Privacy Policy

Last Updated: November 4, 2025

At Food Handlers of Texas, we are committed to protecting your privacy and ensuring the security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our website and services to obtain Texas DSHS-approved food handler certifications and TABC seller-server certifications.

1. Information We Collect

Personal Information

When you register for a certification course or use our services, we collect personal information that may include:

• Contact Information: Full name, email address, phone number, and mailing address
• Identification Information: Date of birth, Social Security Number (last 4 digits for TABC only), and government-issued ID (as required by Texas regulations)
• Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address, and transaction history
• Employment Information: Employer name, workplace address, and job title (when applicable)
• Course Data: Quiz answers, exam scores, completion status, and certification records

Automatically Collected Information

When you access our website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and browsing activity:

• IP address and geographic location
• Browser type and operating system
• Pages viewed and time spent on pages
• Referring website and search terms used
• Device identifiers and mobile network information

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Certification Processing: To verify your identity, process your course enrollment, administer exams, and issue official Texas DSHS and TABC certificates
• Regulatory Compliance: To submit required information to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) as mandated by state law
• Communication: To send course materials, exam results, certificate delivery confirmations, and customer support responses
• Payment Processing: To process payments securely through our payment processor and maintain transaction records
• Service Improvement: To analyze website usage, improve our courses, and enhance user experience
• Marketing: To send promotional emails about our services (you may opt out at any time)
• Legal Obligations: To comply with Texas state regulations, respond to legal requests, and protect our rights

3. Information Sharing and Disclosure

We share your personal information only in the following circumstances:

Regulatory Agencies

We are legally required to submit certain information to:

• Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) – for food handler certifications (Provider #38776)
• Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) – for alcohol seller-server certifications (Provider #454-508)

Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our website and providing services:

• Payment processors (credit card processing)
• Email service providers (customer communications)
• Cloud hosting providers (secure data storage)
• Analytics services (website performance tracking)

These service providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it for the specific services they provide to us.

Employers

If your employer pays for your certification or requests verification, we may share your completion status and certificate details with them, with your prior consent.

Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, subpoena, or government regulation, or to protect our rights, property, or safety.

Business Transfers

If Food Handlers of Texas is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email or prominent website notice before your information becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4. Data Security

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: All data transmitted between your browser and our servers is encrypted using 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption
• Secure Storage: Personal information is stored on secure servers with restricted access
• Payment Security: Credit card information is processed through PCI DSS-compliant payment processors and is never stored on our servers
• Access Controls: Only authorized personnel with a legitimate business need can access personal information
• Regular Audits: We conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments

However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required by law:

• Certification Records: Maintained for a minimum of 5 years as required by Texas regulations
• Payment Records: Retained for 7 years for accounting and tax purposes
• Account Information: Retained while your account is active, plus 3 years after account closure
• Marketing Data: Deleted within 30 days of opt-out request

6. Your Privacy Rights

You have the following rights regarding your personal information:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link or contacting us
• Data Portability: Request your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Objection: Object to certain types of data processing, such as direct marketing

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

Note: Some information cannot be deleted due to Texas regulatory requirements for maintaining certification records.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to improve your experience on our website:

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality, login sessions, and course progress tracking
• Performance Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site (Google Analytics)
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Marketing Cookies: Track conversions and display relevant ads (with your consent)

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling essential cookies may affect website functionality. For more details, see our Cookie Policy.

8. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites, such as the Texas DSHS and TABC official sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

9. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. Texas law requires food handler and TABC certifications only for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will delete such information.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Right to delete personal information (subject to legal exceptions)
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your CCPA rights

To exercise these rights, contact us at privacy@foodhandlersoftexas.com.

11. Nevada Privacy Rights

Nevada residents have the right to opt-out of the sale of their personal information. We do not sell personal information as defined under Nevada law.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of significant changes by:

• Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
• Sending an email notification to your registered email address
• Displaying a prominent notice on our website

Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Texas-Specific Disclosures

As a Texas-based company providing certifications regulated by Texas state agencies:

• We comply with all Texas data protection laws and regulations
• Certification records are maintained in accordance with Texas Administrative Code requirements
• Personal information submitted to DSHS and TABC is governed by their respective privacy policies
• We do not discriminate based on protected characteristics under Texas law

Effective Date: November 4, 2025
DSHS Provider #38776 | TABC Provider #454-508