak, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, San Jacinto, Sabine, San Patricio, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, Walker, Waller, Washington, Wharton, Willacy, and Wilson.
This suspension is in effect until terminated by the Office of the Governor or until the Hurricane Harvey disaster declaration is lifted or expires, whichever comes first.
The current status of a license may also be verified online.

Senate Bill (SB) 1089 of the 85th legislature (2017) amends Health and Safety Code Chapter 438 to establish that a food service worker trained in a food handler training course accredited by the American National Standards Institute or Department of State Health Services is considered to have met a local health jurisdiction’s training, testing, and permitting requirements and has reciprocity throughout the State of Texas. It goes on to say that a local health jurisdiction may not charge a fee or require or issue a local food handler card for a certificate issued to a food service worker who provides proof of completion of an accredited course.
SB 1089 also states that a food service worker trained in a course for the employees of a single entity is considered to have met a local health jurisdiction’s training, testing, and permitting requirements only as to food service performed for that entity. This course does not have reciprocity throughout Texas and is only accepted for that entity. The Department of State Health Services Public Sanitation and Retail Food Safety Group will continue to require all food handler certifications from an accredited program for those entities located in DSHS jurisdiction.
The Bill was signed in by the Governor and took effect June 12, 2017. Education of the food handlers provides more qualified employees, thereby reducing the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks caused by improper food preparation and handling techniques.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Food Handler Program is dedicated to the health and safety of the citizens of the state, educating food service employees in the principles of food safety to produce safe food products for Texas consumers.
The Texas Department of State Health Services provides the framework for accrediting food safety education and training programs for food handlers. A uniform standard governing the accreditation of food handler programs supports the recognition of reciprocity among regulatory agencies and reduces the expense of duplicate education incurred when food handlers work in multiple regulatory jurisdictions.