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Food handler card requirements by state
Pick your state. You get what the page shows for this credential and the date we read it.
Verified states
Verified so far: 6 of 51 states
| State | What the state says | Last checked |
|---|---|---|
| California | Yes, if you handle food in a retail food establishment. California requires food handlers to get a card and keep it valid while they work there. The course has to come from an ANSI accredited provider. Fresno County lists exempt workplaces, such as drug stores and school cafeterias. Some counties run their own programs, so check yours first. | |
| Florida | If you handle food for the public at a public food service establishment, you must be certified within 60 days after you start. Florida law sets the rule. Your employer has to train you. A provider gives your employer a certificate and gives you a card. A workplace can skip them if its own staff teach its own state approved program. | |
| Illinois | Yes, if you work with unpackaged food, food equipment, utensils or food-contact surfaces. Some people are exempt, like unpaid volunteers. Generally, you should train within 30 days of hire. A certificate from an ANSI course is good for three years. Pick your course by where you work, before you pay. | |
| Texas | If you handle unpackaged food, food equipment, utensils or food-contact surfaces at work, yes. A few jobs are exempt. Texas says you finish an accredited course within 30 days of starting the job. The place you work has to keep your certificate on site. Pick an accredited course from the state's lists or the ANSI link before you pay. | |
| Utah | Yes, if you are a food handler, unless you are a certified food safety manager. You get the permit from a local health department. New workers get 14 days for the course certificate and 30 days for the permit, with some exceptions. Take the course and test with a provider on the state's list. The permit is good for 3 years in all of Utah. | |
| Washington | Yes, if you work with unwrapped food. That also means food equipment, utensils, and any surface where unwrapped food goes. Washington calls it a food worker card, or a food handlers permit. Take the course at foodworkercard.wa.gov and pass the test before you pay the fee and print your card. Other websites that sell a card are not valid in Washington. |
Coverage by state
- Verified, opens its page
- No page yet
- AL Alabama, no page yet
- AK Alaska, no page yet
- AZ Arizona, no page yet
- AR Arkansas, no page yet
- CA California, verified
- CO Colorado, no page yet
- CT Connecticut, no page yet
- DE Delaware, no page yet
- DC District of Columbia, no page yet
- FL Florida, verified
- GA Georgia, no page yet
- HI Hawaii, no page yet
- ID Idaho, no page yet
- IL Illinois, verified
- IN Indiana, no page yet
- IA Iowa, no page yet
- KS Kansas, no page yet
- KY Kentucky, no page yet
- LA Louisiana, no page yet
- ME Maine, no page yet
- MD Maryland, no page yet
- MA Massachusetts, no page yet
- MI Michigan, no page yet
- MN Minnesota, no page yet
- MS Mississippi, no page yet
- MO Missouri, no page yet
- MT Montana, no page yet
- NE Nebraska, no page yet
- NV Nevada, no page yet
- NH New Hampshire, no page yet
- NJ New Jersey, no page yet
- NM New Mexico, no page yet
- NY New York, no page yet
- NC North Carolina, no page yet
- ND North Dakota, no page yet
- OH Ohio, no page yet
- OK Oklahoma, no page yet
- OR Oregon, no page yet
- PA Pennsylvania, no page yet
- RI Rhode Island, no page yet
- SC South Carolina, no page yet
- SD South Dakota, no page yet
- TN Tennessee, no page yet
- TX Texas, verified
- UT Utah, verified
- VT Vermont, no page yet
- VA Virginia, no page yet
- WA Washington, verified
- WV West Virginia, no page yet
- WI Wisconsin, no page yet
- WY Wyoming, no page yet
States without a page yet
We don't have a page for these states yet:
Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Want a page for your state sooner? Email corrections@statecertguide.com and tell us which one.