Last verified: June 2026. Confirm with the Illinois Department of Public Health before paying.
Illinois has a clear statewide food handler training law, but it has one quirk most guides skip: the rules differ depending on whether you work in a restaurant or a non-restaurant (like a grocery store or nursing home). Here’s what actually applies.
Quick answer
Under the Illinois Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act, most food employees must complete approved food handler training within 30 days of being hired. The certificate is valid for 3 years.
- Who needs one: anyone who works with unpackaged food, food equipment, utensils, or food-contact surfaces — waitstaff, cooks, prep cooks, bussers, bartenders, event staff, grocery clerks, food truck workers.
- Deadline: within 30 days of hire.
- Cost: by law, at least one ANSI-approved option must be available for $15 or less; many online courses run $8–$15.
- Valid for: 3 years.
- Issued by: ANSI-accredited providers (the state itself does not issue the certificate).
The restaurant vs. non-restaurant split
This is the Illinois-specific detail that matters:
- Restaurant workers must take ANSI-accredited training (unless their local health department runs an IDPH-approved program, or their employer has an IDPH-approved internal program). A restaurant ANSI certificate is valid throughout the state.
- Non-restaurant workers (grocery, nursing homes, day cares, schools, long-term care) can use any IDPH-registered/approved program. But here’s the catch: non-restaurant training is not transferable between employers — change jobs and you generally retrain. Workers in nursing homes, day cares, hospitals, schools, and long-term care retrain every 3 years regardless.
Who’s exempt
- Anyone holding a valid Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification — that higher credential covers you.
- Unpaid volunteers.
- Temporary food establishment employees.
- Nursing and therapy staff are not required (though it’s encouraged given their vulnerable population).
Also note: each establishment must have at least one CFPM on staff, which means a sole proprietor typically needs that manager certification too.
How to get your Illinois food handler card
- Confirm your setting. Restaurant? Use an ANSI-accredited course. Non-restaurant? An IDPH-approved program works, but remember it may not transfer between jobs.
- Take the course online — about 90 minutes to 2 hours, completed at your own pace, 24/7. No instructor monitoring required.
- Pass the exam (70% to pass; retakes generally allowed).
- Print your certificate immediately and give a copy to your employer, who must keep it on file for inspections.
Renewal
Certificates are valid 3 years. Renewing means retaking the course and exam before expiration. The certificate is your property (it belongs to you, the food handler), so for restaurant workers it travels with you between jobs during those 3 years.
The most common mistake
Restaurant workers buying a non-ANSI course, or assuming a non-restaurant certificate transfers to a new employer. Match the training to your setting, and for restaurants always confirm the course is ANSI-accredited. When unsure, check the IDPH food handler FAQ.
Illinois at a glance
| Required? | Yes, statewide |
| Deadline after hire | 30 days |
| Cost | $15 or less option required by law; often $8–$15 |
| Valid for | 3 years |
| Restaurant training | ANSI-accredited; valid statewide |
| Non-restaurant training | IDPH-approved; not transferable between employers |
| Exempt | CFPM holders, unpaid volunteers, temporary staff |
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Local health departments (e.g., Chicago) can add requirements — IDPH and your local authority are the final word.