If you work in food service anywhere in San Diego County, the statewide California food handler card is not valid. San Diego County is one of three California counties (with Riverside and San Bernardino) that run their own food handler program, and only the San Diego 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 San Diego County food handler card? Yes, and it must be the county card, not the state card.
- Cost: set by each county-approved school; the county’s own test packet is $2. Your employer must pay (SB 476).
- Valid for: 3 years
- Deadline: within 10 days of starting work, a third of the statewide 30
- Covers: San Diego, Chula Vista, Oceanside, Escondido, Carlsbad, El Cajon, Vista, San Marcos, Encinitas, National City, La Mesa, Santee and every other city and unincorporated area in San Diego County
How to get your San Diego County food handler card
You get it in one of two ways. Either take a course from a County of San Diego authorized food handler training school, or take the County of San Diego food handler test, given at your workplace by a manager who holds a state-approved food safety certification. The study packet for the county test costs $2 at the Department of Environmental Health and Quality, 5500 Overland Ave, Suite 170, San Diego, CA 92123.
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.
Check the school is on the county list
Plenty of online courses sell a “California food handler card”. That card is not valid in San Diego County. Before you pay, make sure the school appears on the county’s authorized list, or that the course is sold as the San Diego County-specific version. Renewing after three years means a 3-hour course and test through an approved school.
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 San Diego 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 San Diego County card does not cover a shift in Los Angeles or Orange County, and the state card does not cover a shift in San Diego. 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 San Diego County?
No. San Diego County runs its own food handler program, which predates the state law, so the statewide California card is not accepted there. You need the San Diego County card.
How much is a food handler card in San Diego?
Set by each county-approved school; the county’s own test packet is $2. Under SB 476 your employer must pay for it and for your training time.
How long do I have to get a San Diego County food handler card?
Within 10 days of starting work, a third of the statewide 30.
How long is a San Diego County food handler card valid?
3 years.
Do I need two cards if I also work outside San Diego County?
Yes. The San Diego County card does not cover a job elsewhere in California, and the state card does not cover a job in San Diego County. If you work on both sides of the county line, carry both.
Official sources
← Back to the full California food handler card page