Food Manager & Food Handler Certification (Texas DSHS) — Houston
Texas requires a Certified Food Manager at restaurants and a Food Handler card for food employees within 30 days of hire.
Overview
Under TFER, restaurants must have a Certified Food Manager (CFM) — passing a Texas DSHS-accredited exam (70%+) — and food employees must complete an accredited Food Handler course within 30 days of hire (handler cards valid two years).
TABC seller/server certification for alcohol staff is strongly encouraged but not state-mandated (it provides "safe harbor" liability protection); many employers require it within 30 days.
What SpoonSeal tracks
The document(s) you upload for this requirement, with automatic renewal/expiration tracking (Current, Due Soon, Expired). Where the city publishes health-inspection results (e.g., NYC and Chicago), SpoonSeal syncs them automatically; elsewhere they can be added manually.
Stay ahead of this requirement
SpoonSeal stores your documents, tracks expirations, and reminds you before anything lapses — so you are always inspection-ready.
Get started free →This guide is informational and not legal advice. Always confirm current requirements with the official agency linked above.