Texas Food Handler Card: A Comprehensive Guide

A food handler card — also known as a food handler certificate, license, or permit — proves that you have completed a course on basic food safety principles.

To work at a food establishment, many states, cities, and counties require that you earn a food handler card to prove to health inspectors that you know how to handle food safely and prevent foodborne illnesses.

However, you may wonder whether Texas or any of its cities or counties require you to earn a food handler card.

This article explains everything you need to know about a Texas food handler card, including whether you need one, how to get one, and more.

Do you need a food handler card in Texas?

Texas defines a food handler as a foodservice employee who works with unpackaged food, food equipment or utensils, or food-contact surfaces.

Texas requires that you earn a food handler card if you work at a food establishment that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food within 30 days of employment (1).

This includes (2):

• restaurants
• retail food stores
• catering operations
• markets
• food banks
• institutions

Conversely, you are not required to earn a food handler card if you work at one of the following places (2, 3):

• an establishment that offers only prepackaged foods that don’t require time or temperature controls
• a produce stand that offers only whole, uncut fresh fruits and vegetables
• a food processing plant
• a kitchen in a private home that prepares food for sale or service that doesn’t require time or temperature controls
• a bed and breakfast facility

However, if you work at one of these places, your employer may still require that you earn a food handler card due to the importance of food safety.

In either case, a Texas food handler card is valid everywhere in Texas.

How do you get a Texas food handler card?

You can easily earn your Texas food handler card online in two hours or less.

First, you must enroll in a Texas-approved food handler training program that covers basic food safety principles, including:

• foodborne illnesses
• good personal hygienic practices
• handwashing and glove-use
• cross-contamination
• time-temperature controls for safety
• thermometer use and calibration
• cleaning and sanitizing

Food handler training programs that are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) — such as FoodSafePal’s — are valid in Texas.

Valid Texas food handler cards will either have a Texas Department of State Health Services (TXDSHS) Accreditation License Number or ANSI listed on the card or certificate.

After completing the course content, you must pass a test to assess your knowledge of the content covered.

The assessment usually contains 40 questions, and you must achieve a 70% or higher to earn your Texas food handler card.

However, some programs may have fewer questions or a higher passing score.

After you earn your Texas food handler card, it belongs to you and not the restaurant or foodservice establishment at which you work.

This means that you can change jobs or work two jobs concurrently without having to earn another food handler card.

How long does a Texas food handler card last?

A Texas food handler card is valid for two years from the date of issuance.

When your card is near its expiration, you must renew it by retaking and completing a Texas-approved food handler course.

Renewing your food handler card every two years ensures that you stay current and fresh on important food safety practices and principles.

After earning your food handler card for the first time or renewing it, make sure to give your manager a copy to keep on file to show health inspectors upon request.

Most food handler programs issue food handler cards as a PDF, making it easy to print or email a copy to your manager.

If you lose your food handler card, you can redownload it from the website on which you earned it or contact the issuing organization to request another copy.

The bottom line

Texas requires a food handler card if you work at a restaurant, retail food store, catering operation, market, food bank, or institution within 30 days of employment.

To earn your Texas food handler card, enroll in a state-approved course like FoodSafePal’s, complete the course on basic food safety principles, and pass the assessment.

Texas food handler cards are valid everywhere in the state and expire two years from the date of issuance.