Jefferson County requires every food employee in Birmingham and the rest of the county to complete food safety training and hold a food handler card. The Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) runs the program itself: new employees must be certified within 21 days of their hire date, and the card costs $20 online or $15 for the classroom course. A card bought from a national website does not count.
Quick answer
- Required: yes, for all food employees in Jefferson County, including Birmingham
- Issued by: Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH)
- Deadline: within 21 days of your hire date
- Cost: $20 online, or $15 for the in-person class at the health department. Replacement card $5
- Online provider: one only. JCDH’s exclusive approved provider is Food Safety Jefferson County Foodhandler Training (jcdhfoodhandler.com)
- Valid for: JCDH does not publish a period. The approved provider says two years
- Transferable: yes, between establishments within Jefferson County. Not valid in Mobile County
Three ways to comply
JCDH’s complete wording on the subject: the food handler training course “may be completed in person, online, or through a Certified Food Safety Manager who is on duty at all times.”
- Online: $20, through the county’s exclusive approved provider
- In person: $15, a classroom course at the health department
- On the job: training by a Certified Food Safety Manager who is on duty at all times
The third route is unusual. JCDH publishes nothing further about how it is documented, so if your employer plans to use it, ask the department how they want it evidenced.
Only one online provider is accepted
JCDH is explicit: “The exclusive approved provider for online training is Food Safety Jefferson County Foodhandler Training.” A food handler card bought from any other national website will not be accepted, however it is accredited. If you already hold a national card from a previous job elsewhere, you still need the Jefferson County card.
Languages
The online course is offered in eight languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, American Sign Language, Tagalog and Serbo-Croatian. The classroom schedule is different: English (closed captioned) on Thursdays, Spanish on Wednesdays, and Korean, Vietnamese, Mandarin or Arabic on Fridays. Arabic is available in class but not online.
Changing jobs, volunteers and expiry
Food handler cards travel with you between establishments in Jefferson County. In JCDH’s words, “Food handler cards are transferable between establishments.” Manager certificates are more restricted and transfer only to establishments with Certified Food Safety Managers.
Volunteers are not exempt. There is a separate volunteer food handler card, obtained by watching the county’s training video and registering with JCDH.
On expiry: JCDH does not publish a validity period for the food handler card. The county’s approved online provider states two years, and that is the figure in general circulation, but it is the vendor’s number rather than the department’s. If the date matters to you, confirm it with JCDH directly.
Working outside Jefferson County
Alabama has no statewide food handler card. Only two counties require one, Jefferson and Mobile, and the cards are not interchangeable: Mobile County will not accept a Jefferson County card, and vice versa, even though both counties use the same training company. Mobile’s card is $23 online, valid one year, and must be obtained before your first shift. In the other 65 counties no worker card is required at all. See the county breakdown on our full Alabama food handler card page.
Common questions
Do I need a food handler card to work in Birmingham?
Yes. Birmingham is in Jefferson County, and the Jefferson County Department of Health requires all food employees to complete food safety training. New employees must be certified within 21 days of their hire date.
How much does a Jefferson County food handler card cost?
$20 for the online course, or $15 for the classroom course at the health department. A replacement card is $5.
Can I use a national online food handler card in Jefferson County?
No. JCDH names one exclusive approved provider for online training, Food Safety Jefferson County Foodhandler Training. A card from any other website is not accepted, however it is accredited.
How long is a Jefferson County food handler card valid?
JCDH does not publish a validity period. The county’s approved online provider states two years, but that is the vendor’s figure. Confirm with JCDH if the expiry date matters to you.
Does a Jefferson County card work in Mobile County?
No. Mobile County does not recognize cards issued for other counties, even from the same training company. If you work in both counties, you need both cards.
← Back to the full Alabama food handler card page
Official source
This guide is general information, not legal advice. JCDH is the final word on its own requirements.