Frequently Asked Questions

ServerApproved is built for three groups. First, individual employees in Texas food service or hospitality who need to get certified to work. Second, managers and owners who need their own Food Manager Certification or want to manage their team's certifications. Third, businesses, restaurants, bars, catering companies, event venues, and multi-location operations that need to train teams and track compliance year-round.

Yes. All certifications offered through ServerApproved meet Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) requirements under the Texas Food Establishment Rules. Our Food Manager program prepares candidates for the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Exam administered by the National Restaurant Association. Our TABC course meets Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission standards.

ServerApproved currently serves Texas. Our online certifications are available statewide. In-person Food Manager training is available in Houston, Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and surrounding areas. Virtual training is available anywhere in Texas.

You can reach us by booking a free 15-minute consultation call through any page on our website, or by visiting our Contact page. For general questions, most answers are on this page.

Yes. All online certifications are mobile-friendly and can be completed on any phone, tablet, or desktop. Progress saves automatically so you can pause and resume anytime on any device.

A Texas Food Handler Certification is a state-required credential for all employees who handle, prepare, or serve food in a food service establishment in Texas. It is required under the Texas Food Establishment Rules and must be renewed every 2 years.

Any employee who works with food in Texas, including servers, line cooks, prep cooks, bussers who handle food, and anyone involved in food preparation or service, is required by Texas law to hold a valid Food Handler Certification. Employers are legally required to ensure all applicable staff are certified.

The course takes approximately 2 hours to complete. It is entirely online and self-paced. You can pause and resume at any time. Most people finish in a single sitting.

The Texas Food Handler Certification through ServerApproved costs $15.

It depends on the certification. Food Handler: your certificate is issued immediately upon completing the course. Download and print it the same day. TABC Seller-Server: your certificate is issued the same day you complete the course and uploaded to the TABC portal within 24-48 hours for official employer verification. Food Manager (virtual): your certificate is issued the same day upon passing the exam. Food Manager (in-person): your certificate is issued after you complete the in-person exam. Processing time may vary.

The Food Handler Certification is valid for 2 years from the date of completion. We will send you reminders before your certification expires so you never miss a renewal deadline.

If your certification expires, you are no longer legally certified to work with food in Texas. Your employer may require you to stop working until you renew. Renewal is the same process as getting certified for the first time: complete the course and receive a new certificate.

Yes. Our Food Handler Certification meets Texas DSHS requirements and is accepted by employers across Texas, including restaurants, bars, catering companies, hotels, hospitals, and food service operations of all types.

Yes. The course is fully mobile-friendly and works on any smartphone, tablet, or desktop. No app download required.

Yes. Texas law applies regardless of whether you are full-time, part-time, or seasonal. If you handle or serve food, you need to be certified.

The Food Handler Certification is for all food service employees who handle or serve food. The Food Manager Certification is a more advanced credential required for managers and supervisors. Texas law requires at least one certified Food Manager to be present at every food service establishment during operating hours.

The Food Handler course is designed to be straightforward and is completed at your own pace before any assessment. If you have questions about retakes, contact our support team and we will assist you.

A TABC Seller-Server Certification is a Texas-required certification for anyone who sells or serves alcohol in a Texas establishment. It is administered under the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and demonstrates that the holder understands responsible alcohol service, Texas alcohol laws, and how to identify and handle intoxicated customers.

Any employee who sells or serves alcohol in Texas, including bartenders, servers, event staff, and anyone in a role involving alcohol service, is required to hold a valid TABC Seller-Server Certification. Most employers require it before your first shift.

The TABC Seller-Server course takes approximately 2 hours to complete online at your own pace.

The TABC Seller-Server Certification through ServerApproved costs $20.

Your certificate is issued the same day you complete the course. It is also uploaded to the TABC portal within 24-48 hours for official employer verification.

The TABC Seller-Server Certification is valid for 2 years from the date of completion. We will send you reminders before your certification expires so you never miss a renewal deadline.

