Food Handlers & Managers

Effective January 20, 2010, every Food Establishment must have at least one Certified Food Manager (CFM) at each location, who is responsible for supervising food preparation and service. Certification is obtained by passing a Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) approved certified food manager examination. The examination may be taken at any licensed Certification Training Program, Test Site, Online Exam or National Exam provider. Certification is valid for five years. Information can be found at Texas Department of State Health Services -Certified Food Manager (CFM) Program

Information about accredited food handler training courses may be accessed through the Department of State Health Services website at Accredited Food Handler Classroom Training Programs or Accredited Food Handler Online Training Programs. The Texas Food Establishment Rules require: that all food service employees must successfully complete a food handler training course accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) or the Texas Department of State Health Services; and that food establishments must maintain on premises a certificate of completion of the food handler training course for each employee. See Texas Food Establishment Rules 228.31.

City of Arlington Food Handler permit requirements can be found under Health and Sanitation Ordinance Chapter IV Regulation of Food Establishments, Section 4.03(PDF, 40MB)

• Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook
• Regulatory Assistance and Training
• Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service Food and Nutrition Unit
• CDC Food Safety
• Conference for Food Protection
• Food Safety Education
• CDC - Clean Up After Someone with Norovirus Vomits or has Diarrhea
• Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) - Norovirus