ACCD News & Events

SAC Meets Growing Demand for Food Manager Certification

For Immediate Release
September 21, 2006
Contact: John Hammond, Director of Public Relations, San Antonio College
210/733-2147
jhammond@accd.edu

Some food service establishments may not realize that the Texas Department of Health requires a certified food manager to be on duty at all times the business is open, according to Steven F. Lewis, Coordinator of San Antonio College's new Service, Trade and Industry Center, which is a part of the college's Continuing Education Training Network.

"If the health inspector arrives and finds that there is no certified food manager on duty, the infraction will go on the establishment's record," added Lewis. He added that restaurant owners must ensure all staff food manager certifications are current.

To meet this need, San Antonio College offers a Food Manager Certification course (15 hours of classroom instruction) and a Food Manager Re-certification (a seven-hour course). Classes meet on weekday evenings and on weekends.

"The instructors have many years of combined experience and share their real-life experiences to make the class more interesting and useful," said Lewis.

Currently, certification must be renewed every five years, but Lewis said a new regulation is being considered that would require renewal every two years.

To sign up for certification or re-certification courses, call the Continuing Education Registration Office at 733-2635 or 733-2638.