San Antonio, TX Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- TX HSC Chapter 438
- Deadline
- Within 60 days of hire
- Manager
- One Certified Food Manager
- Accreditation
- Texas DSHS accredited course
- Enforcement
- SA Metro Health inspections
Summary
Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 438 requires every San Antonio food employee to complete an accredited food handler course within 60 days of hire. Metro Health enforces during inspections, and a Certified Food Manager must also be on staff.
(a) The executive commissioner shall establish a certification program for food managers in accordance with this subchapter.(b) The executive commissioner by rule shall prescribe the requirements for issuance and renewal of a food manager certificate under this subchapter. Added by
Full Breakdown
Under Texas Health and Safety Code Chapter 438 and the Texas Food Establishment Rules, all employees who handle unpackaged food, food equipment, or food-contact surfaces in a San Antonio restaurant or other food establishment must complete a Texas Department of State Health Services accredited food handler course within 60 days of hire and renew on the schedule set by the program. Each establishment must also employ at least one Certified Food Manager who has passed an accredited exam. San Antonio Metro Health verifies certificates during routine inspections, and missing or expired credentials are scored as priority violations. Cards are portable across Texas employers. Mobile food units, school cafeterias, and temporary events are also subject to the requirements.
Violations & Fines
Operating with uncertified employees is a priority violation that adds demerits and can trigger reinspection fees. Repeat or willful violations can lead to permit suspension and fines up to 2,000 dollars per day under TX HSC 438.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a food handler card in San Antonio?
Do food trucks need food handler cards?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in San Antonio
Texas rules heatmap·Compare San Antonio to another location·View the Texas public health rules overview
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Food Handler Certification in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Bexar County handle food handler certification.