Do I need a food handlers card? Check in 10 seconds
Pick your state (and county, where it matters) and we'll tell you whether a card is legally required, your deadline, the cost, and which courses actually count — using the same verified data as our state guides.
How this checker works
The checker runs on the same data as our 2026 state guides — one source of truth, so the answer here always matches your state's page. Each state's entry is verified against official sources (statutes, administrative rules, and health department pages), and every state guide shows the date it was last verified with links to those sources.
What the three possible results mean
- Required statewide — a state law or rule requires food workers to complete approved training, usually within a set number of days of starting work. Texas, California, Washington, and Oregon all work this way.
- Required in some counties — there's no statewide law, but individual counties mandate a card. Arizona is the clearest example: Maricopa County requires training while other counties set their own rules, which is why the checker asks for your county.
- Not required by law — no government mandate exists. Employers can still require food safety training as a condition of the job, and in these states many do.
Before you pay for a course
- Confirm on your state's guide. The result card links to it — that page has the full details, county differences, and the official sources behind every claim.
- Match the course to your state's rules. Some states accept any ANAB-accredited course, but Washington only accepts its own state-run course and Oregon only accepts courses approved by the Oregon Health Authority. A generic online course is wasted money there.
- Note your deadline. Most states with a requirement give you a window after your hire date — miss it and the establishment can be cited on inspection.
Checker questions
Where does this data come from?
From the same data files that power our 51 state guides — a single source of truth verified against official sources: state statutes, administrative rules, and health department pages. Every state guide shows the date its requirements were last verified and links to those sources so you can check them yourself.
Why does it ask for my county?
Because in some states the county, not the state, sets the rules. Arizona has no statewide law but counties like Maricopa require a card, and three California counties (San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside) run their own programs and don’t accept the standard state card. If your state appears without a county dropdown, the rules are the same statewide.
Does the checker store or send my answers?
No. This is a static site — your selections are processed entirely in your browser and never sent to a server. The only thing that changes is the page URL, so you can copy it to share or bookmark your result.
Is this legal advice?
No — it’s an informational summary of published requirements. Rules change, and local jurisdictions can have their own ordinances. Before relying on it for employment or business decisions, confirm with your local health department; every state guide links the official sources to make that easy.