Food Handler Certification
Food handler certification is required by some jurisdictions, counties, and states across the United States. However, this term can be a little confusing as food handler certification could actually refer to the accredited food safety manager certification (ex. Servsafe and Prometric) in one state but refer to a less stringent and less comprehensive employee level training and exam such as a Food Handler Card in another state or jurisdiction (ex. San Diego County, California).
Food Handler Certification
Premier Food Safety provides high quality food safety certification training for the Food Manager Certification exam and online food handler certification for the Food Handler Card in California, Texas and Florida.
California Food Handler Card
The California Food Handler Card Law is a new law that has been passed to increase food safety competence and awareness. All food handlers in California are required to successfully pass a food handler certification program and exam before January 1, 2012 and renew every 3 years.
The food handler certification course may be completed online, as long as it’s taken from an ANSI-approved program, such as the Food Handler Certification offered by Premier Food Safety.
Florida Food Handler Certification
Food Handlers working for an establishment licensed by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Division of Hotels & Restaurants, need to get a Florida Food Handler Certificate from an approved provider within 60 days of new hire date and renew every 3 years.
As of August, 2011, online training from an approved program is accepted as a valid food handler certification method. Premier Food Safety, in partnership with The New Habit, is an accredited provider under license #3913435.
Texas Food Handler Certificate
Although food handler certification is not required statewide by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), local ordinance in many cities and counties mandates this certification.
For those jurisdictions where a food handler certificate is required, those programs approved by the Texas DSHS must be accepted by the local health authority as meeting food handler certification requirements. Premier Food Safety is a Texas DSHS accredited online certification provider under License #51.
Note: Some local ruling authorities have further requirements in addition to this training, such as a separate fee for the issuance of a local food handlers card.
