Last verified: June 2026. Confirm with the Delaware Division of Public Health Office of Food Protection before paying.
Delaware keeps things relatively simple: no worker food handler card, one statewide requirement — a certified manager. Here’s the accurate picture.
Quick answer
Delaware (regulated by the Division of Public Health, Office of Food Protection) requires each food establishment to have a supervisory employee who is a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM). There’s no statewide food handler card for regular workers.
- Regular workers: no state-required card.
- The requirement: at least one supervisory employee per establishment is a CFPM.
- How: the person in charge demonstrates food-safety knowledge — passing an accredited (ANSI-CFP) manager exam is the standard way to meet it.
- Valid for: 5 years.
The certified-manager requirement
Delaware’s Office of Food Protection maintains a dedicated Certified Food Protection Manager requirements page. Each food establishment must have at least one supervisory employee who holds the CFPM credential. The person in charge must be able to demonstrate food-safety knowledge, and earning a CFPM through an ANSI-CFP accredited program (ServSafe, Learn2Serve, etc.) is the reliable way to satisfy that. Employers may decide whether other employees should also be trained, but only the supervisory CFPM is required.
Cottage food
Under Delaware’s Cottage Food Law, food safety training isn’t required for most home-based producers, though completing an ANAB-accredited food handler course is recognized by the Division of Public Health as meeting training expectations if you do pursue it.
Do regular workers need a food handler card?
No — Delaware doesn’t require line cooks, servers, or dishwashers to hold a card. The responsibility sits with the certified manager and the person in charge. A voluntary ANAB-accredited food handler course (typically valid 2–3 years) is the standard option if your employer requires training. Some local jurisdictions may add steps, so it’s worth a quick check.
What to do
- Owner/manager: ensure a supervisory employee holds a CFPM via an accredited exam; renew every 5 years.
- Regular worker: no state card required; consider a voluntary course if your employer asks, and check for any local requirements.
Delaware at a glance
| Statewide worker card? | No |
| State requirement | One CFPM (supervisory) per establishment |
| How | ANSI-CFP accredited manager exam |
| Valid for | 5 years |
| Cottage food | Training not generally required; ANAB course recognized if taken |
| Regulator | Delaware Division of Public Health, Office of Food Protection |
This guide is general information, not legal advice. The Delaware Division of Public Health is the final word.