Food Handler Card Requirements for Daycares (Centers & In-Homes)

Food handler cards are most often associated with restaurants, coffee shops, and other retail food establishments. Because of that, many people assume they do not apply to daycares, whether that care is provided in a licensed center or an in-home setting.

In reality, many daycare workers prepare and serve meals and snacks every day as part of their job. When food is being handled, prepared, or served to others, especially to young children, food safety requirements can apply even if the setting is not a traditional restaurant.

For this reason, daycare staff often meet the definition of a food handler under state or local health rules and may be required to hold a valid food handler card to operate legally.

This article explains when food handler cards are required for daycare centers and in-home daycares, how to earn an approved food handler card online, and when a food manager credential may be required instead.

Who needs a food handlers card in a daycare?

Whether a food handler card is required for daycare centers or in-home daycares is not always straightforward.

This is because food handler card requirements vary by state and, in many cases, by local health department. To make things more confusing, even when a state requires food handler cards broadly, daycare workers may be treated differently or exempted altogether.

Illinois and California are good examples. Both states require food handler cards at the state level, but they apply those rules differently to daycare settings. Illinois requires workers in licensed daycare homes and facilities to hold a valid food handler card. California, on the other hand, does not specifically require daycare workers to have one.

That does not mean food safety training is optional. In California, while daycare workers are not required to hold food handler cards the way restaurant workers are, the state does require that at least one director or teacher at each center has documented training in safe food handling. Completing an approved food handler course can satisfy this requirement.

So, even when a state’s food handler card law does not directly apply to daycare workers, some form of food safety training may still be required, and food handler training is often an acceptable way to meet that requirement.

This is because children are considered highly susceptible to foodborne illness, meaning they are more likely to become ill and to experience severe symptoms or require hospitalization.

Currently, the following states require a food handler card at the state level:

• Hawaii
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Oregon
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Utah
• Washington
• West Virginia

In other states, a food handlers card may not be required at the state level but may still be required by county or local health departments. Arizona is one example where local requirements may apply even in the absence of a statewide law.

How to earn an approved food handlers card online

Whether a food handler card is required by state or local law, or you simply want to strengthen your food safety knowledge to protect those under your care, earning a food handler card online is usually the easiest option.

Most states and local health departments only recognize food handler cards issued through programs that hold ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accreditation. You can typically confirm this by looking for the ANAB logo printed directly on the certificate or card.

FoodSafePal’s food handler course is ANAB-accredited. Most learners complete the training and exam in about 90 minutes. The final exam includes 40 multiple-choice questions, and if you do not pass on your first attempt, you can retake the course and test at no additional cost.

Because food handler training is designed for retail food workers, some topics may not apply directly to daycare settings. However, the material still covers core food safety principles, and all of the content is fair game on the exam.

At checkout, you also have the option to upgrade to a professionally printed food handler card that is mailed directly to you.

Food handler cards are typically valid for three years, or two years in Texas. To keep your card active, you must renew it before it expires. Renewal follows the same process as the initial card: enroll in an approved food handler course, complete the training, and pass the exam.

When do you need food manager certification?

Food handler training is designed for non-management roles and covers the basics of food safety, such as hygiene, cross-contamination, and time and temperature control.

Food manager certification is a higher-level credential intended for individuals with supervisory or managerial responsibility. It covers more advanced food safety concepts, including food safety systems, risk control, and regulatory oversight.

In most daycare settings, a food handler card is sufficient for staff who prepare or serve food. Food manager certification is not typically required for every worker.

However, food manager certification may be required in larger facilities or in situations where daycare services operate within a broader foodservice environment. This commonly applies to facilities connected to elementary schools, preschools, or programs that provide before- or after-school care with on-site meal preparation.

A key difference is scope. When food manager certification is required, it usually applies to only one individual in a supervisory role, not every staff member. This is different from food handler card requirements, which often apply to all workers who handle food.

To earn food manager certification, an individual must pass the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) exam. Only a limited number of organizations are approved to offer this exam, and FoodSafePal is one of them.

While food manager training is not required, it is strongly recommended. Training helps ensure you pass the exam on your first attempt and avoid the time and cost of retesting.

Food manager certification is valid for five years. Renewal requires retaking and passing the exam.

The bottom line

Food handler card requirements for daycares are not universal, but many daycare workers meet the definition of a food handler because they prepare or serve food, and requirements may come from state, county, or local health departments.

Even when a food handler card is not explicitly required, food safety training is often still expected, especially because young children are highly susceptible to foodborne illness.

In most daycare settings, a food handler card is sufficient for staff, while food manager certification is typically only required for larger or school-based programs and usually applies to just one person in a supervisory role.

If you want the simplest way to earn your ANAB-accredited food handlers card online, you can do so with FoodSafePal in about 90 minutes.