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Consumer Health

Consumer Health protects the public by providing an array of health and safety inspections to include food, child care and public swimming pools. Training is provided for food handlers, child care workers and pool operators.

ATTENTION: As part of the City Council’s annual budget approval process, EFFECTIVE October 1, 2023, the following Annual Health Permit fees have increased: food establishments, child care centers, pools & spas, hotels/motels, and mobile food vendors (excluding ice cream pushcarts). The permit fees increased from $285.00 annually to $385.00 annually. Employee fees will remain at $5 per employee. Should you have questions, please call Consumer Health at 817-392-7255.

ATTENTION ALL MOBILE FOOD VENDORS/ PUSHCARTS/ SNOW CONE STANDS/ GOURMET FOOD TRUCKS:

If you operate your business in Fort Worth within Tarrant County, you will need to obtain a permit with the Tarrant County Public Health Department - not with the City of Fort Worth.

If you operate in areas of Fort Worth that are in Parker, Denton, Johnson, or Wise counties, you will still need a Fort Worth Annual Health Permit. See maps below:

North Fort Worth(PDF, 1MB)

West Fort Worth(PDF, 1MB)

For further information, please read this.(PDF, 143KB)

Food Business

The Consumer Health division inspects restaurants and other food establishments to keep Fort Worth residents safe from food-borne diseases.

Mobile Food Vendor

Though similar to restaurants, mobile food vendors must meet additional requirements to address potential hazards specific to mobile establishments.

Child Care

Learn about communicable diseases, immunizations, food protection, health and safety tips at the city's Child Care Training class.

Temporary Events

A temporary food establishment permit allows food service operations under reduced requirements for no more than 14 consecutive days.

Contact Us

For all questions, billing inquiries or payments contact:

817-392-7255

Fax

817-392-3713

Email

Consumerhealth@fortworthtexas.gov

Location

Hazel Harvey Peace Center for Neighborhoods, 818 Missouri Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76104

Hours

Monday - Friday 08:00 AM–04:30 PM
Saturday - Sunday Closed

Plan Review

Plans for extensive remodeling and construction of a food service establishment, public pools and spas, and child care facilities must be submitted to the Consumer Health division.

Gaming Rooms

The City of Fort Worth adopted an ordinance affecting the operation of eight-liner and other similar gaming machines.

Health Guides and Advisories

Guides, advisories and other resources from the Consumer Health division.

Training

Food -Handler Classes: Online or Classroom

Food-handler training classes are conducted at 818 Missouri Ave. Please arrive 30 minutes before class time to register. Attendees must register 30 minutes prior to the beginning of class. Registration ends five minutes prior to class, and there will be no admittance once registration closes.

Fee for the class is $16 per person, payable by cash or credit card. No personal checks will be accepted.

Class size is limited to 40 people. Please do not bring young children to class.

NEW! Online course now available. To register for Food Handler Online Training classes, click the Online Classes button.

Online classes

Online Training Information

Setup account

Buy the Food Handler Course
Buy the TABC Certification Online
Or buy both

Purchase your course

Train

100% Online—Our entire food handlers card training course is offered online, so you can train on your computer, tablet, or smartphone wherever you'd like.
Approved—With training that is both ANSI accredited and City of Fort Worth approved, you will learn everything you need to become an official food handler.
Engaging—Experience industry-leading food handlers card training designed to not only help you learn what you need, but also keep you interested and engaged.
Course Length—75 Minutes—You'll be surprised with how much you will learn about food safety in such a short amount of time.

Test

2 Test Attempts
Our online test allows you 2 full attempts, giving you a greater chance to get your City of Fort Worth Food Handlers Card.
70% to Pass—Everything on the test is covered in our approved training, helping you to be fully prepared to earn a passing score

Print Certificate

Print from Home—You will be able to print your earned Fort Worth Food Handler Card straight from home, so you can get back to work right away.
Valid for 2 Years—Your Fort Worth Food Handler Card will be valid for the next 2 years, which means you will be set for quite some time.
Training Access for 1 Year—Automatically get one year of unlimited access to the training videos. Take your time through the course or come back after completion to brush up on your food safety knowledge!

