Frequently Asked Questions

Select Site and Create Free Account

• To get started please select your location and create a free account.
• To select your location, enter the name of your city, county or state in the search box and click the "Search" button.
  
• Next select your location.
  
• Once you're at the proper FMC site, click on "Create an account" at the top of the page to create your free account.
  
• To complete your account, fill out all required fields and then click Sign up.
  
• An email notification will be sent once the account is created with your unique login and password.
• You can optionally validate your account through a validation link in the email. Once the account is validated, you will not see the security phrase check system, as described below.

Course Selection

• You will then be taken to the Courses page to select the course you are interested in purchasing.
  

Payment

• Your billing address should already be filled in for you, but you can make changes if needed.
• Next you will be required to enter your credit card information.
• Click Review Information to continue.
  

• The Review Information page allows you to review the billing and credit card data before attempting to process the transaction.
• The student/client must check the box stating "I have read and understand the preceding information and refund policy" before the Purchase button highlight to allow you to complete your course purchase. 
• Once the Purchase button is highlighted, click the Purchase button to complete your purchase.
    
• Your purchase is now complete.  

Now that  you have completed your purchase, you can begin taking your course.

• First you will need to click the green Study button to begin studying the course material (if purchased), or if you are ready to take your exam, you may click the green Take Exam button to begin your exam.
  
• The study area consists of 108 sections that can be read at your leisure if purchased.Once a section has been studied, it will be marked as studied with a green check-mark. This helps you know which sections have been studied and which section have not.
• Section before study. Timer has not reached zero:   
• Section after study. Timer has reached zero:   
• Before you can start your test, you will be required to enter 10 personal verification questions (PVQ). If for any reason during your exam you enter a wrong PVQ or fail the test, you will be required to perform this step again.
  
• After you have selected your 10 questions, you will be show the time allowed for the exam, the number of questions that make up the exam, and the required passing grade for the exam. To begin your exam, click the Continue button. You may also click the Go back button if you are not ready to begin your exam.
  
• After successfully completing the exam, you will be able to print your certificate.
• To print your certificate, click the green Print certificate button. Your food managers certificate will open in a new window for you to view/print.
  
• To see what your certificate will look like and an explanation of the information it contains, click here:
  
  Certificate Sample

The FMC^® CFP Manager examination consists of the following:

• Time to complete your examination is 90 minutes. After 90 minutes, your exam will be graded, any unanswered questions will be graded as incorrect.
• The examination will have 75 multiple choice questions.
• The minimum passing grade is 74.7% (75%).

Examination Questions:

The examination questions will have the following format:

You must select an answer from the answer options under the question by clicking on the answer you believe to be correct.

When you select your answer, a black dot will appear in the circle next to your answer denoting its selection.

After you have selected your answers for the displayed question, click “Save Answer” to save your selection and move to the next question.

A progress box on the webpage will display the amount of time left in your exam, as well as the question numbers you have answered in green, and remaining unanswered question numbers in black.

You can click on a question number to take you back to that question if you decide to review/change your answer.

When you’re ready to submit your examination for scoring, click “Grade Now”.

Examination Scoring:

When you are ready to have your exam scored, click “Grade Now”.

Your examination score will be displayed informing you of your score, and if you have passed or failed. If you failed your examination, you will be informed on the areas of deficiency concerning exam questions that were answered incorrectly.

If you passed the examination, then your FMC^® CFP Certificate will be available for printing from within your account at Food Manager Classes any time before the expiration of the certificate.

Please Note: if you took, and passed, a proctored FMC^® CFP examination, you will not be permitted to print the certificate at the Proctor Testing Centers.

EXAMINATION CONTENT AND THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS ON THE EXAM

This department-approved online Texas DSHS FMC^® Certification Examination will consist of seventy-five multiple choice questions, with a specific number of each covering the following topics:

• twelve (12) questions covering food protection;
• four (4) questions concerning the requirements regarding the purchasing and receiving of food and food related items;
• seven (7) questions over storage in food establishments;
• ten (10) questions over food preparation;  
• six (6) over food service and display;
• two (2) questions on the use and maintenance of tools and equipment within food establishments;
• six (6) questions related to cleaning and sanitizing equipment, utensils and food contact surfaces in food establishments;
• one (1) question on how to select, monitor, and maintain a water source;
• one (1) question on how to monitor and maintain plumbing;
• one (1) question on how to monitor and maintain ventilation systems;
• two (2) questions on how to select, monitor, and maintain waste disposal facilities and equipment;
• one (1) question on how to clean and maintain restroom facilities;
• two (2) questions on general maintenance and housekeeping;
• two (2) questions on monitoring equipment and facilities,
• one (1) question on proper postings;
• seven (7) questions on personal hygiene of employees;
• two (2) questions concerning properly training employees;
• seven (7) questions on monitoring personnel behaviors and their relation to food safety;
• and one (1) question on ensuring regulatory compliance at the state and local level and correcting and minimizing noted violations. 

