Nutrition Services
Taking the Food Handler On-Line Training Instructions
Get the newly mandated Texas Food Handler Certification for FREE from the convenience of your home!
Texas Department of State and Health Services and the City of Houston require you to have a valid Food Handler Certification in order to work. Please be advised that before you return to work for 2016-2017 school year, you must complete the Food Handler certification. Nutrition Services will pay you for this certification! Hurry up and complete starting July 1st, 2016. Employees must be certified by July 31st, 2016.
Please follow the instructions below to access the Food Handler safety training course:
1. Click on the following link (or copy and paste it into your browser’s address bar) to get to your T3 Online Education Site: http://www.medcomrn.com/houstonisd/
2. Enter the user ID and password in the upper left hand corner.
3. Your UserID will be your employee ID number and your password is: nutrition
4. Click the sign-in button.
5. You should now see two course options in the center of the page (one in English and one in Spanish):
- FS01TX-T Food Handling Safety–Texas
b. FS01TXSP-T Seguridad De Manipulación De Alimentos–Texas
6. Click the course title ofthe version you wish to take to begin the training.
For technical support issues, please call (888) 891-1443 Mon. - Fri., 9am - 6pm Central Standard Time.
You can also access the training by vising our HISD Nutrition Services website. On the upper right side, you find the Food Handler icon to access the training. Click on this link:
http://www.houstonisd.org/Domain/7971
Additional Information
· If you need your employee ID or and cannot access the system, please call Nutrition Services at 713-491-5700.
Important Note: if you have either or both City of Houston Manager Certification or the ServSafe Manager Certification, you DO NOT need to take the Food Handler Training, as long as the certificates are not expired
· If you need a computer, please reserve one by calling David Guevara at 713-491-5700.
Questions Answers
Q. Why do I have to get the Food Handler Certification?
A. It is a new requirement for your job mandated by Texas Department of State and Health Services and the City of Houston. ALL food services employees are required to have a valid Food Handler Certification in order to work if they work with unpackaged food, food-contact surfaces, food equipment or utensils to maintain food safety.
Q. Is my job description changing with this new law?
A. Yes, your job description is being updated to include this new law requirement of having a Food Handler Certification. It will also be a requirement for new hires.
Q. Can I work without being Food Handler Certified?
A. No, you cannot work without this certification that is why Nutrition Services is asking you to complete this training before you return to work. Please get certified by July 31st, 2016.
Q. What is the due date to complete the Food Handler Certification?
A. We are asking all employees to obtain their certification by July 31st, 2016. You must complete your certification in order to return to work.
Q. Is there a test to get the Food Handler certification?
A. Yes, there is a post-test at the end of the training. You must get 75% of higher score in order to get the certification.
Q. How many times can I retake the test?
A. You can take the test as many times as you need until you pass it with 75% minimum score.
Q. Will this training be offered face to face?
A. No, this training is offered on-line only. Please follow the “Taking the Food Handler On-Line Training Instructions” steps to log in and complete this training to get your certification.
Q. Do I need to print my certificate and food handler card?
A. Yes, print a copy of your certificate and give it to your Team Lead upon you return. Keep the food handler card for your records (wallet).
Q. I have a valid Manager Serve Safe Certification OR a City if Houston Manager Certification, do I need to take the Food Handler training?
A. No, you don’t need to take the Food Handler training. Your certifications cover this content.
Q. Can I take the training in May or June instead of waiting until July?
A. No yet. We are setting up the website with your information. The link to access the training will be ready until June 1st. You can take the training in June and it will be valid for a year. However, we will prefer you take it effective July 1st so it counts towards your training hours for next school year. July 1st is the beginning of the school year.
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