Do You Need a Food Handlers Card to Work at Chipotle?

Chipotle Mexican Grill — more commonly known as Chipotle — is a popular American chain of restaurants specializing in burritos, bowls, and tacos.

Because its workers handle and prepare these foods, you may wonder whether you need a food handler card or certificate to work there.

This article explains whether you need a food handlers card to work at Chipotle, and if so, how you can get one.

Do you need a food handlers card to work at Chipotle?

What is a food handlers card?

A food handlers card or certificate proves that you have completed a course on important food safety topics.

These topics discuss the various ways that food hazards can occur and how you can prevent them to keep people safe from foodborne illnesses or food poisoning.

These topics include:

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

Because unsafe food handling by food workers is a leading cause of foodborne illnesses, many states and counties require food handler training before or within a certain period of employment at a food establishment.

And even in places where state or local laws don’t require food handler training, many employers still require it of their employees to keep their customers safe and prevent legal action that could ensue from a foodborne illness outbreak.

Summary

Earning a food handlers card proves that you have completed a course on important food safety topics such as handwashing, time and temperature controls, and cleaning and sanitizing procedures.

Does Chipotle require a food handlers card?

A food establishment is any operation that stores, prepares, packages, serves, vends, or otherwise provides food for human consumption.

Chipotle — like Taco Bell and Subway — meets this definition since the fast food restaurant chain stores, prepares, and serves food and drink options.

Therefore, the state or county in which the Chipotle operates may require that its crew members earn a food handlers card.

For example, many of the states that boast the most Chipotle locations like Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, Illinois, Florida, and California all require a food handler cards.

Other states in which Chipotle operates may have no state law requiring food handler training, but there may be local regulations requiring it.

For example, Arizona, North Dakota, and New York don’t have state laws requiring food handler training, but many of their counties do.

If a Chipotle is located in an area with no state or local regulations for food handler training, the Chipotle can — and usually do — still require it as a condition of employment.

As such, it’s useful to complete a food handler training regardless of state or local laws if you plan to work at Chipotle or other restaurant.

Summary

Depending on the location of the Chipotle, you may be required by the restaurant chain or by law or local regulation to have a food handlers card.

How to earn your food handlers card for Chipotle

You can easily earn your food handler card for Chipotle online in under two hours.

To get started, enroll with a valid online food handler training provider, like FoodSafePal.

If the state or county in which you work requires food handler training, make sure they approve or accept the training as not all programs are equal.

However, most places accept ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited food handler course, like FoodSafePal’s.

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After enrolling, you can start away.

Pay attention as you progress through the course since you will need to pass a test at the end to earn your food handlers card.

FoodSafePal’s Food Handler training consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and you need to answer at least 28 (70%) correctly to pass.

After earning your food handler cards, it belongs to you and not Chipotle — even if they payed for the training.

Thus, you can change jobs or work two foodservice jobs concurrently without having to earn another food handler card.

Most food handler cards are good for three years, but you may need to renew sooner depending on the location in which you work.

Summary

To earn your food handlers card to work at Chipotle, enroll with a valid online training provider — like FoodSafePal — complete the course, and pass the test.