How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Frequently Asked Questions

What type of employment roles and positions fall under the California Food Handler Card Law?

Most restaurant positions are subject to the California Food Handler Card Law. Food handlers are defined as individuals involved in the preparation, storage or service of food in a food facility.

Are there any exemptions ?

Certain statutory exemptions do exist including food handlers in:

  • Temporary food facilities (food booths).
  • Certified farmers’ markets.
  • Commissaries, grocery stores (including convenience stores).
  • Licensed health care facilities.
  • Mobile support units
  • Public and private school cafeterias.
  • Restricted food service facilities.
  • Retail stores where a majority of sales are from a pharmacy.
  • Venues with snack bar services in which the majority of sales are from admission tickets (excluding any area in which restaurant-style sit-down service is provided),
  • Certain food facilities with approved in-house food safety training.
  • Food facilities subject to a collective bargaining agreement.
  • Any city, county, city and county, state or regional facility used for the confinement of adults or minors, including, but not limited to, a county jail, juvenile hall, camp, ranch, or residential facility,
  • An elderly nutrition program, administered by the California Department of Aging.
  • Food handlers subject to the local food handler programs in the counties of Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego and food handlers holding a valid Manager’s Food Safety Certificate pursuant to current food safety law.

The definition therefore effectively includes most restaurant employees such as those holding the positions of, but not limited to: Wait staff, chefs, head cooks, cooks, bussers, bartenders, host/hostesses that handle food, beverage pourers (including alcoholic beverage pourers), and supervisory personnel, such as the general manager or managers (unless they are certified under the existing food managers certification program).

The law applies to both salaried and hourly food handlers.

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How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

State of California

How do I comply with the State of California Food Handler Card law?

A California food handlers card must be obtain within 30 days of the date of being hired. Restaurant workers, service staff or individuals that work as food handlers within the food service industry are required to hold a valid California State and ANSI approved food handler card for the duration of their employment.

The Food handler Card required by California food safety laws is designed to ensure that commis chefs, short order cooks, chefs, food handlers and other kitchen staff receive training in the fundamentals of food safety and are equipped with knowledge of modern food safety practices in order to reduce the potential for foodborne illness or food contamination in the food service industry.

Food handlers, restaurant workers and kitchen staff employed in the food service industry need to take an ANSI approved food safety certificate course and pass the food handler certification test with a minimum score of 70 percent to obtain a California Food Handler Card.

FoodHandlerClasses.com is an ANSI accredited food handler certification provider. Completion of this online training course will provide a food service employee with the fundamentals of safe food handling and best food safety practices.

ANSI Accredited food handler safety training.

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Our support staff is here to help every step of the way.

Your certificate of completion is always available online.

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Recognized and accepted throughout the State of California!

Training & Exam

Full course access: $7.00

Please note

The State of California is now accepting the ANSI Accredited FHC course for food handler training and certification.  The certificate provided upon completion of this course is not valid in Riverside, San Bernardino, or San Diego Counties at this time.

The State of California requires all manufacturers/producers of cannabis edibles to have food safety training.

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How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Simple and Secure

FoodHandlerClasses.com offers an easy and elegant way to obtain your ANSI accredited food handler training certificate at minimal cost and effort to you.

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Training Evolved

Gone are the days of attending physical classes to become certified. Our online training program can be completed in a shorter time, and at your own pace!

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Nationally Accredited

Our program is recognized nationwide and is ANSI accredited. That means you can be sure our online certificates represent quality training at the highest level.

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Food Safety Training Certification (ANSI): Learning Objectives

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Fundamentals

Food Handler Classes online provide this ANSI accredited food worker certification course for employees in the California food service industry. Founded on a basic review of food safety practices, this course is designed to help students understand and identify the potential risks of foodborne illness due to improper food preparation, food storage or food handling. Students will also learn the basic behaviors that can help protect themselves, their co-workers, and their customers against foodborne illness.
Online Resource:
USDA.GOV - Food Safety Basics

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Hygiene Practices

As a food handler, your methods directly affect not only the safety and quality of food being served to your customers, it can also impact your own Health & Safety. In this study module you will learn how keep hands and body clean prevents contamination of the food you handle or may touch. You'll also learn about methods for keeping food contact surfaces safe, and when to use appropriate barriers to prevent bare-hand contact with food.
Online Resource:
CDC.GOV - Food Preparation

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Cross Contamination

When it comes to studying for a food safety certificate, learning about hygiene, hand-washing and keeping food contact surfaces clean is only half the problem. Illness-causing bacteria can still spread from some raw meats, eggs, seafood, and poultry to other foods, unless you practice good food separation protocols to prevent bacterial transfer. This learning module provides a good overview of best practices for food storage, food preparation surfaces, proper food handling to prevent cross-contamination.
Online Resource:
USDA.GOV - Don't Cross-Contaminate.
WebstaurantStore.com - Prevention

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Hazards in Food

Completing a food safety training course can teach you how foods with bacteria lurking inside can be an illness time bombs, just waiting to go off. But bacteria are not the only dangerous hazard that may be found in foods. This learning module covers biological hazards, like bacteria, molds, and parasites; chemical hazards from pesticides and common cleaning products; and physical hazards, such as bones or foreign materials like small stones or bits of broken glass, or undesirable objects like insects or hair.
Online Resource:
TodaysDietitian.com - Food Hazards

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Temperature Control

The temperature control learning module for the Food Handlers Certification Course is about the standards for Time and Temperature Control for Food Safety (TCS). Study materials include information regarding cooking different kinds of foods to the proper internal temperature, holding foods at the proper temperature, and the correct method for cooling and reheating foods. On completion of this Food Handlers Certification module, students will learn that one of the primary causes of foodborne illness is the failure to observe proper time & temperature control for foods that require it.
Online Resource:
GFS.COM - Temperature Control

How do i get a food handlers certificate in california

Practicing Food Safety

When it comes to the handling of foods within a safe and responsible environment, it is important to know "what to do" and "how to do it". Until you put you food safety knowledge into practice, the dangers of spreading or contracting foodborne illness remains high. This California, Food Handler Classes course module covers your responsibilities as a non-managerial food handler. On completion you will know how to implement your food safety knowledge. You will gain valuable insight into how to work together with your managers and coworkers to create a safe and healthy work environment
Online Resource:
USDA.GOV - Safe Food Handling

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How much is a CA food handlers card?

$7.95 | California Food Handlers Card | eFoodHandlers®

Can I get food handlers certificate online?

To apply for the food handler certificate online at the Nairobi City Council office, the applicant should make the application through the NCCG ePayments Portal via this link: NCCG ePayments Portal.

How long does it take to get a food handlers license in California?

The California food handler training course takes about 2.5 hours to complete.

How long is a food handlers certificate valid for in California?

A food handler card is valid for three years from the date of issuance. Food handlers must retake and pass the food handler card class every three years to maintain a valid California food handler card.