Yes. We offer a bundle that includes both certifications for $30, saving you $5 compared to purchasing separately. Most full-service restaurant and bar employees need both.

Yes. Texas law requires anyone selling or serving alcohol to hold a valid TABC Seller-Server Certification. This applies to bartenders, servers, event staff, and anyone in a role that involves selling or serving alcoholic beverages.

The course covers Texas alcohol laws, responsible alcohol service, how to identify a minor, how to recognize signs of intoxication, how to refuse service, and how to handle difficult situations involving alcohol service.

Yes. Upon completion, your certification is uploaded to the official TABC portal within 24-48 hours, where employers and inspectors can verify it directly.

The Texas Food Manager Certification is a state-required credential for managers and supervisors of food service establishments in Texas. It demonstrates advanced knowledge of food safety principles, including temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, personal hygiene, and foodborne illness prevention. The certification is valid for 5 years.

Texas law requires at least one certified Food Manager to be employed at every food service establishment and present during operating hours. This applies to restaurants, bars, food trucks, catering operations, cafeterias, and any business that prepares or serves food to the public.

Our Food Manager program is designed to prepare you to pass the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Exam, which is administered by the National Restaurant Association. Upon passing the exam, you receive the official ServSafe Food Manager Certification, which is recognized across Texas and nationwide.

The Food Manager program is a 14-hour instructor-led course that includes full exam prep and the ServSafe exam. It is available as a 2-day program in both virtual and in-person formats.

Both formats cover the same content, use the same qualified instructors, and include the same ServSafe exam. Virtual training is conducted live online. Your certificate is issued the same day you pass the exam. In-person training takes place in a classroom setting. Your certificate is issued after you complete the in-person exam, and processing time may vary. Both formats have the same pass rate.

Virtual training is $150. In-person training is $175. Both include the full 14-hour program and the ServSafe exam.

Virtual: your certificate is issued the same day you pass the exam. In-person: your certificate is issued after you complete the in-person exam. Processing time may vary. We will send you a reminder before your certification expires so you never miss your renewal date.

If you do not pass on your first attempt, you are eligible for one free retake within 30 days. A $35 exam retake fee applies for the exam itself. Our program is designed specifically to prepare you to pass on the first try.

The Food Manager Certification is valid for 5 years from the date of passing the exam. We will send you a reminder before your certification expires so you always know when it is time to renew.

Yes. The Food Handler and Food Manager certifications are separate credentials covering different roles. Having a Food Handler Certification does not exempt you from needing a Food Manager Certification if you are in a supervisory role.

Yes. In-person Food Manager training is available in Houston and other major Texas cities. Virtual training is available statewide.

Yes. We offer instructor-led group training for teams of all sizes, from small teams of 5 to large operations of 30 or more employees. Training covers Food Handler, Food Manager, and TABC certifications and can be conducted virtually or in-person.

Most training sessions can be scheduled within 24-72 hours of booking. Contact us to confirm availability for your preferred date and format.

One-time team training includes Food Handler Certification for all staff, Food Manager Certification with ServSafe exam prep, TABC Certifications where applicable, instructor-led delivery (virtual or in-person), and same-day certificate delivery for all employees.

Pricing is based on team size. Small teams of up to 7 employees are $750-$900. Mid-size teams of 8-15 employees are $1,200-$1,800. Large teams of 15-30 employees are $2,500-$4,000. Enterprise teams of 30 or more employees or multi-location operations are custom priced. Book a free call for a quote.

The Enterprise Per-Location Package is a full compliance engagement for established restaurants and bars. It covers every certification your team needs: Food Manager, Food Handler, and TABC where applicable, with full team setup and onboarding included from start to finish. The Food Compliance Package for non-alcohol businesses is $4,000-$6,000 per location. The Full Compliance Package for alcohol-serving businesses is $5,500-$8,500 per location.

One-time training is best for smaller teams that need to get certified without an ongoing commitment. The Enterprise Per-Location Package is a more comprehensive engagement designed for established restaurants and bars that want every certification handled completely, including setup, onboarding, and full team coverage, for a flat per-location price.

