Do restaurant workers in California need a food handler card?
The short answer, with the official forms and the agencies' own links.
The short answer
Yes. Food workers who prepare, store or handle food must get a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of being hired, from an ANSI-accredited course. The card is valid for three years. Workers who hold a valid food safety certification are exempt.
Full guides
General information, not legal or tax advice. Agency requirements change; check the agency's page before you file.
Was this page helpful?
Get the plan for your exact address
This guide covers the city. Your exact address decides the county, the health district and the zoning. Placetta maps every filing for it, fills the official forms from your details, adds the deadlines and puts them up for your approval.
- The full list for your address, in filing order
- The official forms, filled line by line
- Renewal and inspection reminders