Montana Food Handler Card: A Comprehensive Guide

You earn a food handler card — also known as a food handler certificate or license — after successfully completing a course on important food safety principles.

Owing to the importance of food safety for preventing foodborne illnesses, many states and counties require food workers to earn a food handler card.

However, you may wonder whether Montana or any of its counties require you to earn a food handler card.

This article explains everything you need to know about a Montana food handler card, including whether you need one, how to earn one, and more.

Do you need a food handler card in Montana?

Neither Montana nor any of its counties require food workers to earn a food handler card.

Sanders County, however, requires foodservice workers to complete a four-hour food safety training course that is approved by the health department (1).

Even though Montana does not require that you earn a food handler card to work at a restaurant, bar, market, or other foodservice establishment, your employer may still require it.

This is because many employers of food establishments have a strong food safety culture and require their employees to earn a food handler card before they start the job or within a certain period of employment.

And while you don’t need to earn a food handler card to work in the dietary department of a nursing home, hospital, or other healthcare facility, state and federal regulations require that dietary staff know how to handle food safely.

For this reason, managers often rely on food handler training programs to educate their staff on safe food handling techniques, and reduce the chances of receiving a food tag or deficiency from surveyors or health inspectors.

If you are searching for a job in foodservice, earning your food handler card — even if it’s not required where you live and work — can make it easier to land your next gig or negotiate a higher starting salary.

How do you get a Montana food handler card?

Earning a Montana food handler card is a simple process that you can usually complete online in under two hours.

To get started, enroll with an online training provider such as FoodSafePal.

After enrollment, complete the course lessons, which cover essential food safety topics, including:

• time and temperature controls for food safety
• good personal hygiene
• food contamination prevention
• cleaning and sanitizing procedures

Pay attention through the lessons, taking notes as needed, so you can pass the test and earn your food handler card.

The test of most food handler training programs — including FoodSafePal’s — consist of 40 questions, and the minimum passing score is generally 70%.

If you don’t pass the assessment the first time, most organizations offer a free retake.

If you live in Sanders county, you must take a four-hour food safety training course that is approved by the health department.

How long does a Montana food handler card last?

A Montana food handler card usually expires three years from the date of issuance.

From the Sanders County website, it’s unclear how often you must complete food safety training if you live in Sanders County.

In either case, when your food handler card or training is close to its expiration date, you must renew it by retaking a food handler training program and passing the test.

Renewing your food handler card every three years ensures that you stay current and fresh on the best food safety practices to keep people safe from foodborne illnesses.

If your employer requires you to earn a food handler card, make sure to provide your manager with a copy.

In nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, health inspectors or surveyors usually ask to verify that you have successfully completed food safety training if it’s part of your employer’s training requirements.

Most food handler training programs issue certificates as a PDF, making it easy to print or email a copy to your manager.

If you lose your food handler card or certificate, you can redownload it from the organization in which you earned it or contact them to request another copy.

The bottom line

Montana does not require foodservice workers to earn a food handler card, but Sanders County requires an approved four-hour food safety training course.

Owing to the importance of food safety, the restaurant or other foodservice establishment at which you work may still require it.

Additionally, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities often rely on food handler training programs for staff training.

To earn your food handler card, simply enroll in an online course, complete the course content, and pass the test.

Montana food handler cards are generally good for three years.