If you work in food service anywhere in Riverside County, the statewide California food handler card is not valid. Riverside County is one of three California counties (with San Bernardino and San Diego) that run their own food handler program, and only the Riverside County card counts there. Buying the state card by mistake is the most common and most expensive error people make.
Quick answer
- Do I need a Riverside County food handler card? Yes, and it must be the county card, not the state card.
- Cost: $28. Your employer must pay (SB 476).
- Valid for: 2 years
- Deadline: within 7 days of starting work
- Covers: Riverside, Moreno Valley, Corona, Temecula, Murrieta, Menifee, Jurupa Valley, Hemet, Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indio and every other city and unincorporated area in Riverside County
How to get your Riverside County food handler card
You get it online through the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health course (run with StateFoodSafety). It is 100% online, you get three attempts at the test, 70% passes, and you print the certificate at home.
Know the material first. Our free 15-question food handler card practice test covers temperatures, hygiene, cross-contamination and sanitizing, with an explanation for every answer.
Riverside is the only one on a two-year cycle
San Bernardino and San Diego cards last three years; Riverside’s does not. The county ordinance says the certificate expires “at the end of the month that occurs 2 years after the date it was issued.” Put the date in your phone: when it lapses, you take the county course again.
Why the state card doesn’t work here
California’s food handler law (Health & Safety Code §113948) lets counties keep a local program that took effect before January 1, 2009. Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego are the three that qualified. Everywhere else in California, including Los Angeles and Orange County, one statewide card from an ANAB-accredited provider is enough. See the California food handler card guide for the statewide rules.
Your employer still has to pay
The county exemption has one exception, and it matters to your wallet. SB 476, the rule that employers must pay for the card, pay you for the training and test time, and relieve you of other duties while you do it, applies in Riverside County too. If you were told to buy your own card on your own time, that is not what the law says.
Working in more than one county
The rule cuts both ways. The Riverside County card does not cover a shift in Los Angeles or Orange County, and the state card does not cover a shift in Riverside. If you work on both sides of the county line, you need both cards.
Food manager certification
The food handler card is for individual workers. A food facility also needs a certified food protection manager, which is a separate exam. See California food manager certification.
Common questions
Is the California state food handler card valid in Riverside County?
No. Riverside County runs its own food handler program, which predates the state law, so the statewide California card is not accepted there. You need the Riverside County card.
How much is a food handler card in Riverside?
$28. Under SB 476 your employer must pay for it and for your training time.
How long do I have to get a Riverside County food handler card?
Within 7 days of starting work.
How long is a Riverside County food handler card valid?
2 years.
Do I need two cards if I also work outside Riverside County?
Yes. The Riverside County card does not cover a job elsewhere in California, and the state card does not cover a job in Riverside County. If you work on both sides of the county line, carry both.
Official sources
- Riverside County Department of Environmental Health
- Riverside County approved food handler course
- California Health & Safety Code §113948
← Back to the full California food handler card page