Waco, TX Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Section 13-173(a) sets the food handler certification rule for every food establishment covered by Waco's food code, including permanent and mobile units. Any employee whose duties include receiving, handling, preparing, cooking, displaying, serving, dispensing, or storing food or drink, packaged or unpackaged, or handling and cleaning food equipment or food-storage rooms, must obtain a food handler certificate. New hires have 30 calendar days from their start date to get certified, and the permit holder or person in charge of the establishment is responsible for confirming that deadline is met.

The rule exempts employees whose only duties are cashiering, helping customers carry out food, making direct delivery of an order, or volunteering at a temporary event or fundraiser no more than once a month; anyone already holding a food manager certification accredited by DSHS or ANSI is exempt from the separate food handler card, and establishments selling only prepackaged food that dispense nothing are exempt entirely. To obtain the certificate, an applicant pays a fee and completes an online or instructor-led class oriented toward sanitation and safe food handling; the certificate must be displayed conspicuously at the establishment or made available to the health inspector on request.

178, a card is valid through its printed expiration date, or for two years from issuance if none is printed. Section 13-173(b) separately requires every food establishment handling TCS foods to have a certified food manager on duty whenever food is being handled, prepared, cooked, or served; a new food manager likewise has 30 days to certify.