Food Handlers License & Card Requirements by State (2026)

A food handlers card (also called a license, permit, or certificate) shows you've completed basic food safety training. Many states require one within your first days or weeks at a food service job. It typically costs $10–$30 and takes 1–2 hours online.

Find your state Requirements checker

Independent guide · every state verified against official health department sources · how we verify

Find your state

States where a card is required are listed first.

States with no government requirement

Employers may still require training in these states.

Requirements at a glance

Of the 50 states plus Washington, DC: 9 require a food handler card statewide, 9 leave it to individual counties, and the remaining 33 have no government mandate — though employers there can still require training as a job condition.

Food handler requirements at a glance — all states
State	Required?	Deadline	Typical cost
Alabama	Required in some counties	Jefferson County: within 21 days of hire	$15–$23
Alaska	Required statewide	Within 30 days after the date of hire	$10
Arizona	Required in some counties	Varies by county — within 30 days of starting work in Maricopa, Pinal, and Santa Cruz c…	$7–$30
Arkansas	Not required by law	—	—
California	Required statewide	Within 30 days of hire statewide	$0–$28
Colorado	Not required by law	—	—
Connecticut	Not required by law	—	—
Delaware	Not required by law	—	—
District of Columbia	Not required by law	—	—
Florida	Required statewide	Within 60 days of employment	$15–$30
Georgia	Not required by law	—	—
Hawaii	Not required by law	—	—
Idaho	Not required by law	—	—
Illinois	Required statewide	Within 30 days of employment	$7–$15
Indiana	Not required by law	—	—
Iowa	Not required by law	—	—
Kansas	Not required by law	—	—
Kentucky	Required in some counties	Fayette County publishes no grace period — the card is required to work in food service…	$23
Louisiana	Not required by law	—	—
Maine	Not required by law	—	—
Maryland	Not required by law	—	—
Massachusetts	Not required by law	—	—
Michigan	Not required by law	—	—
Minnesota	Not required by law	—	—
Mississippi	Not required by law	—	—
Missouri	Required in some counties	Varies by jurisdiction	$20–$25
Montana	Not required by law	—	—
Nebraska	Required in some counties	Omaha/Douglas County: within 30 days of employment	$0–$20
Nevada	Required in some counties	Set by each health district	$25–$40
New Hampshire	Not required by law	—	—
New Jersey	Required in some counties	Newark: within 30 days of employment	$0–$10
New Mexico	Required statewide	Within 30 calendar days of beginning employment	$8–$15
New York	Not required by law	—	—
North Carolina	Not required by law	—	—
North Dakota	Not required by law	—	—
Ohio	Not required by law	—	—
Oklahoma	Required in some counties	Tulsa County: no published grace period — you must possess a valid THD permit while at…	$0–$20
Oregon	Required statewide	Within 30 days after the date of hire	$5–$10
Pennsylvania	Not required by law	—	—
Rhode Island	Not required by law	—	—
South Carolina	Not required by law	—	—
South Dakota	Not required by law	—	—
Tennessee	Not required by law	—	—
Texas	Required statewide	Within 30 days of employment	$6–$16
Utah	Required statewide	Training certificate within 14 days of hire; Food Handler Permit within 30 days of hire	$15–$30
Vermont	Not required by law	—	—
Virginia	Not required by law	—	—
Washington	Required statewide	Within 14 calendar days of starting work	$10
West Virginia	Required in some counties	Within 30 days of hire, in counties that require the card — that 30-day window is writt…	$10–$30
Wisconsin	Not required by law	—	—
Wyoming	Not required by law	—	—

How getting a card works

Check your state's rules
Requirements come from state — and sometimes county — law, so this is the step that decides everything else. Find your state above or use the requirements checker to see whether a card is required, the deadline, and the cost.
Take an approved course
Most states with a requirement accept any ANAB-accredited course — typically $7–$30 and 1–2 hours online. But Washington only accepts its own state-run course, and Oregon only accepts state-approved ones. What counts as legit online.
Pass the test, keep the certificate
Courses end with a short multiple-choice test — pass it and you can download your certificate immediately. Give your employer a copy; establishments typically keep proof on file for health inspections.Full step-by-step guide.

Card, license, permit, or certificate — what's the difference?

Nothing, in practice. People search for a "food handlers license," but almost no state issues something called a license to food workers. The official name is usually a food handler card (Texas, California, Oregon), food worker card (Washington), orcertificate (Riverside County calls theirs a Food Handler Certificate). They all mean the same thing: proof you passed a basic food safety course.

The one distinction that matters is between a food handler card(entry-level, for line workers, ~2 hours of training) and food manager certification (a proctored exam for the person in charge, required of at least one person per establishment in most states).

What food handler training covers

Every approved course teaches the same core food safety basics, whichever provider you use:

Personal hygiene — proper handwashing, glove use, and when you shouldn't work while sick.
Cross-contamination — keeping raw and ready-to-eat foods, surfaces, and utensils separated.
Time and temperature control — safe cooking, holding, cooling, and reheating.
Cleaning and sanitizing — the difference between the two, and how to do each properly.

The test at the end checks these basics — pass scores are typically 70–80%, and courses generally include retakes if you miss it.

Guides

The general process, explained once — for anything state-specific, use your state's page.

Common questions

How much does a food handlers card cost?

Typically $10–$30. In states with their own programs the fee is often fixed by law — Washington charges a flat $10 and Oregon caps the fee at $10. Where private accredited courses are used (like Texas and most of California), online courses usually run $7–$15. In California, employers must pay the cost since 2024.

How long does food handler training take?

Usually 1–2 hours. Most online courses are self-paced, end with a short multiple-choice test, and let you download your certificate immediately after passing.

Can I get a food handlers card online?

In most states with a requirement, yes — online courses are the normal route. But some states only accept specific courses: Washington only accepts its own state-run course, and Oregon only accepts courses approved by the Oregon Health Authority. Check your state page before paying for anything.

Do food handlers cards expire?

Yes. Validity is commonly 2–3 years depending on the state (for example, Texas cards last 2 years, California and Oregon cards last 3). Renewal almost always means simply retaking an approved course.

Is a food handlers license the same as a food handlers card?

Yes — "license," "card," "permit," and "certificate" all usually refer to the same basic food safety credential for food service workers. Most states officially call it a card or certificate. A food manager certification is a different, more advanced credential.

Every requirements page on this site shows the date it was last verified and links to the official government sources behind it. Spot something outdated? Tell us and we'll fix it.