Texas Food Handler Card Requirements
Last verified: September 19, 2026
Always confirm current requirements with the linked regulator before relying on this page. The regulator is the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Deadline & validity
- 30 days after hire.
- Card valid 2 years.
- Accreditation required: accredited by Texas DSHS or the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
Texas DSHS's own FAQ page states the deadline is 30 days under Texas Food Establishment Rules section 228.31. However, a lot of provider and guidance pages still cite an older 60-day deadline under section 228.33. Confirm the current figure directly with DSHS before relying on this page.
Who pays
Texas law does not require employers to pay for food handler training or testing.
Governing law & regulator
25 Tex. Admin. Code section 228.31 / section 228.33 (Texas Food Establishment Rules); 25 TAC section 229.178 (Accreditation of Food Handler Education or Training Programs); Tex. Health & Safety Code section 438.046 (statewide reciprocity).
Regulator: Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
Who is exempt
- Certified Food Managers.
- Food establishments serving only pre-packaged items.
- Temporary food establishments under DSHS jurisdiction.
- Certain supervised individuals — people with intellectual disabilities, rehabilitation/correctional facility workers, caregivers assisting with activities of daily living (e.g., CNAs, nurses), staff distributing pre-portioned food in classrooms/daycares, and unpaid volunteers.