Oklahoma Food Handler Card: A Comprehensive Guide

A food handler card — also known as a food handler certificate, license, or permit — proves that you have passed a food safety course.

Many states and counties require food workers to earn a food handler card before or within a certain period of time to ensure safe food handling practices.

However, you may wonder whether Oklahoma or any of its cities or counties require a food handler card.

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

Do you need a food handler card in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma does not require food workers to earn a food handler card, but several of its cities do.

Oklahoma cities that require food handler cards for anyone working with food, include Norman, Moore, and Tulsa.

However, even if you don’t work in these cities, many Oklahoma food establishments, such as restaurants, markets, and bars have a strong food safety culture and still require their workers to earn a food handler card.

Additionally, many Oklahoma nursing homes and other healthcare facilities rely on food handler training to meet the state’s inservice training requirements for food safety and sanitation (1).

Even if you aren’t required to earn a food handler card, doing so can make it easier to land your next gig or earn a higher wage.

How to get an Oklahoma food handler card?

If you don’t work in Norman, Moore, or Tulsa, and need or want to earn your Oklahoma food handler card, doing so is simple and takes less than two hours.

To get started, enroll with a valid online food handler training provider — such as FoodSafePal — complete the course content, and pass the test.

Food handler courses cover essential food safety topics, including:

• food hazards
• good personal hygiene
• handwashing and glove use
• time and temperature controls for safety
• cross-contamination prevention
• cleaning and sanitizing
• food allergies and cross-contact prevention

The test asks questions about these topics in multiple-choice format, so make sure to pay attention as you progress through the course, taking notes if necessary.

You usually need at least a 70% to pass the test and earn your food handler card, but if you don’t pass the first time, you can usually take the test again for free.

Norman, Moore, and Tulsa

If you work in Norman, Moore, or Tulsa, you must earn your food handler card directly through the health department — no other training is recognized.

If you work in Norman or Moore, the cost to enroll in the online training is $10.

You can find information about the online food handler class here.

If you work in Tulsa, you can earn your food handler card online or in-person with the health department.

The cost to enroll online is unknown, but it costs $20 for the in-person training.

Learn more about earning your Tulsa food handler card here.

How long does an Oklahoma food handler card last?

An Oklahoma food handler card is good for three years.

The same is true for a Norman, Moore, or Tulsa food handler card.

When your food handler card is near its expiration date, you must renew it to keep it active.

Renewing your food handler card every three years keeps you current and fresh on important food safety principles.

You can renew an Oklahoma food handler card with any online training provider, but remember to renew with the health department if you work in Norman, Moore, or Tulsa, since these cities don’t recognize other training.

Always keep a copy of your food handler card on you while working — especially if you work in Norman, Moore, and Tulsa — and provide your manager with a copy if they require it.

If you lose your food handler card, you should be able to reprint it from the program in which you earned it or, if you work in Norman, Moore, or Tulsa, through your online training account with the health department.

The bottom line

Oklahoma has no law that requires food workers to earn a food handler card, but Norman, Moore, and Tulsa do.

However, even if you don’t work in these cities, your employer may still require that you earn a food handler card regardless.

You can earn your Oklahoma food handler card with any valid online training provider such as FoodSafePal, but if you work in Norman, Moore, or Tulsa, you must earn it directly through the health department.

An Oklahoma — as well as Norman, Moore, and Tulsa — food handler card is good for three years.