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

Quick answer

Required?
Depends on your county — no statewide law
Deadline
Omaha/Douglas County: within 30 days of employment
Cost
$0–$20
Valid for
2 years
Online OK?
Yes

Requirements verified July 17, 2026 against Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department

Nebraska has no statewide food handler law — it depends on your city or county. Two jurisdictions mandate credentials: Lincoln (Lancaster County), where the health department's free online training earns a 2-year permit, and Omaha (Douglas County), whose new $20 certification program launched January 2026.

Nebraska has no statewide food handler card — the requirement depends entirely on where you work, and only two places mandate one. Lincoln has run its program for years: the Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department issues free 2-year food handler permits through an online course it built with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, tiered into Serve/Clean, Prep/Cook, and Shift Manager levels.

Omaha is the new one. After Omaha Municipal Code amendments in August 2025, the Douglas County Health Department launched its food handler certification program on January 21, 2026: $20 for all three training levels, valid 2 years, required within 30 days of employment, and available only through DCHD's own portal — no third-party cards accepted. Everywhere else in Nebraska, no government permit is required, though your employer may still want training.

Who needs a food handler permit in Nebraska?

Food workers in Lincoln (Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department jurisdiction) and food handlers in the City of Omaha (Douglas County Health Department program). Both programs use tiered training levels — Serve/Clean, Prep/Cook, and Shift Manager — matched to what you do on the job. Outside these two metros, Nebraska has no individual food handler card mandate, though employers can require training.

How to get your Nebraska food handler permit

  1. Find your jurisdiction below — only Lincoln (Lancaster County) and Omaha (Douglas County) mandate food handler credentials in Nebraska.
  2. Lincoln: create an account at foodhandlers.unl.edu and complete the free county-sponsored training for the level matching your job (Serve/Clean, Prep/Cook, or Shift Manager).
  3. Omaha: register at the Douglas County portal (foodhandlers.douglascountyhealth.com), pay the one-time $20 fee (waivable if you're under 18), and finish the training within 30 days of starting work.
  4. Skip third-party courses — neither city accepts them; only the health-department programs count.
  5. Print or save your permit/certification and keep it available for your employer and inspectors.
  6. Renew every 2 years: retake Lincoln's free course, or recertify through the DCHD portal in Omaha.

Which courses count: Neither metro accepts generic third-party courses. Lincoln-Lancaster County accepts only its county-sponsored course, and Douglas County certifications must be obtained exclusively through the DCHD program — a national ANAB certificate does not substitute in either city.

Approved training options

UNL Food Handler Training (Lincoln-Lancaster County's official course, free)
Douglas County Food Handler Training (official Omaha portal, $20)

County differences in Nebraska

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

  • Lancaster County (Lincoln)

    The Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department requires food handler permits and issues them at no cost through its own online training built with the University of Nebraska-Lincoln — the only course it accepts.

  • Douglas County (Omaha)

    Omaha's food handler certification is Nebraska's newest mandate: the Omaha Municipal Code was amended in August 2025 and the Douglas County Health Department's training portal launched January 21, 2026. It's $20 for all three levels, valid 2 years, and DCHD's program is the only accepted route.

Cost and renewal

Lincoln-Lancaster County: the food handler training and permit are free (the separate Food Protection Manager permit is $30). Douglas County/Omaha: $20 for all three certification levels, waivable for workers under 18.

Both programs issue 2-year credentials. In Lincoln you can reprint your permit any time until it expires, then retake the free training. In Omaha, the $20 fee covers unlimited retakes of the training during the 2-year validity period; recertify through the DCHD portal when it lapses.

Do Nebraska establishments also need a certified food manager?

No statewide mandate, but both metro programs require it: Lincoln-Lancaster requires a Food Protection Manager permit (3-year, $30, based on an ANSI/CFP-recognized exam), and Douglas County requires a Certified Food Protection Manager on staff at establishments handling exposed foods.

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.

Nebraska food handler card FAQ

Does Nebraska require a food handler permit statewide?

No. There's no statewide law — the requirement depends on where you work. Lincoln (Lancaster County) and Omaha (Douglas County) both mandate health-department credentials; the rest of the state has no individual food handler card requirement.

What changed in Omaha in 2026?

Omaha's Municipal Code was amended in August 2025 to require food handler certification, and the Douglas County Health Department launched its training program on January 21, 2026. All Omaha food handlers now need the $20, 2-year DCHD certification within 30 days of employment.

Can I take a cheap online course instead of the county programs?

Not in Lincoln or Omaha. Both accept only their own health-department training — Lincoln's is free at foodhandlers.unl.edu, and Omaha's is $20 through the DCHD portal. A generic ANAB certificate won't substitute in either city.

Why do both cities use University of Nebraska-Lincoln websites?

Both health departments partnered with UNL to build their training platforms. Lincoln's course lives at foodhandlers.unl.edu, and Douglas County's portal was developed with UNL too, offered in English and Spanish with the same three-level structure (Serve Clean, Prep Cook, Shift Manager).

Does the Omaha rule cover all of Douglas County?

The requirement comes from the Omaha Municipal Code and DCHD describes it as applying to food handlers in the City of Omaha. Whether it extends to the rest of Douglas County isn't clearly published — if you work outside city limits, confirm with the Douglas County Health Department.

Official sources

Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.