Last verified: June 2026. “Do I need a food handler card?” has no single answer in the U.S. — it depends entirely on your state. Some states require a card for every food worker; many require only a single Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment; and some leave it to individual counties or cities. The table below shows where each state falls — click any state for the full guide.
All 50 states at a glance
| State | Worker card required? | What’s actually required |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No (manager; 2 counties require worker cards) | Certified manager statewide; Jefferson & Mobile counties require worker cards |
| Alaska | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Arizona | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| Arkansas | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| California | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Colorado | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Connecticut | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Delaware | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Florida | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Georgia | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Hawaii | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Idaho | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Illinois | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Indiana | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Iowa | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Kansas | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| Kentucky | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| Louisiana | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Maine | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Maryland | No (county-driven) | Certified manager in counties that require it (Baltimore City/County, Montgomery, Howard, Prince George’s) |
| Massachusetts | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Michigan | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Minnesota | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Mississippi | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Missouri | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| Montana | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Nebraska | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| Nevada | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| New Hampshire | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| New Jersey | No (manager; some municipal permits) | Certified manager statewide; some municipalities require worker permits |
| New Mexico | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| New York | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| North Carolina | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| North Dakota | No (county-driven) | Certified manager not state-mandated; requirements are county-driven |
| Ohio | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Oklahoma | No (county/city) | No statewide rule — set by your county or city |
| Oregon | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Pennsylvania | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Rhode Island | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| South Carolina | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| South Dakota | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Tennessee | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Texas | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Utah | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| Vermont | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Virginia | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Washington | Yes | A state-approved food handler card for workers |
| West Virginia | Yes (county permits) | County food handler permits are statutorily mandated statewide |
| Wisconsin | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
| Wyoming | No | A Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment (no statewide worker card) |
Three patterns to know: a worker card for everyone (e.g. California, Texas, Oregon), a certified manager instead — no worker card (most states), and county- or city-driven rules with no statewide standard (e.g. New York, Arizona, Nevada). Several states are genuine hybrids, noted above.
Each linked guide is checked against that state’s official health authority before publishing.
This is general information, not legal advice; your state or local health authority is the final word.