North Dakota Food Handlers Card: What's Actually Required (2026)
Quick answer
- Required?
- No — there is no government mandate in North Dakota
- 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 North Dakota Health and Human Services
No — the North Dakota Food Code requires no food handler cards or certificates, and not even a Certified Food Protection Manager: the state only recommends one. ND HHS notes some local public health units may set their own requirements, so check locally.
North Dakota does not require food handler cards — and it goes further than most no-card states: the North Dakota Food Code does not even mandate a Certified Food Protection Manager. ND Health and Human Services says both plainly on its food safety training page: handler training "is not required in North Dakota Food Code but may be required in some areas of the state," and a CFPM is recommended, not required. That makes North Dakota one of the least credential-heavy food safety regimes in the country.
The catch is in that phrase "some areas of the state." Local public health units — such as First District Health Unit in the Minot area or Fargo Cass Public Health — can set their own requirements, and the state does not publish a roster of which ones do. If you are starting a food job or opening a food business in North Dakota, one call to your local public health unit settles it. For everything else, training is your employer's call; a voluntary ANAB-accredited course ($7–$15, about two hours online) covers the typical ask.
Who needs a food handler card in North Dakota?
Nobody, under state law. North Dakota HHS states that food handler training is not required by the North Dakota Food Code, though it may be required in some areas of the state by local public health units. Even the manager-level CFPM credential is only a recommendation statewide — North Dakota is one of the lightest-regulation states in the country on food safety credentials. Employers may still require training on their own.
Why get certified anyway?
Even without a legal mandate in North Dakota, 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 North Dakota establishments also need a certified food manager?
No — and that is rare. ND HHS states a Certified Food Protection Manager "is not a requirement of the North Dakota Food Code but may be required in some areas of the state." The state recommends at least one CFPM-certified supervisor per establishment, but recommends is the operative word. Local public health units may impose their own rules, so verify with yours.
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.
North Dakota food handler card FAQ
Do I need a food handlers card in North Dakota?
Not under the North Dakota Food Code — ND HHS says food handler training is not required by the code, though it may be required in some areas of the state. Check with your local public health unit (for example, First District Health Unit or Fargo Cass Public Health) to see whether a local rule applies where you work.
Does North Dakota require a Certified Food Protection Manager?
No. Unlike most states, North Dakota only recommends at least one CFPM supervisor per establishment — the Food Code does not mandate it. Some local public health units may require more, so confirm locally if you operate a food business.
Which local rules should I check in North Dakota?
ND HHS points out that both handler training and CFPM certification "may be required in some areas of the state" by local public health units. We could not confirm which units currently mandate what, so ask the public health unit covering your city or county directly before assuming you are exempt.
Is voluntary food safety training still worth it in North Dakota?
Often, yes. Employers commonly want trained staff even without a legal mandate, and an ANAB-accredited online course costs about $7–$15 and takes around two hours. It also travels with you if you later work in a state that does require training.
Official sources
Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.
- Food Safety Training — North Dakota Health and Human Services