Can You Work Without a Food Handlers Card?

Unsafe food handling by food workers is a leading cause of foodborne illness or food poisoning.

For this reason, many places require that food workers earn a food handlers card by completing and passing a food safety training course to work at a food establishment.

However, if you were thinking about applying to a job or were recently hired for one, you might wonder whether you can work temporarily without one.

This article breaks down whether you can work without a food handlers card and what could happen if work without one.

What is a food handlers card?

A food handler card proves that you have completed a food handler training course and passed an exam.

These courses cover essential food safety topics, including:

• good personal hygiene and handwashing
• time and temperature controls
• cross-contamination prevention
• cleaning and sanitizing procedures
• cross-contact prevention and food allergens

Many states and counties have laws requiring food handler training to work at a food establishment such as a restaurant as well as other places that prepare and serve food, such as schools and healthcare facilities.

Even if there are no state or local food handler training requirements where you live, food establishments can still — and often do — require their employees to earn a food handlers card.

You may be able to work temporarily without a food handlers card

Many places prefer that you have a food handlers card before applying to a job.

As such, holding a valid one likens your chances of getting the job as it puts you above other applicants who don’t.

However, many states like California, Illinois, New Mexico, and Texas allow you to work without a food handlers card for up to 30 days.

Other places like Utah allow you up to 14 days to earn a food handers card.

This gives you plenty of time, since you can easily take the course and test in well under one day.

In other instances, where you live or work may require a food handlers card before you can work with food.

But again, this shouldn’t be a huge barrier for most people since it’s generally a quick and easy process to earn your food handlers card.

To this point, you complete an online food handlers course and get your card and certificate immediately when you pass.

Unless you live in California, your employer isn’t required to pay for your food handlers card, but many places still do.

What happens if you don’t have a food handlers card?

Not having a food handlers card when you’re supposed to can be an issue for both you and your employer.

While employers will verify that you hold a valid food handlers card by using its certificate or license number, it can sometimes slip past them.

If where you work or live requires one, not having one is going against this requirement or regulation.

This could mean that you receive disciplinary action in the form of a write up. It could also be a fireable offense, especially if you lied about having one.

In the case of a write up, you might be sent home and restricted from working until you earn your food handlers card.

While this might not seem like a big deal, it could turn into one if a foodborne illness outbreak as a result of unsafe food handling was traced back to you.

The food establishment at which you work could also find itself in trouble by the health department if the county or state in which you work requires one but you have been working without it past any allowed grace period.

Not having a food handlers card wouldn’t be grounds for closing down the food establishment at which you work but they could receive a fine for each day that you worked without one and a poor health score report, which the public can view.

Thus, to prevent you and your employer from trouble — and, in some instances, legal troubles — you should never work without a food handlers card if where you work or live requires one unless you’re within a given grace period.

How to earn a food handler card

The easiest and fastest way to earn your food handlers card is online.

However, not all websites offering food handler training are the same, so it’s important to know which ones your health department accept.

In most cases, your health department will accept ANAB-accredited food handler courses — such as FoodSafePal’s — which meet established national standards.

But some places might only accept food handler cards that the health department specifically issues or approves.

Utah, for example, only accepts food handler courses they individually approve, while Washington and Alaska only accept food handler cards they issue.

After you find the right website, you can enroll and start the course right away.

Pay close attention and take notes as you progress through the course so you can pass the test at the end and earn your food handlers card.

FoodSafePal’s tests consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and you need to answer at least 28 (70%) correctly to pass. If you don’t pass the first time, you can review the course and retest.

After you earn your food handlers card, make sure to share a copy with your employer to keep in your file. In places where it’s required, health inspectors will request proof of each employee’s food handler card upon visits.

Your food handler card belongs to you and not your employer, so you can use it work at other food establishments or work two jobs concurrently.

It will be good for three years from the date you earn it, so don’t forget to renew it before it expires to keep it active.

The bottom line

A food handlers card allows you to work at a food establishment or place that prepares and serves food like a school or healthcare facility.

Some places require a food handlers card before you can start work, while other places give you a grace period of up to 30 days.

Unless you’re within a given grace period, never work without a food handlers card if where you live and work requires it as doing so can get both you and your employer into trouble.

To earn your food handlers card online, enroll with a valid online training provider — such as FoodSafePal — complete the course, and pass the test.

Don’t forget to share a copy with your manager when you pass.

Your food handlers card will be good for up to three years in most places.