In most of California, anyone who prepares, stores or serves food in a restaurant needs a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of being hired, from an ANSI-accredited course, and the card lasts three years (Cal. Health & Safety Code 113948). Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties run their own food handler programs, so workers there need that county’s card instead. Since January 1, 2024, the employer pays for the course and for the time it takes.
California code and county environmental health pages checked October 24, 2026.
California food handler card rules in the state and the three county programs
| Where the restaurant is | Card you need | Deadline after hire | Valid for | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Any county except the three below | California Food Handler Card | 30 days | 3 years | An ANSI-accredited food handler course; pass the exam with 70% or better (LA County summary of the state law) |
| Riverside County | Riverside County Food Handler Certificate | Set by county ordinance; ask Riverside County Environmental Health | 2 years | Online through the county’s training site or an exam at a county office with photo ID; $28, 50 questions, 70% to pass (Riverside County EH) |
| San Bernardino County | San Bernardino County food handler card | 14 calendar days | Listed on the county’s program page | County-approved training (San Bernardino County EHS, county SB 476 FAQ) |
| San Diego County | Card from a county-authorized school, or the county test given in-house | Set by San Diego County Code | 3 years; renewal needs a 3-hour course and test | A school on the county-authorized list, or the in-house test run by the facility’s certified food safety manager, which counts only at that facility (San Diego County DEHQ) |
A county card from Riverside, San Bernardino or San Diego works only in that county unless it also carries an ANSI accreditation, according to Orange County Health Care Agency. Going the other way, a statewide card from an ANSI-accredited course is accepted in every other county.
Who pays for a California food handler card since SB 476
SB 476 (Chapter 610, Statutes of 2023) changed Section 113948 starting January 1, 2024. The employer must:
- pay for the training and the exam,
- count the time spent on both as paid hours worked,
- relieve the worker of other duties while training, and
- hire without requiring an existing card; a new hire gets the card within the deadline.
San Bernardino County’s SB 476 FAQ says the payment rule covers its local card program too.
Who needs a California food handler card, and who is exempt
State law defines a food handler as someone involved in preparing, storing or serving food in a food facility. A worker who holds a valid food protection manager certificate is covered by that certificate. Some settings fall outside the card law, such as temporary food facilities at events; Orange County lists the full set of exemptions.
One card covers every job you hold. Ventura County’s food handler FAQ confirms that a worker at two restaurants at the same time uses the same card at both, as long as neither is in Riverside, San Bernardino or San Diego County.
How to get a food handler card that your county accepts
- Check which county the restaurant is in. The street address decides, so a Long Beach or Pasadena restaurant follows the statewide card rule even though those cities run their own inspections.
- Outside the three county programs, pick an ANSI-accredited California food handler course. The course ends with a test; you need 70% to pass.
- In Riverside County, use the county’s online training site or take the exam at a county office. Give the original certificate to the person in charge; the employer hands it back when you leave.
- In San Bernardino County, use the training listed on the county food handler page and finish within 14 days of starting work.
- In San Diego County, choose a school from the authorized list, or ask the facility’s certified manager about the in-house test.
- Save a copy of the card and note the expiration date. Renew before it lapses: three years for the state card and San Diego’s, two years for Riverside’s.
How food handler cards show up on a California inspection report
Inspectors check cards during routine visits. Riverside County says its Environmental Health Specialists review the certificates on site, and a missing or expired card is written up on the report. To see how a finding affects the score in a given county, read the report on that county’s scale with our inspection score reader, and look up the restaurant in LA County, Riverside County or San Diego County.
For deadlines and fees in other states, see food handler card requirements by state.