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Do I need a food handlers permit in 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.

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The rule, fact by fact

Course hours
At least 75 minutes of training timeUtah's food handler rule sets this minimum for every approved course.
Verified. Utah Administrative Code · Rule R392-103, Food Handler Training and Certificate (opens state website) · checked Nov 13, 2026
Cost
$15.00That is the permit fee the state's page lists. It doesn't give the course price.
Verified. Utah Department of Health and Human Services · Food Handler Training (opens state website) · checked Nov 12, 2026
Valid for
Food handler permits are valid statewide for 3 years from the date of issuanceStatewide means the permit counts anywhere in Utah, not only where it was issued.
Same source and date as above
Deadline after hire
Unless exceptions apply: certificate within 14 days, permit within 30, of starting workBoth clocks count from the day a person begins employment as a food handler.
Same source and date as above

How to get it done

  1. Step 1. Work out whether your job counts before you start. The state's page says to get the permit before you handle food served to the public. Utah's rule gives a new food handler up to 30 days after starting work. A certified food safety manager doesn't need one. If you are not sure about your job, ask your local health department before you pay for anything.

  2. Step 2. Pick a course from the state's approved provider list. Utah local health departments only accept training from providers on that list, so a course from anywhere else won't get you a permit.

  3. Step 3. Take the course and pass the exam with that provider. Utah's rule sets at least 75 minutes of training. Get your certificate within 14 days after you start work.

  4. Step 4. A copy of your certificate must go to the local health department where you live. That department won't issue the permit without it. The certificate is good for 30 days after it's issued, so don't wait. The provider may collect the permit fee with the course fee when you first pay.

Before you pay

Check that the provider is on the state's approved list. A course from a provider that isn't on it won't be accepted by Utah's local health departments.

Ask what the price covers. Utah's rule lets a provider collect the course fee and the permit fee together when you first pay, so check whether yours does.

The permit fee is the same across Utah, and the rule caps it at $15.

Questions

How do I replace a lost food handlers card in Salt Lake County?

Use the form on the county's page to request a replacement card, or to report one that never arrived. Replacement cards are $15, and the county won't process your request until you pay. You can pay by calling 385-468-3820 (Visa and Mastercard accepted). We haven't checked how other Utah health departments handle a lost card.

Is a food handlers card a license in Utah?

The state's page calls it a permit, not a license. A local health department issues it.

Can I take the Utah food handlers class online?

Yes. Utah's rule lets an approved course run on the internet, with a trainer, or as a mix of both. Salt Lake County says it currently offers no in-person classes and points to online options.

How do I renew my Utah food handlers permit?

Utah's rule says you renew every 3 years: take an approved course again, pass an approved provider's exam and get a new permit from a local health officer.

What to do next

Pick a provider from the approved list before you pay. Send your certificate to your local health department right away. You need the permit within 30 days of starting work.

epi.utah.gov

Sources we read