Kanawha County Food Handlers Card: West Virginia County Requirements (2026)
Quick answer
- Required?
- Yes
- Deadline
- Within 30 days of starting work
- Cost
- Roughly $10–$30 all-in depending on the option you choose; confirm the current fee with…
- Valid for
- Standard card: 1 year. A 2-year statewide card option is also offered.
Requirements verified July 17, 2026 against Kanawha-Charleston Health Department
How Kanawha County differs from the rest of West Virginia
The Kanawha-Charleston Health Department — covering Charleston, the state's largest city — requires food handler training within 30 days of starting work and issues a 1-year card, with a 2-year statewide option that's valid across West Virginia.
For the statewide picture, see the full West Virginia food handlers card guide.
What Kanawha County requires
If you handle, prepare, serve, sell, or give away food in Kanawha County — including bussing tables or washing dishes — you're a food worker and need this training within 30 days of starting work. KCHD partners with StateFoodSafety for online training: about 75 minutes plus a 30-question assessment. In-person training is also offered on Thursdays at KCHD's downtown Charleston location on Lee Street (call 304-348-8050 to reserve a spot).
Where to get your card in Kanawha County
Cost and validity
Roughly $10–$30 all-in depending on the option you choose; confirm the current fee with KCHD or on its StateFoodSafety portal. The card is valid for standard card: 1 year. a 2-year statewide card option is also offered..
Kanawha County FAQ
How do I get a food handler card in Charleston, WV?
Take the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department's training within 30 days of starting work — online through its StateFoodSafety portal (about 75 minutes, 30-question test) or in person on Thursdays at the KCHD office on Lee Street (reserve at 304-348-8050).
How long does the Kanawha County card last?
The standard card is valid 1 year. KCHD also offers a 2-year statewide food handler card that's good in other West Virginia counties — worth it if you might work outside Kanawha County.
Do dishwashers really need the card?
Yes. KCHD's definition of a food worker covers anyone who handles, prepares, serves, sells, or gives away food — explicitly including busing tables and washing dishes.
Official sources
Every requirement on this page traces to one of these official sources.
- Food Handler/Manager Requirements — Kanawha-Charleston Health Department