Maryland Food Handlers Card: What's Actually Required (2026)
Quick answer
- Required?
- No — there is no government mandate in Maryland
- Employers
- May still require food safety training as a job condition
- Voluntary
- An ANAB-accredited course typically costs $10–$15 online
Requirements verified July 17, 2026 against Maryland Department of Health
No — Maryland has no food handler card mandate for regular food workers in any county. Under COMAR 10.15.03, most food service facilities must operate under the immediate control of a Certified Food Service Manager, and several counties issue their own local manager licenses.
Maryland does not require food handler cards — and unlike states where county rules add card mandates, no Maryland county requires one for all food employees. Under COMAR 10.15.03, the state's food service facility regulation, staff training is the responsibility of the person in charge, with no government worker credential attached. If a Maryland employer asks for a certificate, a voluntary ANAB-accredited course ($7–$15, about two hours online) is the standard answer.
Where Maryland gets distinctive is terminology and local administration at the manager level. The state requires most food service facilities — those in moderate- and high-priority categories — to operate under the immediate control of a Certified Food Service Manager (CFSM), Maryland's name for what other states call a CFPM. County health departments run the program, and several, including Montgomery, Prince George's, and Baltimore County, issue their own manager certificates or licenses with local fees and renewal cycles. All of that lands on supervisors and owners, not on line workers.
Who needs a food handler card in Maryland?
No Maryland food worker needs a handler card — no county requires one for all employees, either. The person in charge is responsible for training staff. The mandatory credential is Maryland's Certified Food Service Manager (CFSM): under COMAR 10.15.03, moderate- and high-priority food service facilities must operate under the immediate control of a CFSM who completed an approved course and exam. Counties like Montgomery, Prince George's, and Baltimore County administer the program locally and may issue their own manager certificates or licenses.
Why get certified anyway?
Even without a legal mandate in Maryland, many employers require food safety training as a hiring condition, and a completed ANAB-accredited food handler course is a real advantage when applying for restaurant jobs. Online courses typically cost $10–$15 and take under two hours.
Recognized training options
Do Maryland establishments also need a certified food manager?
Yes. COMAR 10.15.03 requires most food service facilities (moderate and high priority) to operate under the immediate control of a Certified Food Service Manager — Maryland's term, CFSM, rather than the national CFPM label — who has completed an approved course and exam. Local health departments such as Montgomery, Prince George's, and Baltimore County administer the requirement and may issue their own manager certificates or licenses with local fees and renewal cycles.
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.
Maryland food handler card FAQ
Do I need a food handlers card in Maryland?
No. Maryland has no handler card mandate for regular food workers, and no Maryland county requires a card for all employees. County-level variation in Maryland is about manager licensing, not worker cards. Employers may still require training on their own.
What is a Certified Food Service Manager (CFSM)?
Maryland's name for its required manager credential under COMAR 10.15.03. Moderate- and high-priority food service facilities must operate under the immediate control of a CFSM who completed an approved course and exam. Other states usually call this a Certified Food Protection Manager.
Do Maryland counties have different rules?
Only at the manager level. Counties like Montgomery, Prince George's, and Baltimore County administer the CFSM requirement locally and may issue their own manager certificates or licenses with their own fees and renewal cycles. No county adds a food handler card requirement for line staff.
Who trains regular food workers in Maryland?
The person in charge is responsible for staff training under COMAR 10.15.03 — there is no government credential involved. Many employers use $7–$15 ANAB-accredited online courses to document it, and having one already can help your job application.
Official sources
Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.
- COMAR 10.15.03 Food Service Facilities — Maryland Department of Health
- Certified Food Service Manager Training — Baltimore County Department of Health
- Food Service Facility License — Montgomery County DHHS