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Become a Certified Food Manager in Texas

If you are a manager or supervisor of employees who handle, prepare, store or serve food, you can become a certified food manager by passing the Texas Food Protection Manager Certification Exam.

Our state-approved Food Protection Manager Certification Exam covers:

  • How to prevent food contamination, including cross-contamination
  • Food worker health and hygiene habits
  • Tools, equipment and utensils used in food preparation
  • Your responsibilities as a food manager
  • Regulatory compliance and recordkeeping
  • The role of facility design in food safety

For your convenience, we offer online training and certification options that are approved by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The optional training program prepares you for the certification exam and includes a study guide and practice test.

After passing the exam with a score of at least 70%, you can download a printable copy of your Texas food manager certificate. The exam has a 90-minute time limit, and you have up to two attempts to pass (except for the Houston exam, which includes one attempt). You can take the exam in English or Spanish.

Food Handler

What’s Included in Texas Food Safety Manager Training?

The Texas Food Safety Manager Training course is designed to prepare you for the Texas Food Protection Manager Certification Exam.

The course content is 100% online, mobile-friendly and allows you to start and stop as needed. Lessons provide training on food safety topics that prepare you to become a Certified Food Protection Manager.

The course also includes a detailed exam study guide, a handy glossary of important terms and a practice exam. The full-length practice exam simulates the certification exam and can be taken as many times as needed. Review the lessons and retake the practice test until you feel ready for the official certification exam. Note that the practice exam is not timed and will not be proctored like the official exam.

FAQs

Who needs a Texas food manager certificate?

Everyone from head chefs to shift supervisors can qualify as food managers. If you supervise or manage staff who handle food in any capacity, including tasks involving food contact surfaces and food utensils, you may need to become a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).

The Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 437 states that food establishments operating in a county with a population of at least four million may require a certified or trained food manager to be on duty during operating hours.

Under Title 25 of the Texas Administrative Code Rule 229.177, food manager certification is required in areas under DSHS jurisdiction. Our food manager training and certification program can help you comply with these requirements.

Establishments that require a CFPM may include:

  • Restaurants and cafes
  • Bars and lounges
  • Retail food stores
  • School cafeterias
  • Detention facilities
  • Catering operations
  • Fraternal organizations
  • Assisted living facilities
  • Theaters
  • Hotels

According to the DSHS, local health jurisdictions can have their own CFPM requirements. Check with your local jurisdiction for more information.

How long is a Food Manager Certification valid in Texas?

A state-approved Food Safety Manager Certificate from StateFoodSafety is valid for five (5) years. To renew your certification, you must retake the Texas Food Protection Manager Certification Exam and earn a passing score.

If you need to reprint your certificate, log into your account, find the Certificates window on your dashboard, click View Certificate and then select Print or Email.

How do I become a food manager in Texas?

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, obtaining a food manager certification is as simple as passing the Texas Food Protection Manager Certification Exam. Exams offered by StateFoodSafety are DSHS-approved. You can take your exam online.

We also offer a Texas Food Safety Manager Training course. While not required, it provides lessons and tools designed to help students prepare for the exam. Lessons cover topics found on the exam, and you also get a study guide and practice test.

After passing the Food Protection Manager Certification Exam, you can download and print your Food Safety Manager Certification.

Does Texas offer reciprocity for Food Manager Certification?

It depends. The StateFoodSafety Texas Certified Food Protection Manager Exam is approved by the DSHS, so your certification will receive state reciprocity. The DSHS requires county health departments, public health districts and city health departments to accept certificates issued for passing a DSHS-approved Food Manager Certification Exam.

Can I get my Texas food manager certificate online?

Yes! The Texas health department has specific requirements for Internet Examination providers. StateFoodSafety is a DSHS-approved provider and offers online exams and certificates that are valid in Texas.