Where Is a License Number on a Food Handlers Card?

Unsafe food handling by food workers is a leading cause of foodborne illnesses.

As such, many places require a food handlers card to work at a food establishment like a restaurant or other place that prepares and serves food like a school, daycare, or healthcare facility.

If your health department or employer requires a food handlers card, you might be asked to provide your food handlers card license number.

However, you might wonder what this license number is or where you can find it.

This article explains what a food handlers card license number is and its purpose as well as where you can find it.

All food handlers cards have a license number

Food handler cards and certificates — at least those that are ANAB-accredited like FoodSafePal’s — must have a unique identifier.

This unique identifier is known as the license or certificate number.

It’s issued by the food handler training provider or company, and is always printed on the card or certificate itself.

The license or certificate number indicates who completed the training and whether it is currently active since food handler cards generally expire three years from the date of issuance.

Health departments and employers can use the license or certificate number to verify that your food handlers training is valid or ANAB-accredited and current.

In this way, there is a security purpose to the license or certificate number in that it cannot be replicated.

You may be asked to provide your food handlers card license or certificate number on a job application or if you earn a food handlers card that must be converted to a county- or state-specific one.

For example, if you live in Utah, you must complete a state-approved course to earn your food handlers card. The company through which you earned your food handlers card then sends your information — including the license or certificate number — to the local health department who will then issue a food handlers permit.

You can also find the expiration date on your food handlers card.

What if you can’t find your food handlers card or certificate?

Things happen and it can be easy to misplace or forget where you stored your food handlers card.

But, because the certificate or license number is only printed on the card or certificate itself, you’ll have to track it down.

You can start with your current or old job as you likely had to provide them with a copy as proof that you completed the required food handler training.

Otherwise, if you remember the company through which you earned your food handlers card, you can log into your account or contact them directly to redownload or print a copy.

And if you don’t remember the company, the next best thing you can do is search your email — both inbox and deleted folders — for keywords such as, “food handlers card” or “food handler training,” which should bring up the email you received when you enrolled or passed the course.

Once you track down your food handlers card or certificate, you can locate the license or certificate number, but you should also make sure it’s not expired.

Working with an expired food handlers card can be problematic for both you and your employer if your health department finds out, so don’t let this be you.

The bottom line

Food handler cards — at least those that are ANAB-accredited — must include a license or certificate number, which you can find on the card or certificate itself.

Your health department or employer can use this number to determine whether your food handlers card is valid and current.

If you can’t find your food handlers card or certificate, start with your current or previous employer since they likely have a copy on file.

Otherwise, you can log into the account in from the website that you earned your food handlers card or contact them directly.