Food Handler Card Requirements
Who Needs a Food Handler Card?
Any Food Handler in a food facility that prepares, handles or serves nonprepackaged potentially hazardous food shall successfully pass an ANSI (American National Standards Institute) accredited food handler training program.
- Food Handlers must obtain a Food Handler Card within 30 days after the date of hire and maintain a valid Food Handler Card for the duration of employment.
- Food Handler Cards are valid for three years from the date of issuance.
- A Food Handler Card is not required for the following:
- Certified Farmers’ Markets
- Commissaries
- Grocery stores including convenience stores, except for separately owned food facilities that are located in the grocery store
- Licensed Health Care facilities
- Mobile Support Units (not to be confused with Mobile Food Facilities that are required)
- Public and private school cafeterias
- Retail stores where a majority of sales are from a pharmacy
- Restricted Food Service facilities
- Temporary Food Facilities (TFFs)
- An elderly nutrition program, administered by the California Department of Aging pursuant to the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et seq.)
- Any city, county, city and county, state, or regional facility used for the confinement of adults or minors, including, but not limited to, a county jail, juvenile hall, camp, ranch, or residential facility.
- Food facilities with approved in-house food safety training
- Food facilities subject to a collective bargaining agreement
- Venues with snack bar services in which the majority of sales are from admission tickets (excluding any area in which restaurant-style sit-down service is provided)
- Employers shall maintain records onsite of valid Food Handler Cards for each Food Handler.
How do I get a Food Handler Card?
Food Handler Cards must be issued from an ANSI accredited training provider that meets ASTM International E2659-09 Standard Practice for Certificate Programs. A list of approved trainings can be found at: