Lose Your Food Handlers Card? Here’s What to Do
Holding a food handler card — also called a food handler certificate or permit — proves that you have completed a course on basic food safety principles and passed a test to demonstrate your knowledge.
Because food safety is a big deal, many states and local health departments require that you have a food handler card, and surveyors or health inspectors will verify this during their inspection.
But what do you do if you can’t find your food handler card?
This article explains what to do if you lose your food handlers card, and the steps you can take to never lose it again.
How to replace your missing food handlers card
Organizations issue food handler cards after you complete a course on basic food safety principles and demonstrate your knowledge of these principles by passing a test.
You can expect to spend around two hours to get a food handlers card.
In years prior, organizations issued physical food handler cards and certificates by mail that you would receive within a few business days.
Today, however, most of these organizations, including FoodSafePal, issue digital or PDF copies that you can download, print, or email directly to your manager.
In addition to the digital copy, some organizations will mail you a hard copy of your certificate for a few additional bucks.
The benefit of a digital copy is that you can never truly lose it since you can always access and redownload it through the organization’s site that issued your food handlers card.
The steps to access your digital food handlers card varies by organization, but you should be able to find your certificate after you log in to the account that you created when you first enrolled in the course.
If it has been a while since you accessed your account, you may need to reset your password to gain access.
If you have trouble logging in or can’t find where to download your certificate after you log in, you can always email or call the organization and have them direct you where to go or email you a copy.
Most organizations also explain how to access and redownload your card on their website.
If you earned your food handler card with FoodSafePal, you can access your food handler certificate by logging in here.
Summary
Most organizations that issue food handler cards issue a digital copy, allowing you to access and redownload it from your account whenever you need. Alternatively, you can email or call the organization if you have trouble locating your card or accessing your account.
How to never lose your food handler card again
Most — if not all — organizations issue digital food handler cards.
The benefit of a digital copy is that you can never truly lose it since you can always access it by going to the issuing organization’s website and logging into your account.
You can also contact the organization’s customer support team if you have trouble accessing your account or locating where to redownload your card.
Earn Your Food Handler Card + Certificate Fast & Easily
Guaranteed to be approved by your health department
However, trying to remember your password or contacting the issuing organization directly to track down your card can be time-consuming.
To avoid stress and wasted time, there are two things you should do.
First, save it as a PDF to your mobile device or desktop — or better yet, in a cloud storage software like Google Drive or iCloud so you can always access it, even if you change mobile devices or desktops.
Then, email a PDF copy or share the link with your manager — which you likely already need to do — and then email yourself a copy in case you change jobs or are assigned a different manager.
If you save your food handlers card in the cloud and email your manager and yourself a copy, you will always have quick access to it and never lose it.
Summary
You will never lose your food handlers card if you save it as PDF in the cloud and email your manager and yourself a copy.
When do food handler cards expire?
Most food handler cards expire 2–3 years after the date of issuance.
Your food handler card will display when it expires, but your state or local health department may require that you renew sooner.
Renewing your food handler card every few years keeps you fresh and up-to-date on important food safety practices.
You can choose to renew with the same organization that issued your expiring certificate or use a different company.
Some food handler certificate trainings may take longer to complete, but they generally cover the same basic food safety topics that you must know to handle and serve food safely.
These topics include:
- how food becomes unsafe
- proper personal hygiene and handwashing practices
- what to do when you’re sick
- how to handle time-temperature controlled for safety (TCS) foods safely
- how to avoid cross-contamination and cross-contact
- how to clean and sanitize properly
- how to identify signs of pests
Summary
Most states — and sometimes cities and counties — require that you renew your food handlers card every 2–3 years to stay current on important food safety practices.
The bottom line
Most organizations issue digital food handler certificates that you can download, print, and email to your manager.
Therefore, even if you print your certificate and lose it, you can always redownload and print it again.
But this can be time-consuming and frustrating if you can’t remember your login password or find where to redownload your certificate.
Therefore, after you earn your food handlers card, you should immediately save a PDF copy to the cloud and email your manager and yourself a copy.
You can find the expiration date of your food handlers card on the certificate, but you may have to renew sooner based on the state or county in which you live.
Earn Your Food Handler Card + Certificate Fast & Easily
Guaranteed to be approved by your health department
