California Food Handler Training Local Requirements

California Senate Bill – SB 602 requires that every California food handler who is involved in the preparation, storage or service of food in a food facility has to take a California state-certified food handler course and pass an authorized test.

california food handler
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Food Safety Training Required by CA to be Accredited

The SB 303 bill made the technical changes to the Food Handler Card Law that required training providers to be accredited through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).

  • California Retail Food Code requires all new hire food handlers have 30 days from the date of hire to obtain a card.
  • California food handler cards are valid for 3 years throughout most of the state.
  • Each food facility must maintain records documenting that each employee possesses a valid California Food Handler Card that can be provided to local enforcement officials upon request.
  • San Diego County recently approved changes to accept our Learn2Serve training.
    Source: San Diego County – Department of Environmental Health
  • Note: Training valid throughout California – except for Riverside and San Bernardino County – which have local food handler card programs.
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San Diego County – Food Handler Program
San Diego County recently approved changes to accept our Learn2Serve training.

All food handlers are now required by San Diego County Code to possess either a valid food handler card issued by a county-authorized food handler training school or a County of San Diego food handler test administered by the current food safety manager who has passed a state-approved food safety certification exam.

In addition to the County’s food handler training requirement, there is also a state requirement for a certified food safety manager. State law requires each food facility to have at least one owner/employee that has passed a state-approved food safety certification exam. Each certification is applicable to only one facility. These certificates are valid for 5 years and must be renewed.
Source: San Diego County – Department of Environmental Health

Fresno County – Food Handler Class
The Fresno County Food Safety Class does NOT satisfy the requirements of state law. This class is typically intended for: temporary food booth vendors that operate at community events, day care workers, school kitchen staff, Head Start employees, food facility employees that were told to come to our class by their inspector, other members of public wanting more food safety knowledge.  This class is a 2 hour class with a 25 question quiz.

Note: The Fresno County Food Safety Class does not meet:

Source: Fresno County – Division of Environmental Health

San Bernardino County – Food Handler Class
Food employees working in San Bernardino County are required to obtain a food handler card from San Bernardino County, Environmental Health Services only. Food handler cards from other counties, programs or companies are not an acceptable substitute. Please call 1‐800‐442‐2283 for more information about our food handler training.

This class does NOT meet the requirements of state law – just general food safety knowledge and is open to the public. 

Currently, County of San Bernardino, Environmental Health Services does not offer a Food Manager Certification Training and test.
Source: San Bernardino County – Division of Environmental Health Services