Food Handler Training for Employers
When you hire someone new, food handler training for employers starts with one date: your state's deadline for getting them a food handler card. Most states with a statewide rule give new workers 30 days from their first day on the job to earn a card, so buy each new worker a course in their first week. Open your state's page, pick a listed provider such as StateFoodSafety where your state lists it, and order for the whole team now, because each worker's time to get a card starts on their first day. Buying for a whole team at once lets you hand out training fast and track each person's completion.
Deadlines for New Hires
Nine states have a statewide rule that food workers hold a card or complete approved training. Here is how long each new worker has, counted from their start date.
| State | Time allowed after the start date | How long the card is good |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 14 days | 2 years |
| Texas | 30 days | 2 years |
| Utah, Oregon, New Mexico, Illinois, California, and Alaska | 30 days | 3 years |
| Florida | 60 days | 3 years |
Hawaii, Ohio, and South Carolina take a different approach. There, every shift must have someone trained supervising it, but not every worker needs a card.
Buying Cards in Bulk for Your Team
StateFoodSafety offers group pricing with discounts that reach 10%. You pay once for a batch of voucher codes, and each worker starts the course without paying anything themselves. You email each worker their own code, then follow their progress and pull up the certificates they earn.
One code starts one course, so order one per employee who must be trained. Before buying for the team, check the state and county pages on the site so you choose training accepted where your employees work.
Who Covers the Cost in California?
The business does. Under California SB 476, the employer must pay for the course and also pay workers for the hours they spend training. California courses on the site begin at $7.49.
States and Counties With Exclusive Cards
Only cards issued by Alaska and Washington count in those two states. Some counties add their own rules on top:
- San Diego County approves only the courses it certifies, so the California card is no good there.
- Riverside County recognizes only its own certificate.
- San Bernardino County wants only the card its Environmental Health Services issues.
- Clark County, home to Las Vegas, issues cards solely via the Southern Nevada Health District, and first-time applicants must test in person.
Make sure each worker takes the course their county accepts. Every state and county page on the site links you to the correct one.
Allergen Awareness for Managers
A Certified Food Protection Manager holds a food safety certificate a step above a basic card. In qualifying Illinois restaurants, these managers must complete approved allergen awareness training. Massachusetts requires allergen awareness training for designated responsible staff. In Illinois, these managers meet the rule with an approved allergen course, and in Massachusetts, the same goes for the staff you name as responsible.
Questions People Ask
Is online training available for California workers?
Yes. ServSafe, Always Food Safe, eFoodHandlers, Premier Food Safety, and Learn2Serve all list California courses, with prices running $7.49 to $11.99. In Riverside County, workers may complete training and the test online via the county, or sit the exam at a county office.
What does Ohio require of restaurants?
Instead of a card for every worker, Ohio asks that a trained supervisor oversee each shift. Courses listed for Ohio cost between $12 and $17.
What's included with the ServSafe Food Handler course?
The certificate stays valid for three years. Wherever the site offers it, the price falls between $11.99 and $15, and learners can take it in five languages: English, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.
Do Alaska managers need a food worker card?
No, if the manager holds a current Certified Food Protection Manager certificate. Everyone else still must get the Alaska card within 30 days.
After renewing online, must a Clark County worker carry a printed card?
No. Employers and inspectors accept the certificate on paper or saved on a phone.