New York City Food Handlers Card: New York County Requirements (2026)

Quick answer

Required?
Yes
Deadline
A certificate-holding supervisor must be on site during all hours of operation
Cost
Free online course; $24 proctored exam fee
Valid for
The Food Protection Certificate never expires

Requirements verified July 17, 2026 against NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene

How New York City differs from the rest of New York

NYC is the one place in New York with a mandatory food safety credential: every food service establishment must have a supervisor with a DOHMH Food Protection Certificate on site during all operating hours. It applies to supervisors only — line workers still need nothing.

For the statewide picture, see the full New York food handlers card guide.

What New York City requires

Under NYC Health Code Article 81.15, the supervisor of food operations at each NYC food service establishment must hold a Food Protection Certificate from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and a certificate holder must be on site whenever the establishment is operating. Getting it means completing the 15-hour DOHMH-approved food protection course — available free online, or in person through the Health Academy — then passing an in-person proctored exam. NYC does not accept ServSafe or other ANSI-CFP certificates as substitutes; only the DOHMH credential counts. Once earned, the certificate never expires.

Where to get your card in New York City

NYC Health Academy — Food Protection Course (free online)

Cost and validity

Free online course; $24 proctored exam fee. The card is valid for the food protection certificate never expires.

New York City FAQ

Who needs the NYC Food Protection Certificate?

Only supervisors. NYC Health Code Article 81.15 requires the supervisor of food operations at each food service establishment to hold the certificate, and a holder must be on site during all operating hours. Cooks, servers, and other line workers do not need it — though many get it anyway to qualify for shift-supervisor roles.

Does ServSafe count in New York City?

No. NYC does not accept ServSafe or any other ANSI-CFP certificate in place of its Food Protection Certificate. You must take the DOHMH-approved 15-hour course (free online or in person at the Health Academy) and pass the in-person proctored exam, which costs $24.

Does the NYC Food Protection Certificate expire?

No — it never expires. That makes it one of the best-value food safety credentials in the country: a free online course, a $24 exam, and a certificate you hold for life.

Official sources

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