Frequently Asked Questions

Our course is unique in that you will ONLY pay for your course upon completion & certification. If you start it & no longer want to continue you won’t be charged. You are only charged at the very end which means you also get unlimited free attempts.

Try our courses for free—you have unlimited time to complete them and pay only when you're finished to get your certificate.

Typically, the complete package takes around 4 hours—approximately 2 hours for each course.

You can pause and resume the online courses anytime—simply log back in, and you'll pick up right where you left off. However, note that SmartServerUSA occasionally updates the content to comply with state regulations, which may reset your progress to ensure you receive the most current information.

Yes, Si.

No. SmartServerUSA teach our courses online only.

Yes. We give you a modern audio, podcast like player, so that you can listen to the course on the go. You can also read through the course if that's your thing.

You can access your course by clicking on the "My Courses" link in the top right. If you do not see the my courses link in your menu, make sure you are logged into your account first.

Click the "Next" button below the video and materials to continue to the next section and save your progress.

You can click the "Next" button below the transcript to proceed to the next section.

Warning: Be sure to finish a unit in progress before leaving. Unless you are at the beginning of the unit. Leaving a unit in the middle will cause you to lose your progress. Once done with the current unit and you've proceeded to a safe spot, simply click the unit you would like to visit in the Course Navigation. Note that you can only go to previous or current units. You can not skip ahead to a unit.

Simply click the "play" button and it will load and play the audio version within a second or two.

There are no formal prerequisites, so anyone interested in learning the basics of safe food or beverage handling can participate.

Yes, we are licensed by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for our Texas Food Handlers course & Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) for our TABC Seller Server Course.

Texas Food Handlers Course Number: XXX, License Number: XXX

TABC Seller Server Course Number: XXX, License Number: XXX

Yes, Texas mandates that individuals employed in the food industry must secure a valid food handler license. New employees are required to obtain this license within 60 days of starting their job.

The Texas food handler certificate is good for two years. After that, we will email you a reminder to complete the course again.

Securing your food handler’s card in Texas is an uncomplicated process that gets you job-ready without unnecessary delays. Simply enroll & complete our approved food safety training course. With SmartServerUSA, you can finish the entire process online, allowing you to study and get certified from the comfort of your home.

DSHS Licensing of Food Handler Training Programs:

For General Program Inquiries:

Email:  [email protected]

Phone: 512-834-6753

Fax: 512-834-6683

Mailing Address

Public Sanitation and Retail Food Safety Unit MC 1987

Texas Department of State Health Services

P. O. Box 149347

Austin, Texas 78714-9347

For Assistance with Licensing:

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: 512-834-6727

Fax: 512-834-6741

Mailing Address

Send correspondence only to:

Texas Department of State Health Services

Foods Business Filing and Verification Unit, MC 2003

P. O. Box 149347

Austin, Texas 78714-9347

We don’t require sensitive details like your Social Security Number since the Texas Department of State Health Services doesn't mandate it. Instead, you'll only need to provide basic information such as your name, date of birth, email address, mailing address, and phone number. This data helps us communicate with you and distinguish you from other students.

No. The Texas Department of State Health Services does not distribute certificates or cards via mail. The certificate you obtain from our website upon completing the course serves as your official document. For additional assistance, contact customer service at [email protected].

Our provider ID is #XXX You can confirm our authorization on their website listed as SmartServerUSA.

SmartServerUSA is licensed and recognized by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). In Texas, certificates issued by providers accredited by either DSHS or ANSI are accepted across all jurisdictions.

TABC Seller Server certification provides all the necessary training for a career in the beverage industry. After you complete our SmartServerUSA TABC Seller Server course and pass the exam, you'll receive a certificate verifying your TABC training.

The TABC certificate is valid for two years. After that, we will email you a reminder to complete the course again.

Most individuals finish the course in roughly two hours. The training is self-paced, allowing you to pause and resume as needed, and it's accessible 24/7. You'll cover essential topics, including alcohol laws, safety practices, responsible consumption, and ensuring compliance at your establishment.

Our provider ID is #XXX You can confirm our authorization on the TABC website listed as SmartServerUSA.

