Alabama Food Handlers Card: Requirements, Cost & How to Get One (2026)

Requirements verified July 17, 2026 against Jefferson County Department of Health

Alabama has no statewide food handler card — it depends on your county. Jefferson County (Birmingham) requires county food handler training within 21 days of hire ($15 class, $20 online), and Mobile County requires its own course too. Statewide, ADPH requires a certified food protection manager in charge, not handler cards.

Alabama splits food safety credentials two ways: statewide, the Department of Public Health's Chapter 420-3-22 rules require a certified food protection manager as the person in charge of an establishment (in effect since January 2020) — but there is no statewide card for regular food workers. Individual food handler training is a county matter, and two counties mandate it.

Jefferson County (Birmingham) gives new hires 21 days to complete JCDH training — $15 for the in-person class at the health department or $20 online — with a possible exemption if a certified food manager is on duty at all times where you work. Mobile County requires its own course, with online training routed exclusively through the county's StateFoodSafety portal. Neither county clearly publishes card validity, so keep an eye on the date printed on your certificate. Details for both counties are below.

Who needs a food handler card in Alabama?

In Jefferson and Mobile counties, food service employees need county health department food handler training — with one notable carve-out: in Jefferson County, employees who always work under a certified food manager on duty may be exempt from the handler class. Everywhere else in Alabama, no individual card is required by government, though the person in charge of an establishment must hold a food protection manager certification under ADPH rules.

How to get your Alabama food handler card

1. Find your county below — only Jefferson and Mobile counties have verified food handler mandates in Alabama.
2. Jefferson County: register for the JCDH class ($15, cash or money order on class day) or take the county's approved online training ($20). You have 21 days from hire.
3. Mobile County: take the MCHD course in person or through the county's online portal at mchd.statefoodsafety.com; confirm the current fee with the health department first.
4. Check whether you're exempt: in Jefferson County, working under a certified food manager who's on duty at all times may excuse you from the handler class.
5. Keep your certificate and give a copy to your employer for inspection records.
6. Watch your expiration date — validity isn't clearly published (reports say 2 years in Jefferson, 1 year in Mobile), so renew based on the date printed on your card.

Which courses count: County-specific: these are county health department programs, not generic ANAB courses. Jefferson County accepts its in-person class or its designated online training; Mobile County channels online training through its own StateFoodSafety portal. A national food handler certificate from another provider isn't a substitute in either county.

Approved training options

County differences in Alabama

Requirements are not identical everywhere in Alabama. These counties have their own rules — click through for specifics:

Cost and renewal

Jefferson County: $15 in-person class (cash or money order) or $20 for the county's approved online training. Mobile County: the county class is about $15–$20 with an added fee for the online option through the county's StateFoodSafety portal — pricing reports vary, so confirm with MCHD before paying.

Neither county publishes its validity period prominently on official pages. Third-party sites report Jefferson County cards last 2 years and Mobile County cards 1 year, but treat those as unconfirmed — check the expiration printed on your certificate and ask the county health department when renewal is due.

Do Alabama establishments also need a certified food manager?

Yes — under ADPH's Food Establishment Sanitation rules (Chapter 420-3-22), effective January 1, 2020, a person in charge holding an ANAB/CFP-accredited food protection manager certification (valid 5 years) must be present, with scope varying by the establishment's priority category. This is an establishment-level rule, separate from the county handler classes.

If you're aiming for a supervisor role, see our guide to food manager certification — it's a different credential with a proctored exam and higher pay potential.

Not sure what applies to you? Use the requirements checker or read how to get a food handlers card for the general process.

Alabama food handler card FAQ