The pass key and access codes are for group purchases only and are used to redeem a food manager training course purchased by your company. If you are part of a group order, you will need to contact your manager to receive your pass key and access code. Please Note: If you purchased the course for yourself, you will not be using a pass key and access code.

For information on making a group food manager certification purchase for your employees, please use the links below:

• How to make a bulk order purchase.
• How employees should redeem codes and use course.
• How to manage your bulk order.
• You can find more information by clicking Bulk Order System.

Yes, select the link below for your browser and follow the instructions to enable the function for visually-impaired web browsing.

Microsoft
Follow this link for more information: http://www.microsoft.com/enable/

Windows 8, 8.1, 10

• Windows Key +U
• Tab [step through options]
• spacebar [select]

Apple
Follow this link for more information: http://www.apple.com/support/

Mac Desktop

• Command + Option + F5
• Click to enable
• Click Preferences to Edit options
   

Mac Notebook/ Laptop

• Function + Command + Option + F5
• Click to enable
• Click Preferences to Edit options
   

Google
Follow this link for more information: https://support.google.com/chromebook/answer/177893

Chromebook

• Select Accessibility from welcome screen
• Click status area on account picture
• select settings
• click show advanced settings
• view accessibility section and select options

For blind and visually impaired users we suggest one of the narrators described above or installing a screen reader software package.

An example of a text-based web browser and screen reader accessibility package can be found at the link below. The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Screen reader talking software package is available for a range of operating systems.

To receive your food manager certificate, you must first create a profile and then purchase one of our courses. Once your purchase is complete, you can study course material and take your test. After you complete your test, you will be able to print your certificate. Please note that the sections are not timed, nor do they have to be completed to begin your exam.

To receive a username and password, you must first create a profile by registering on the website. After this, you will be given the opportunity to select and purchase a course.

After you create a profile, you will be asked if you would like to purchase one of our courses. You are not forced to choose at that moment. You can come back later to make your purchase when ready.

In most cases, it is because the billing information for your credit/bank card does not match the address in your profile or there are insufficient funds in your account. This is to prevent fraud. Another reason could be the security phrase was not entered correctly. The security phrase is case sensitive.

Sorry, we only accept checks for group orders, but you can purchase a money card from most major grocery stores such as Walmart, Target, Albertsons, or Krogers.

Yes, but they will need to enter their credit/bank card billing address in place of your address in the billing information area to complete the purchase.

After you make your purchase, you should see a charge on your credit card statement from DSB FOOD MANAGERS in the amount of the course purchase.

Yes, you can find more information at foodhandlerclasses.com.

Yes, you can find more information at sellerserverclasses.com.

This Study Material will take approximately 2 hours to read at your own pace and consists of 108 sections.  The exam is 90 minutes and will need to be completed in one sitting.

There are 75 questions on the test. To pass the test, you must receive a minimum grade of 75%.   It must be completed in one sitting.

When you purchase your course, you will have 2 (two) opportunities to pass the test. If you fail the course or a PVQ you will be required to repurchase the course.

The study material is self paced and saves your progress, so you can work on it when the time is convenient for you. However, once you begin the exam, you must complete it in one sitting.

The state requires us to verify your identity at various times while taking your test to verify the correct person is actually taking the test.

You are required to create 10 PVQ question and answers.

If you submit an incorrect answer to a PVQ question, you will automatically fail the test and be required to repurchase the test.

We are able to track PVQ answers within your test. If you feel that your PVQ answer was correct, we will check the PVQ log from your test and verify if your answer was correct or not. If your answer was correct, we will issue you another credit to retake your test. If your answer was incorrect, you will be required to repurchase the test.

You can log into you food manager class from any computer. This allows you to access your account and print your license from any computer with internet access and printer. This could be at work, a public library, a friend or family members house, or career placement center.

You can contact customer support via support ticket through the website or call our customer service at (903) 893-3717 to retrieve your username.

To reset your password, select "support" from the menu. You can then click the "reset your password here" link on the left side of the page.

Next, you will need to provide your email address and type in the security phrase.

No, your username is your first initial and last name, sometimes followed by a number.

It does not cost anything. You may reprint your food manager certificate any time you want from any computer with internet access until the expiration date of the certificate.

Normally your food manager certificate is good for five years. Some Health Departments may allow for a longer or shorter duration. Always check with your local Health Department to be sure.

The QR Code allows those with a QR code reader app on their mobile device to scan the QR code on the certificate to find out if the certificate is valid. This is a helpful tool for food managers and health departments to manage food manager validity on site. QR code reader apps are readily available on line.