After you finish the online training and pass the final exam, your results are sent to TABC within 8-9 days. You can email or print a copy directly from your account at any time. If you encounter any issues, please contact customer service [email protected].

Absolutely—criminal history does not affect licensing eligibility. However, it may impact an employer’s decision to hire you.

TABC Headquarters

TABC Headquarters (physical address)

5806 Mesa Dr, Austin, TX 78731

Phone: 512-206-3333

TABC Headquarters (mailing address)

PO Box 13127

Austin, TX 78711

Our program does not have any type of exam or assessment required.

You can indeed complete the online assessment on your own since a proctor is not required.

The TABC final exam consists of 25 multiple-choice questions, designed to verify that you have received proper training in responsible alcohol service through the online alcohol awareness course.

You get two attempts to score at least 70%. Should you fail on both tries, you'll need to start the course over but won’t be charged.

At the end of each unit, a brief quiz consisting of 5 questions will assess your understanding of the material. You need to correctly answer at least 4 out of 5 questions to progress to the next unit. You have 5 attempts to pass each quiz; if you don't succeed on your first try, you can retake it immediately.

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No—they serve different purposes. TABC Seller Server certification focuses on Texas alcohol regulations, covering topics like alcohol safety, managing intoxicated patrons, and proper sales practices in restaurants, clubs, and bars. In contrast, Texas Food Handler certification is all about safe food preparation, proper handling of equipment, and maintaining hygiene in food service environments. While both are common requirements in hospitality, each addresses a unique area of expertise. Upon completion of each course, you'll receive a certificate verifying your specialized training.

You can purchase both courses together through SmartServerUSA. Upon completion of each course & the exam (required only by TABC), you will receive an official certificate validating both your Texas Food Handler & TABC Seller Sever credentials.

Once you've finished the course and passed the required exams, you can print and download your certificate right away.

After you complete the course(s), your official certificate will be sent to your email right away.

Desktop:

Click on "My Courses" in the top right of the menu.

Click "View Certificate."

Click "Download Certificate."

Mobile:

Click on the Menu button (the three lines directly right of the logo in the top right).

Click "My Courses" 

Click "View Certificate"

Click "Download Certificate"

Yes. Our course works perfectly on all modern devices. Phones, Tablets, and Computers. As long as the device has a web browser, our course will work. So even smartTV's will work.

Click on the "login" button in the top menu. If you do not see a login button and instead see an "Account" button, that means you are already logged in.

Our course is 100% free to try, if you’re not satisfied you don’t pay. You pay for the certificate at the end upon completion. Once your certificate is issued, there is no refund because at that point, it has already been filed with either the Texas Department of State Health Services for the Food Handlers Certification or TABC for the TABC Seller Server Certification.

Your certificate is delivered as a PDF file. If you’re having trouble opening it, please ensure that Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat is installed on your device.

You can simply click here. Then fill in your email address. This will send a link to your email address for you to reset your password. If it says "No account found" please reach out to us at [email protected] with the following information. 

• The email address you think you registered with. 
• Your full name.
• Your correct email address you wish to have associated with your account.

Simply send us an email to [email protected] and with the following and we will be happy to get this updated for you. 

1. Your email address so we can locate your account.

2. Your full correctly spelled name.

3. The reason for the name change. We do not accept name changes unless it’s a legit reason.

• Misspellings

• Married Names

4. Any other account info you might need updated. 

Please note that if you are requesting a name change after your certificate has been submitted to Texas DSHS or TABC, you might incur a charge. We simply pass the fee along to you. We do not cover the fee as we send in whatever name you put in when you sign up. So please be diligent and make sure you input all your information correctly.

Simply send us an email to [email protected] and with the following and we will be happy to get this updated for you. 

1. Your current email address on file so we can locate your account.

2. Your full correctly spelled name.

3. Your updated email address you wish to use. 

4. Any other account info you might need updated.

If you misplace your certificate of completion, you can log back in & redownload it with the instructions below: 

Desktop:

Click on "My Courses" in the top right of the menu.

Click "View Certificate."

Click "Download Certificate."

Mobile:

Click on the Menu button (the three lines directly right of the logo in the top right).

Click "My Courses" 

Click "View Certificate"

Click "Download Certificate"

For additional assistance, contact customer service at [email protected]