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

Quick answer

Required?
Depends on your county — no statewide law
Deadline
Set by each health district
Cost
$25–$40
Valid for
3 years
Online OK?
Clark County: self-study materials plus a proctored in-person test at an SNHD office

Requirements verified July 17, 2026 against Southern Nevada Health District

Nevada has no statewide food handler card law — the rule depends on your county health authority. In Clark County (Las Vegas) you must take an in-person test at the Southern Nevada Health District ($25, 3 years; online cards are NOT accepted). Washoe County (Reno) accepts ANAB-accredited courses.

Nevada leaves food handler cards to its local health authorities under NRS 446, and the two big districts couldn't be more different. In Clark County — Las Vegas, Henderson, and the Strip — the Southern Nevada Health District is the only game in town: you study free materials, then take a proctored 20-question test in person at an SNHD office, pay $25, and walk out with a 3-year card. No online course, app, or out-of-state certificate substitutes for it.

In Washoe County (Reno-Sparks), Northern Nevada Public Health accepts ANSI/ANAB-accredited courses, so an online class for under $15 usually does the job. Carson City runs its own program, and rural counties sit under the state DPBH food safety program. Find your county below — the difference between Las Vegas and Reno rules trips up a lot of new hires.

Who needs a food handler safety training card in Nevada?

In Clark and Washoe counties, essentially every food employee needs a card: cooks, servers, bartenders, bussers, dishwashers, and anyone else who handles food, drinks, utensils, or food-contact equipment. Clark County requires you to carry your Southern Nevada Health District card while working. Carson City runs its own program, and rural counties fall under the state Division of Public and Behavioral Health, which generally accepts ANSI/ANAB-accredited training.

How to get your Nevada food handler safety training card

  1. Find your county below — the process in Las Vegas (Clark County) is completely different from Reno (Washoe County).
  2. Clark County: study SNHD's free materials, then visit an SNHD office during business hours to take the 20-question test in person. Bring payment for the $25 fee.
  3. Washoe County: take an ANAB-accredited online course (about $7–$15, roughly 90 minutes) or train through Northern Nevada Public Health.
  4. Pass the test — 70% or better at SNHD. Your card is issued immediately at the district office; retests cost $5 and require waiting until the next business day.
  5. Keep your card available while working — Clark County requires it on shift — and note the 3-year expiration.
  6. Renew before it expires: retest at SNHD in Clark County (a $15 late fee applies after expiration) or retake an approved course in Washoe County.

Which courses count: Depends on the county. SNHD (Clark County) does NOT accept third-party or online food handler cards — only its own card, earned by testing at a district office. Northern Nevada Public Health (Washoe County) accepts ANSI/ANAB-accredited courses, and the state DPBH program covering rural counties generally does too.

Approved training options

Southern Nevada Health District Food Handler Card (Clark County — required, in-person test)
Northern Nevada Public Health (Washoe County)
Learn2Serve by 360training (accepted where ANAB courses are allowed, e.g. Washoe)ANAB-accredited
StateFoodSafety (accepted where ANAB courses are allowed)ANAB-accredited

County differences in Nevada

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

  • Clark County

    Clark County (Las Vegas, Henderson, North Las Vegas) is the strictest program in Nevada: the Southern Nevada Health District issues the only card it accepts. You must pass a proctored test in person at an SNHD office — online and third-party food handler cards do not count here.

  • Washoe County

    Washoe County (Reno, Sparks) takes the opposite approach from Las Vegas: Northern Nevada Public Health accepts ANSI/ANAB-accredited food handler courses, so you can train and test online instead of visiting a government office.

Cost and renewal

Clark County (SNHD): $25 card fee, test included; $5 retest, $15 late renewal. Washoe County: the cost of an approved ANAB course or NNPH card, roughly $7–$40 depending on provider. Confirm current fees with your health district before you go.

The SNHD card in Clark County is valid 3 years; renew by retesting at a district office (a $15 late fee applies if you let it lapse). Washoe County cards and accepted ANAB certificates typically also run 3 years — check the expiration printed on yours.

Do Nevada establishments also need a certified food manager?

Yes, by health district. SNHD's 2023 Food Regulations (§2-102.2) require a Certified Food Protection Manager as the person in charge at all hours in risk category 2–4 establishments in Clark County, with an extra 10-question local test added December 1, 2023. Washoe County runs its own CFPM requirement through NNPH. There is no single statewide CFPM statute.

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.

Nevada food handler card FAQ

Is there a statewide food handler card in Nevada?

No. NRS 446 sets the framework but delegates enforcement to local health authorities, so each district writes its own rule. Clark County (SNHD) and Washoe County (NNPH) both mandate cards, Carson City runs its own program, and rural counties fall under the state DPBH Food Safety Program.

How do I get a food handlers card in Las Vegas?

Go to a Southern Nevada Health District office during business hours, pass the 20-question test (70% to pass), and pay $25. The 3-year card is issued immediately. You cannot do this online — SNHD does not accept online or third-party cards.

How long do I have after being hired in Nevada?

Many training sites say 30 days, but that isn't confirmed as a statewide statute. SNHD's rule is that you must have a valid card while working, so in Clark County the safe answer is: get it before your first shift or as soon as possible after. Ask your health district or employer for their enforcement window.

What about Carson City and rural Nevada counties?

Carson City Health and Human Services runs its own food handler program — contact them for current fees and testing. Counties without their own health district are covered by the Nevada DPBH Food Safety Program, which generally accepts ANSI/ANAB-accredited training; confirm whether a card is mandated in your county before assuming you need one.

How much does a Nevada health card cost?

In Clark County, $25 at SNHD (test included), plus $5 per retest and $15 if you renew late. In Washoe County you pay whatever your approved provider charges, usually $7–$40. Fees change, so verify on your district's website.

Official sources

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