Pennsylvania Food Handlers Card: What's Actually Required (2026)
Quick answer
- Required?
- No — there is no government mandate in Pennsylvania
- 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 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
No — Pennsylvania has no food handler card requirement for line-level food workers. The Food Employee Certification Act instead requires each retail food facility to have at least one certified supervisory food employee (national CFPM-level), present or immediately accessible during operating hours, with the certificate posted.
Pennsylvania does not require food handler cards. No state law, no county rule, and no city ordinance — including Philadelphia's — makes line-level food workers get certified. Employer training policies are the only requirement you will encounter, and a voluntary ANAB-accredited course ($7–$15, about two hours online) handles them.
Pennsylvania's mandate is the certified food employee: under the Food Employee Certification Act (3 Pa.C.S. §§ 6501–6510, effective January 22, 2011), every licensed retail food facility needs at least one supervisory employee holding an ANAB-CFP accredited certification, present or immediately accessible during all operating hours, with the certificate posted where inspectors can see it. New facilities get 90 days. Administration varies locally — Delaware, Montgomery, and Allegheny counties run the program themselves, and Philadelphia requires its certified person to also hold a city Food Safety Certificate (16-hour approved course, $30, valid 5 years). All of that lands on supervisors and owners, never on line staff.
Who needs a food handler card in Pennsylvania?
No line-level worker needs a card in Pennsylvania. The state's Food Employee Certification Act (3 Pa.C.S. §§ 6501–6510) puts the requirement on one person per licensed retail food facility: a certified food employee holding an ANAB-CFP accredited manager-level certification, who must be present or immediately accessible during all operating hours. Philadelphia adds its own city Food Safety Certificate for that certified person — still supervisor-level, never a handler card.
Why get certified anyway?
Even without a legal mandate in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania establishments also need a certified food manager?
Yes. The Food Employee Certification Act (3 Pa.C.S. §§ 6501–6510, effective January 22, 2011) requires at least one certified food employee — CFPM-level, ANAB-CFP accredited — per licensed retail food facility, present or immediately accessible during all operating hours, with the certificate posted in the facility. New facilities have 90 days to comply. Delaware, Montgomery, and Allegheny counties administer the program locally, and Philadelphia requires its own city Food Safety Certificate (16-hour approved course, $30, valid 5 years) for the certified person.
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.
Pennsylvania food handler card FAQ
Do I need a food handlers card in Pennsylvania?
No. Pennsylvania has no handler card mandate for line-level food workers anywhere in the state, including Philadelphia. Employers may require voluntary training as their own policy — ANAB-accredited courses cost about $7–$15.
What is Pennsylvania's certified food employee requirement?
Under the Food Employee Certification Act (3 Pa.C.S. §§ 6501–6510, in force since January 22, 2011), each licensed retail food facility needs at least one certified supervisory food employee with an ANAB-CFP accredited certification. That person must be present or immediately accessible during all operating hours, the certificate must be posted, and new facilities get 90 days to comply.
Is Philadelphia different?
Philadelphia layers a city credential on top: the certified person must obtain the city's Food Safety Certificate by completing a 16-hour approved course and paying $30, with the certificate valid 5 years. It is still a supervisor-level requirement — Philadelphia does not require handler cards for line staff. Delaware, Montgomery, and Allegheny counties also administer the certified food employee program locally.
Should I take a voluntary food safety course for a Pennsylvania food job?
It often helps. Many Pennsylvania employers require basic training on their own, and a $7–$15 ANAB-accredited online course takes about two hours. If you are aiming for management, the ANAB-CFP certification exam is the credential the Food Employee Certification Act actually requires.
Official sources
Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.
- Food Employee Certification — Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
- 7 Pa. Code 46.1201 Food Employee Certification Act compliance — Pennsylvania Code
- Take a food safety certification course — City of Philadelphia Department of Public Health