Classroom Training Information

In-Person Training Schedule:

English

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
AM	No Classes	Spanish Class Only	Registration: 8:30 - 8:55 a.m. Class time: 9 - 10 a.m.	No Classes	No Classes
		Mobile Food Vendor Inspections: 10:30 a.m. - Noon Appointment required for inspection.	Mobile Food Vendor Inspections: 10:30 a.m. - Noon Appointment required for inspection.
PM	No Classes	Spanish Class Only	Registration: 2:30 - 2:55 pm Class time: 3 - 4 p.m.	No Classes	No Classes
	Mobile Food Vendor Inspections: 2 - 3:30 p.m. Appointment required for inspection.

Spanish

	Lunes	Martes	Miércoles	Jueves	Viernes
AM	No Hay Clases	Registración: 8:30 - 8:55 a.m. horario de clase: 9 - 10 a.m. español	Clase solamente en inglés.	No Hay Clases	No Hay Clases
		Inspecciones Vendedores Ambulantes: 10:30 a.m. - mediodía Se requiere cita para inspeción.	Inspecciones Vendedores Ambulantes: 10:30 a.m. - mediodía Se requiere cita para inspeción.
PM	No Hay Clases	Registración: 1 - 1:25 a.m. horario de clase: 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. español	Clase solamente en inglés.	No Hay Clases	No Hay Clases
	Inspecciones Vendedores Ambulantes: 2 - 3:30 p.m. Se requiere cita para inspeción.

Download the Food Handler Card Training Schedule.(PDF, 213KB)

Food Manager Certification Online Training

Food Manager Certification

Managers of food facilities in Fort Worth are required to have a valid Food Manager’s Card.

To get the card, you must:

Take the Online Food Manager Course and Exam.
Complete and pass the exam to earn the Food Manager Certificate.

Get online training

Child Care Training

Care Training class. Upon completion, each participant will receive a two hour credit toward Texas Department of Protective and Regulatory Services continuing education requirement.

Registration will be conducted at Fort Worth Code Compliance Department, 818 Missouri Ave. Please do not bring children to class.

Certificate

Class participants also receive a certificate from the Fort Worth Code Compliance Department. All day care certificates are valid for two years.

Fees

$16 cash or credit card per person, payable at the time of registration. No checks accepted.

Class Schedule

Registration begins 30 minutes and closes 5 minutes before class starts. Participants must sign in before class. There will be no admittance once class begins.

2023 Schedule

Thursday Daytime classes take place 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Thursday Evening classes take place 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Month	Thursday - Days	Thursday - Evenings
January	--	19
February	16	--
March	--	16
May	25	--
June	--	15
August	17	--
September	--	14
November	9	--

Download Class Schedule 2023(PDF, 3MB)

Pool Operator

This basic course covers water chemistry, filtration and recirculation; state and local regulations; water-borne diseases; and pool safety and water testing. This one-day course is required for people responsible for operating and managing class C, D and E public swimming pools and spas. Operators and managers of competitive and municipal pools and spas (class A and B) must have a five-year Certified Pool Operators (CPO) certificate. After successfully completing the course, operators are issued a certificate valid for three years.

Course registration fee: $65 per participant. Class is limited. Pre-registration is required.

2023 class schedule

February 23
March 23
April 20
May 18 (Spanish)

March 9 (Spanish)
April 6 (Spanish)
May 4
June 1 NEW date!

Times: Check-in for all classes begins at 8 a.m. Class and exam are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Location: 818 Missouri Ave.

Course Registration

Click here to view form.

Instructors

Our pool operator instructors are certified by the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance and are registered sanitarians.

Why do you need training?

Swimming pool and spa operators are obligated to provide clean and safe facilities for public use. Accidental drowning is a leading cause of death for children under the age of five. Diseases can be spread by swimming in unsanitized water. Proper training is essential to the safe operation of a pool.

The City of Fort Worth and some other cities under the Tarrant County Health Department jurisdiction require pool operator training for operators/managers of public pools. This certificate is good for three years and must be posted with the pool permit. This course is designed to meet the needs of professionals working with: apartments/condos, hotels/motels, health clubs and country clubs.

Any pool or spa closed for health and/or safety reasons shall remain closed until a $125 re-inspection fee is paid for each body of water closed.

Class materials

Please bring these items to the class with you:

Battery or solar calculator
Pen/pencil, notebook/legal pad
Pool test kit (DPD titration preferred)
Your pool’s dimensions and equipment list.

Customer Service

The call center is open 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays.

For questions or to report an issue by phone:
817-392-1234