Yes, and many businesses do. Start with one-time training to get your current team certified, then add a SaaS Compliance Management plan to track renewals and stay audit-ready year-round.

Yes. Our Growth and Enterprise SaaS plans are built specifically for multi-location operations and give you a single dashboard with full visibility across all locations. We also offer custom enterprise packages for larger groups. Book a call to discuss your specific situation.

Our compliance management software is a SaaS platform that helps restaurants and food service businesses track employee certifications, get renewal alerts before certifications expire, store digital certificates, and generate audit-ready compliance reports, all from one dashboard. It removes the need for manual tracking and keeps your business inspection-ready.

You add your employees to your dashboard. The platform tracks every employee's certification status in real time. You receive automated alerts at 90, 60, and 30 days before any certification expires. Every certificate is stored digitally and available for instant export at any time.

We offer three plans. The Starter plan covers up to 25 employees at $149 per month or $1,500 per year. The Growth plan covers 25-100 employees at $249 per month or $2,800 per year. The Enterprise plan covers 100 or more employees and multi-location operations starting at $399 per month or $4,500 per year with custom options available.

All plans include real-time employee certification tracking, automated renewal alerts at 90, 60, and 30 days, secure digital certificate storage, audit-ready compliance reports, and mobile access for managers.

The Growth plan adds multi-location visibility, bulk user management, advanced reporting, and API access. The Enterprise plan adds a dedicated account manager, custom compliance workflows, white-label dashboard options, and priority support.

Yes. All SaaS plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required. You can see your entire team's compliance status and explore all platform features before committing to a paid plan.

No. Monthly plans are fully flexible and can be cancelled at any time. Annual plans require a one-year commitment but offer significant savings compared to month-to-month billing.

On the Starter plan, annual billing saves you $288 per year compared to monthly. On the Growth plan, annual billing saves you $188 per year. Enterprise annual pricing includes custom discounts based on team size and contract length.

Growth and Enterprise plans include API access. We integrate with ADP, Paychex, Gusto, Toast, Square, and HubSpot. Custom integrations are available for Enterprise plans.

Yes. The Growth and Enterprise plans include multi-location dashboard visibility, allowing you to see every employee's certification status across all locations from a single login.

The Starter plan includes basic completion and expiration reports in PDF and CSV format. The Growth plan includes advanced filtering, location-specific views, and custom date ranges. The Enterprise plan includes white-label reports, API access for custom dashboards, and full audit-ready documentation.

Yes. All plans include CSV and PDF export. Growth and Enterprise plans include API access for deeper integration with your existing systems.

Your data remains accessible for 30 days after cancellation. You can export all employee records and certification data before your account closes.

Texas Food Handler Certification: $15. TABC Seller-Server Certification: $20. Food Handler and TABC Bundle: $30 (save $5). Food Manager Certification: $150 virtual / $175 in-person.

One-time team training starts at $750 for small teams of up to 7 employees. See full pricing on our pricing page or book a free call for a custom quote.

Food Handler and TABC certifications include a 90-day money-back guarantee if the course has not been completed. For Food Manager training, if you are unsatisfied after day one you may request a refund. After day one, refund eligibility is reviewed based on course completion and exam progress.

Yes. SaaS plans include a 30-day refund window after your first paid charge. If you are not satisfied within the first 30 days of your paid plan, contact us for a full refund. After 30 days, no refunds are issued but you retain access for the remainder of your billing period.

Yes. All SaaS plans are available at a discounted annual rate. Starter saves $288 per year. Growth saves $188 per year. Enterprise annual pricing is custom and includes additional discounts for longer commitments.

Yes. You can upgrade or downgrade your SaaS plan at any time. Changes take effect immediately and billing is prorated accordingly.

We accept all major credit cards. Enterprise customers may request invoice billing. Contact us to discuss options.

Yes. All payment processing is handled through secure, encrypted payment systems. ServerApproved does not store credit card information.