How Old Do You Have to Be to Get a Food Handler Card?
Millions of people work at foodservice establishments such as restaurants, convenience stores, markets, and grocery stores.
These people also work in places that make and serve or sell food like schools and healthcare facilities.
A job in foodservice can be a great job, no matter your age, but it can be particularly useful for young people to develop many skills.
To work at a food establishment, many places require a food handlers card, which proves that you have completed a course on food safety.
However, you may wonder whether there is a minimum age to earn one.
This article discusses how old you have to be to get a food handlers card, and the steps you can take to earn one.
What is a food handlers card?
A food handlers card — also known as a food handlers certificate or permit — proves that you have completed a course on food safety and passed a test.
Food handler training courses educate you on how to identify and prevent the various types of food hazards that can lead to foodborne illnesses or food poisoning.
To keep people safe from foodborne illnesses, many states and local health departments require foodservice workers to earn a food handlers card before or within a certain period of employment.
And even if there exists no state or local law requiring this training, many food establishments still require it of their staff.
Summary
A food handlers card proves that you have completed a course on food safety and passed a test. Many states, counties, and food establishments require that you earn one before or within a certain period of employment.
What age can you get a food handlers card?
Because many places require a food handlers card to work at a food establishment, the minimum age you must be to earn one is the minimum age to work in restaurants and other types of food establishments.
Federal laws requires that you be at least 14 years old to work at a food establishment, so you must be at least this age to get a food handlers card (1).
However, 14- and 15-year-olds are subject to many regulations when it comes to the types activities at work they can perform.
For example, here are some of the activities 14- and 15-year-olds cannot do:
- cook over an open flame
- operate rotisseries, pressure cookers, friers, or rapid toasters
- any baking activity
- operate food slicers, grinders, processors, or mixers
Laws also restrict the time of day and number of hours this age group can work.
Sixteen- and 17-year-olds have far fewer restrictions but still cannot operate meat slicers, saws, grinders, or choppers, commercial mixers, and certain power-driven bakery machines.
There are no restrictions for those 18 years of age or older.
Still, while you can earn your food handlers card as young as 14 years old, you must still be able to pay for the training if your employer doesn’t.
Because most food handler training programs are offered online and therefore only accept payment by a credit or debit card, you might have to lean on your parents or other trusted individual for this payment.
Summary
Federal laws require that you be at least 14 years old to work at a food establishment, which means you must be the same age to earn a food handlers card.
How to get a food handlers card
Some places require a food handlers card before applying to a job while others allow you 30 days after hire.
In either case, you can easily earn your food handlers card online in under two hours.
To get started, enroll in a food handler training course approved by your health department or employeer.
All food handler cards are not the same, but most places only accept food handler courses that are ANAB-accredited, like FoodSafePal’s.
Earn Your Food Handler Card + Certificate Fast & Easily
Guaranteed to be approved by your health department
After enrolling, you can start the course right away.
Learn about important food safety topics like:
- food hazard types
- good personal hygiene
- handwashing and glove use
- time and temperature controls
- cross-contamination prevention
- food allergens and cross-contact prevention
- pest management
After you complete the course, you must pass a test that asks questions about the topics covered.
FoodSafePal’s test consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and you must answer at least 28 (70%) correctly to pass.
If you don’t pass the first time, you can retake it for free.
After you pass, you can print, download, or email your food handler card or certificate to your manager — just remember to save yourself a copy.
Your food handler card will generally be good for three years from the date you earn it, but in other places like Texas, it’s only good for two years.
Unless you live in California, your employeer isn’t required to pay for your food handler card since it belongs to you and you can take it with you if you change jobs.
Summary
To earn your food handlers card, enroll in an approved food handler course, complete the content, and pass the test. Your food handler card will be good for three years in most places.
The bottom line
Federal law requires that you be at least 14 years old to work at a food establishment, and limits the time of day and hours you can work as well as the types of activities you can perform.
As such, you must be at least 14 years old to earn your food handlers card.
Your employeer isn’t required to pay for your food handlers card unless you live in California, so at this age, you must still be able to pay for the training using a debit or credit card since most training is offered online.
To earn your food handlers card, enroll with a valid online training provider like FoodSafePal, complete the course, and pass the test.
Earn Your Food Handler Card + Certificate Fast & Easily
Guaranteed to be approved by your health department
Your food handler card will be good for three years in most places.
