Do Food Handlers Cards Transfer States?
A food handlers card — also known as a food handlers certificate — proves that you have completed a course on important food safety principles.
Many states, local health departments, and employers require a food handler card to work at a food establishment.
However, if you hold a food handler certificate in one state, you may wonder whether you can use it another state.
This article explains whether food handler cards transfer states, and, if so, among which states.
Are food handler cards valid in all states?
Not all food handler cards are created equal — some are more recognized and accepted than others.
Food handler cards that are accredited by the ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB) are nationally recognized and accepted.
For this reason, if you live in a state that requires a food handler card, you can move to or work in another state with the same requirement without having to earn a new food handler card.
States that require an ANAB-accredited food handler card include:
However, other states have different food handler training requirements and only accept county- or state-issued food handler cards.
For example, Alaska and Washington require a food handler card but they only accept food handler cards they issue.
Other states like Utah and Florida require specific state approval to recognize and accept the food handler training.
But it gets slightly more nuanced since many counties within states that don’t require training, do indeed require it.
For example, Arizona has no state law requiring food handler training, but many of its counties do.
Many counties with requirements accept ANAB-accredited food handler training, while others only accept county-issued food handler cards.
Summary
States that require ANAB-accredited food handler training transfer to other states with the same requirements. However, other states, and even many counties, have different food handler training requirements that may or may not transfer to other locations.
State and county food handler training requirements
The question of whether your food handler card transfers states isn’t so straightforward.
Therefore, you need to know the specific food handler training requirements of the state and county in which you will be moving to or working in.
Here’s a breakdown of the state — and if applicable, county — requirements for food handler training.
| State | Food Handler Card Requirement |
|---|---|
| Alabama | No, but Jefferson and Mobile counties require it. |
| Alaska | Yes, state-issued only. |
| Arizona | No state requirement, but several counties require it. |
| Arkansas | No state or county requirement. |
| California | Yes, must be ANAB-accredited. Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties have their own food handler card requirements. |
| Colorado | No state or county requirement. |
| Connecticut | No state or county requirement. |
| Delaware | No state or county requirement. |
| Florida | No state or county requirement. |
| Georgia | No state or county requirement. |
| Hawaii | Yes, must be ANAB-accredited. |
| Idaho | No, but it is recommended and your employer may require it. |
| Illinois | Yes, must be ANAB-accredited. |
| Indiana | No state or county requirement. |
| Iowa | No state or county requirement. |
| Kansas | No state requirement, but Leavenworth requires it. |
| Kentucky | No state requirement, but several counties do. |
| Louisiana | No state or county requirement. |
| Maine | No state or county requirement. |
| Maryland | No state or county requirement. |
| Massachusetts | No state or county requirement. |
| Michigan | No state requirement, but Lenawee County requires it. |
| Minnesota | No state or county requirement. |
| Mississippi | No state or county requirement. |
| Missouri | No state requirement, but several counties require it. |
| Montana | No state requirement, but Sanders County requires a four-hour food safety training course. |
| Nebraska | No state requirement, but Lincoln-Lancaster County requires it. |
| Nevada | No state requirement, but Clark County — also known as the Southern Nevada District — does. |
| New Hampshire | No state or county requirement. |
| New Jersey | No state or county requirement. |
| New Mexico | Yes, must be ANAB-accredited. |
| New York | No, but Orleans County, Livingston County, and New York City require it. |
| North Carolina | No, but it is recommended and your employer may require it. |
| North Dakota | No, but several counties require it with 30 days of employment. |
| Ohio | Yes, person in charge certification in food protection is required. |
| Oklahoma | No, but Norman, Moore, and Tulsa require it. |
| Oregon | Yes, within 30 days of employment. |
| Pennsylvania | No state or county requirement. |
| Rhode Island | No state or county requirement. |
| South Carolina | Yes, must be ANAB-accredited. |
| South Dakota | No state or county requirement. |
| Tennessee | No state or county requirement. |
| Texas | Yes, must be ANAB-accredited or state approved. |
| Utah | Yes, must be state approved. |
| Vermont | No state or county requirement. |
| Virginia | No state or county requirement. |
| Washington | Yes, state-issued only. |
| West Virginia | Yes, must be ANAB-accredited or county-issued. |
| Wisconsin | No state or county requirement. |
| Wyoming | No state or county requirement. |
Keep in mind that even if the state or county to which you move or work in doesn’t have food handler training requirements, your employer may only recognize certain food handler cards, such as those that are ANAB-accredited.
Summary
Use this table to understand the food handler training requirements of the state or county to which you’re moving to or working in.
How to earn your ANAB-accredited food handler card
If you need to earn your food handler card, you can easily do so online in under two hours.
To get started, make sure you determine whether the location to which you’re moving or working in has state or county specific food handler training requirements.
From there, you can enroll in an approved course.
Remember, most places accept ANAB-accredited food handler cards, but some states like Washington and Alaska only accept state-issued food handler cards.
Earn Your Food Handler Card + Certificate Fast & Easily
Guaranteed to be approved by your health department
After enrolling, you can start the self-paced course right away.
Food handler course cover essential food safety topics, like:
- good personal hygiene
- handwashing
- time and temperature controls
- cross-contamination prevention
- cross-contact prevention and food allergies
- cleaning and sanitizing procedures
After you complete the course content, you must pass a test to earn your food handler card and certificate.
FoodSafePal’s Food Handler course consists of 40 multiple-choice questions, and you need to answer at least 28 (70%) correctly to earn your food handler card.
Most food handler cards expire three years from the date you earn them, but some places require that you renew them sooner, such as every two years, like Texas.
Summary
To earn your food handler card, first make sure the course through which you enroll meets any state- or county-specific requirements. Then, complete the course, and pass a test to earn your food handler card.
The bottom line
Many states and counties only accept ANAB-accredited food handler cards.
If you hold an ANAB-accredited food handler card and move to or work in a state or county with the same requirement, you don’t have to earn another food handler card.
However, some states and counties only accept food handler cards they issue, in which case, you will need to get a state- or county-specific food handler card.
Therefore, to earn your food handlers card, make sure the course through which you enroll meets the state or county’s food handler training requirements — if they exist — to which you’re moving to or working in.
Earn Your Food Handler Card + Certificate Fast & Easily
Guaranteed to be approved by your health department
