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What Texas asks for: accredited training within 30 days of hire

You've got 30 days from your first day on the job. Texas wants food employees to finish an accredited food handler course in that window, with a few exemptions such as certified food managers and places that only sell pre-packaged food (Texas Department of State Health Services, DSHS, as of October 2026).

  • ExamPFH
  • UpdatedOct 14, 2026
On this page 6 sections
  1. What DSHS asks for
  2. Which courses count in Texas
  3. Words on the Texas paperwork
  4. Getting it done before day 30
  5. Quick answers for Texas
  6. Sources

What DSHS asks for

Texas food handler requirement, as of October 2026
StateWhat's requiredDeadlineGood forSource
TexasAn accredited food handler course (approved by DSHS or accredited by the American National Standards Institute, ANSI) for food employees; a few exemptionsWithin 30 days of employmentUntil the expiration date printed on the card; 2 years from issue if none is printedTexas DSHS FAQ

Rule text: Texas Food Establishment Rules (TFER) §228.31. The 2-year fallback is in the Texas Administrative Code, 25 TAC §229.178.

Which courses count in Texas

DSHS counts a program as accredited when DSHS approves it or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredits it. The Professional Food Handler (PFH) course from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), and ANAB lists NEHA in its Texas scope (ANAB directory, as of October 2026). So a PFH certificate meets the Texas rule. So does any other accredited course. Pick the one your kitchen already uses if it has one.

The PFH costs $15 online, in English or Spanish, on the NEHA store. NEHA sells one non-state-specific version; Texas takes it because of the accreditation, so there's no Texas edition to hunt for.

Two Texas details save money. Under Senate Bill (SB) 1089, a city or county health department can't charge you a fee or make you get a local card when you already hold a certificate from an accredited program. And a card from another state gets reciprocity in Texas if its program is ANSI-accredited (DSHS FAQ).

Paperwork is the dull part of a new job. Knock it out in week one and you're done thinking about it. Other states run it very differently; compare them on food handler card rules by state.

Words on the Texas paperwork

Food employee
Anyone working with unpackaged food, food equipment or utensils, or food-contact surfaces. DSHS uses the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code definition. Line cooks, servers who plate, baristas, the dish pit: all in.
Exempt
Certified food managers, places that only serve pre-packaged items, and temporary food establishments in DSHS jurisdiction, plus some groups who work under a trained supervisor (DSHS FAQ, as of October 2026).
Card or certificate
Texas uses both words. They vary in size and color, but each one must show the program's name and address plus a DSHS license number or the ANSI listing.
Food manager certification (CFPM)
The certified food protection manager credential for the person in charge. It's a separate, longer exam, and the handler card never replaces it; see food handler vs food manager.

Getting it done before day 30

  1. Ask on your first shift

    Any accredited course meets the rule, but plenty of kitchens already pay for one provider. Ask before you buy. The general walkthrough is on how to get a food handler card.

  2. Learn the material

    The test covers food safety basics: the danger zone (41–135°F), handwashing, sick-worker rules, sanitizer. Run the free food handler practice test on a break, a few rounds at a time.

  3. Take the course and the assessment

    NEHA's online course runs about two hours over seven modules. You need 70% to pass, and you get one attempt per purchase (NEHA handbook, as of October 2026). A retake means buying the course again.

  4. Print it and hand over a copy

    NEHA certificates download and print after you pass and carry a secure QR code. Your manager gets a copy, and you keep the original.

Quick answers for Texas

License, permit, card: what does Texas actually ask for?

One thing, whatever the search box calls it: an accredited food handler course, finished within 30 days of employment (DSHS FAQ, as of October 2026).

Can I get my Texas food handler certificate online?

Yes. DSHS lets accredited providers train over the internet. NEHA's handbook asks for a computer browser with audio and a 1024×768 screen, so plan on a laptop or desktop for that course.

Is there a free Texas food handlers course?

Some employers cover the cost. Where a city or county health department regulates the place, a single business can also train its own staff with an unaccredited course that only counts while you work there. In areas DSHS regulates directly, it still has to be an accredited course (DSHS FAQ). Before trusting a free-card ad, read whether a free food handler card is real.

My certificate has no expiration date. How long is it good for?

Two years from the issue date under 25 TAC §229.178. If a date is printed, that date rules (DSHS FAQ). NEHA's own term is three years from the pass date. More on how long a food handler card stays valid.

Sources