Food Handlers Card Renewal and Expiration Date
In most states, food handlers card renewal is simple. You take an approved course and pass its test again, before your old card runs out. There is usually no shorter test for renewing. You get the new card the same way you got the first one, as the training company StateFoodSafety explains.
The state matters: cards last two years in some states and three in others.
A three-year state, example card
A card issued March 2, 2026 expires on
March 2, 2029
Three years after the issue date. Enter your own date to see yours.
- Issued
- March 2, 2026
- Card lasts
- three years
- Start the new course by
- January 31, 2029
Type your state for its exact length.
When a Food Handlers Card Expires
Your card is good for two or three years from the day you got it, depending on your state. For example, if your card lasts three years and you got it on March 2, 2026, it runs out on March 2, 2029.
We suggest starting the new course about 30 days before that date, so you are never caught without a card. That is our advice, not a state rule.
Most cards last three years. In these places, a card lasts a different length of time than usual:
| Where | Card is good for |
|---|---|
| Texas | two years |
| Washington (first card) | two years |
| Washington (renewed in the last two months) | three years |
| Riverside County, California | two years |
How to Renew a Card
- Look for the date on your card. If you cannot find it, the company that ran your course can tell you.
- Before that date, take an approved course (one your state accepts) and pass its test.
- Lost your card? The find-your-card page shows how to get a copy from the company or health department that gave it to you.
Renewal Rules by State
In Alaska and Washington you must get the state's own card. A course from another company will not count there. In Washington, renew in the last two months before your card runs out, and your new card lasts three years. Renew sooner, or after it has run out, and it lasts two (Washington State Department of Health).
Alaska cards last three years from the day you get them. To renew in Alaska, you pay $10 and take the online test again.
All Texas cards last two years, no matter which training company you use. The cheapest Texas course we list costs $6.99.
In Clark County, Nevada, home to Las Vegas, only the Southern Nevada Health District gives out cards. To renew, you pass a 10-question test (7 right answers) and pay $25 (Southern Nevada Health District).
If a Card Has Already Expired
In Washington, if your card has already run out when you renew, the new card lasts two years, not three.
In Clark County, renewing usually costs $25. If your card has already run out, but less than two years ago, it costs $40. There is no extra time. Once the date on your card passes, you cannot use it for work.
Card Length in Every State
A card lasts three years almost everywhere, even in states that do not require one. If the end date printed on your card is different, use the date on your card.
- Two years: Texas, Riverside County in California, and a first Washington card.
- Three years: the other 48 states, and a Washington card renewed on time.
Every state has its own page with its card length, and the price list links to all of them.
Common Questions
What does it cost to renew a food handlers card?
Renewing costs the same as a new course, usually about $10. The highest prices are in Utah ($21.95) and Riverside County ($28).
Can I renew a food handlers card online?
Yes, in most states. Renewing just means taking the same online course and test again. Each course link here goes to the course company's page for your state.
Can I renew my Las Vegas food handler card (the Southern Nevada Health District card) online?
Yes, sometimes. Did you take your first test in person at a Southern Nevada Health District office (the Las Vegas area health office) after July 2018? Then you can renew online. You cannot renew online two times in a row. If you renewed online last time, you need to go in person this time. You will need the number and the date printed on your old card. If you renew online, you get a paper card to print at home instead of a plastic one, and it lasts three years.
Are food worker cards and food handlers cards the same thing?
Yes. Alaska and Washington call it a food worker card, but it is the same thing.