GET YOUR FOOD WORKER CARD HERE
WHO NEEDS A FOOD WORKER CARD?
Every person working with food in a food establishment is required (Chapter 246-217 WAC) to have a current Food Worker card.
HOW DO I GET A CARD?
To get a card, you must pass an on-line class on safe food handling practices and pay a small fee. You must take the test at www.foodworkercard.wa.gov. Other websites that appear to offer a similar card online are not valid in Washington.
WHAT IF I DON'T HAVE A COMPUTER OR INTERNET ACCESS?
In-person Food Worker Card testing is unavailable at our office. If you do not have internet access or a computer, most local libraries have computers to use; call ahead to confirm computer availability
HOW MUCH DOES A CARD COST?
A food worker card cost $10. Once you have a food worker card, we recommend that you keep the original and provide a copy to your employer (You might want to make an extra copy for yourself, too!).
If you don't have a credit card to pay the fee on-line, you can complete the course on-line and pay the fee in our offices cash or check, credit card is accepted with a $2.00 usage charge. and we will print the card for you. This also applies if you do not have a printer available to you.
FOOD & BEVERAGE WORKERS' MANUAL
The manual will help you prepare for your class. It is available in many languages and in Braille (upon request).
HOW LONG IS MY CARD VALID?
Your first food worker card is valid for 2 years. Before the card expires, you must take the food safety training class and pass the exam again. Renewal cards after that are valid for 3 or 5 years.
Additional renewal information is available here.
HOW DO I REPLACE A LOST CARD?
If you lose your original card, you can use a photocopy as your backup permit until you need to renew. When you took your food class it also emailed a copy to you, save this for your backup.
To request a replacement card, sign back in to www.foodworkercard.wa.gov. After you select your language and follow the prompts, select "Returning User." You will need to enter your registration information and answer your security question exactly as you entered it when you were a new user. Choose "Replace My Valid Food Worker Card." A payment may be required. You can also stop by our office weekdays between 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and we can issue you a duplicate card for $3.00.
ADDITIONAL TRAINING & INFORMATION
Additional information about food worker cards is available from the Washington State Department of Health.
For further training you can purchase and enroll in the Food Manager's Certification course online. It is offered through ServSafe® which is administered by the National Restaurant Association. The program is accredited by ANSI and the Conference for Food Protection.
The Culinary Arts program at Olympic College offers the ServSafe course. The course provides information on all aspects of food handling for all levels of food workers. To register or to obtain class schedules, please contact Olympic College.
If you serve alcohol, you must take special classes for alcohol servers.
Please email the Food Safety program with any questions: foodsafety@masoncountywa.gov