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

Requirements verified July 17, 2026 against Washington State Department of Health

Washington requires every food worker who handles unwrapped food, utensils, or food-contact surfaces to hold a Washington State Food Worker Card within 14 days of starting work. The only valid course is the state's own $10 online or in-person program — third-party food handler courses are not accepted in Washington.

Washington does food worker cards differently from almost every other state: there is exactly one valid course, and the state runs it. The program is called "Do it Right, Serve it Safe!" and lives at foodworkercard.wa.gov. Any other website selling a "Washington food handler card" — including well-known national courses that are perfectly valid in other states — will not be accepted by your health department here.

The good news is the official course is cheap and quick: $10 flat (the same price in every county, fixed by law), about 30 minutes of training plus a test, and it's offered in 13 languages. You need your card within 14 days of starting work, and your employer must give you food safety training if you work during those first two weeks.

Who needs a food worker card in Washington?

Anyone who works with unwrapped food, food equipment or utensils, or any surface where people put unwrapped food in a food or beverage establishment. For temporary food establishments, the person in charge must hold a card. Adult family home workers who completed caregiver training under RCW 70.128.250 plus employer food safety training are exempt.

How to get your Washington food worker card

1. Go to foodworkercard.wa.gov — the official state site — and create an account. Ignore any other site offering a Washington card; only this one is valid.
2. Choose your language. The training and test are available in 13 languages, including Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, and Tagalog.
3. Complete the training (about 30 minutes) and pass the test with a score of 80% or higher.
4. Pay the $10 fee and print your card immediately. The fee is identical in every Washington county.
5. Show the card to your employer. Renew before the 2-year expiration — renewals last 3 years, or 5 years if you complete extra food safety training first.

Which courses count: Only the official Washington State program is accepted. The Department of Health explicitly warns that other websites offering similar cards online are not valid in Washington — ANAB-accredited third-party courses do NOT count here.

Approved training options

Requirements are the same statewide — no Washington county or city has its own separate food handler card rules.

Cost and renewal

Flat $10 fee set by rule (WAC 246-217-025). State law requires the fee to be uniform statewide and to reflect actual program costs — no county can charge a different amount.

The initial card is valid 2 years. Renewal cards are valid 3 years — or 5 years if you document additional food safety training (such as 4 hours of state-approved training or Certified Food Protection Manager training) completed within the 2 years before renewal (WAC 246-217-035). You can renew up to 60 days before expiration; bring proof of your unexpired card.

Do Washington establishments also need a certified food manager?

Yes. Since March 1, 2023, WAC 246-215-02107 requires most food establishments to have at least one Certified Food Protection Manager on staff, certified through a Conference for Food Protection–accredited program. If the CFPM leaves, a replacement must be on staff within 60 days. This is separate from the Food Worker Card — but CFPM training can qualify you for the 5-year renewal card.

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.

Washington food handler card FAQ