The United States food and beverage industry is regulated by federal, state and local regulations. In Texas, if you work in a restaurant or a bar, your employer may require you to complete an accredited training program. These licenses are often just as important as those that building inspectors need to have.

Certification in the food service industry makes you more qualified and may advance your career. This could assist you in moving up the ranks from a server to a manager.

These programs have been created to not just reduce the spread of foodborne illnesses but also to minimize the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption and to prevent the sale of alcohol to minors.

In Texas, accreditations for the food and beverage industry fall under the Texas Department of State Health Services and the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). There are three online courses available to ensure that you are able to meet the requirements of potential employers in the industry.

Certified Food Manager (CFM)

The state of Texas requires most establishments to have a Certified Food Manager. A CFM is responsible for overseeing everything to do with the preparation of food in an establishment. This includes planning meals, ensuring food quality as well as managing staff.

A CFM is required to develop health and safety policies for the facility, evaluating kitchen equipment and replacing when necessary, the management (including hiring) of kitchen employees, supervising the kitchen employees and creating procedures for preparing food as well as storing it safely.

To obtain this certification, you must complete an approved food safety training course and pass an exam.

Rocket Cert’s CFM course and Exam will provide you with this required certification and crucial knowledge on how to ensure all food is prepared and served safely. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found that having a certified code enforcement officer on staff reduces the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks for an establishment.

Food Handler Training & Exam

Any individual in the food industry who works directly with food is a food handler. Food handlers are required to be licensed in 13 states across the US. The state of Texas requires all food employees to obtain a Food Handler Card.

By having a food handling license or card, it shows that you are knowledgeable about correct food handling to not only serve customers correctly without creating a risk of food poisoning but are also able to handle food in a manner which prevents the spread of food borne diseases.

Employees are required to obtain this certification within 30 days of their employment. If you are already certified as a Food Protection Manager (CFPM) you do not need a food handler card. Our training course will provide you with this required certification and crucial knowledge on how to ensure all food is prepared and served safely. Based on studies by the CDC, the completion of this type of training helps to decrease the spread of foodborne illnesses in restaurants.

TABC Server Training & Exam

The TABC (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission) Servers Permit is not necessarily required by the State, but many employers require servers to have this certification.

This type of certification helps to ensure safe alcohol service as well as protect the employer from some liabilities. This is to prevent over consumption leading to DUI’s as well as ensuring that patrons who are underage are not served.

Our online alcohol server training course and exam will provide you with this required certification and useful information about the effects of alcohol and drug abuse as well as techniques for identification and intervention.

For more information visit www.rockertcert.com