New Mexico Food Handler Card: 3-Year Validity

New Mexico requires a Food Handler Card. Every figure below is verified against the official source and dated.

What it’s called

New Mexico requires a Food Handler Card — a training card, not a license. “Food handler license,” “food handlers permit,” “food safety certificate” and “food workers card” are common informal names for the same card. It is not the food-MANAGER credential: a Certified Food Protection Manager (often earned through ServSafe Manager) is a separate, higher certification for one supervisor per establishment. The card applies to food employees in NMED-permitted establishments.

Quick facts

• Requirement level: State-mandated
• Valid for: 3 years
• Cost: No state-set fee; food handler training/card is provider-priced. 7.6.2 NMAC sets no card fee — it requires only that the course be an “ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 accredited food handler training certificate program” (7.6.2.7 NMAC definition), so pricing is set by the accredited provider.
• Who needs it & when: All “food employees” — any individual working with unpackaged food, food equipment/utensils, or food-contact surfaces in an NMED-permitted food establishment. Anyone who does not already hold a valid card at hire must obtain one within 30 calendar days from the beginning of employment (7.6.2.8 NMAC D(1)(a)-(b)). Card must be carried on the person or a copy kept on file by the employer (D(1)(c)). Exemptions (D(1)(g)) include those covered by the establishment’s Certified Food Protection Manager / person-in-charge, employees who do not function as food employees, and certain temporary-establishment volunteers.
• Who issues it: New Mexico Environment Department (Food Program / Environmental Health Bureau) is the “regulatory authority” (7.6.2.7 NMAC def. 9); the rule is issued by the NM Environmental Improvement Board (7.6.2.1 NMAC). The card itself is issued by any ANSI/ASTM E2659-09-accredited food handler training program upon a passing exam — not by the state or a county.

Who does NOT need this — exemptions

New Mexico does mandate a food handler card, and the rule states its own exemptions. 7.6.2.8 NMAC Subsection D(1)(g) - “This paragraph does not apply to”: (i) food employees who comply with Paragraph (1) of Subsection B of 7.6.2.8 NMAC - i.e. a food employee who IS a certified food protection manager (2-102.12). NOTE the scope: this exempts the individual who personally holds the manager certification; it does NOT exempt an establishment’s other employees merely because the establishment has a CFPM on staff. (ii) food employees who comply with Subparagraph (b) of Paragraph (1) of Subsection D - the 30-day new-hire window: an individual who does not hold a card before employment has 30 calendar days from the beginning of employment to obtain one. (iii) food employees who do not prepare or handle Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) food, provided the permit holder assures the employee complies with the D(1)(e) training duty. (iv) employees or volunteers who OCCASIONALLY function as a food employee, on the same D(1)(e) training condition. (v) food employees or volunteers working as food employees of TEMPORARY FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS, provided the person in charge during hours of operation is a certified food protection manager or holds a valid food handler card - either obtained before the temporary food establishment permit issues - and the permit holder assures D(1)(e) training. (vi) food employees or volunteers working as food employees for CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS SERVING THE NEEDY, provided the person in charge during hours of operation is a certified food protection manager. (vii) employees who do not function as food employees.

EMPLOYER’S APPROVED PROGRAM IN LIEU OF THE CARD - 7.6.2.8 NMAC D(1)(d): “The regulatory authority may approve an entity’s training program to be used in lieu of requiring a food handler card of its food employees. A food employee must complete the entity’s approved training program at least every three years. This exemption is only valid during the food employees’ time of employment with the entity that administered the training” - so it does not travel with the worker to a new employer.

COMMONLY ASSUMED EXEMPT BUT NOT: an exemption from the CARD is not an exemption from TRAINING. Under 7.6.2.8 NMAC D(1)(e), any food employee who does not hold a valid food handler card must be given training in pertinent safe food handling practices BEFORE beginning food-handling duties, with a record (instructor, date, employee names) kept for the duration of employment and produced to the regulatory authority on request. Separately, the MANAGER requirement “does not apply to certain types of food establishments deemed by the regulatory authority to pose minimal risk of causing, or contributing to, foodborne illness based on the nature of the operation and extent of food preparation” (7.6.2.8 NMAC B(1)(c)).

BERNALILLO COUNTY / CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE (outside NMED jurisdiction, own ordinance - verified on cabq.gov 2026-07-11): a food employee who holds a valid Certified Food Protection Manager certification does not need a food handler card. ABQ’s own listed exemptions: (1) food employees who only handle non-TCS foods, provided the permit holder provides and records training; (2) food employees or volunteers working as food employees at TEMPORARY EVENTS, provided the permit holder provides and records training - but the person-in-charge of the temporary event during all hours of operation must have a food handler card or be a CFPM; (3) an entity’s training program approved by the Environmental Health Department in lieu of the card (completed at least every three years; valid only during employment with the entity that administered it). ABQ likewise stresses that exempt employees “must still receive training from their place of employment.” Sources: 7.6.2 NMAC (NM Environment Department); City of Albuquerque Environmental Health, Food Service and Retail Ordinance.

Approved training providers

Card must come from an ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 accredited food handler training program, and the food employee must pass its test (7.6.2.8 NMAC D(1)(a); “food handler training program” defined at 7.6.2.7 NMAC). Alternatively, the regulatory authority may approve an employer’s in-house training program in lieu of a card, completed at least every three years (7.6.2.8 NMAC D(1)(d)).

County exceptions

Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque are outside the NMED Food Program’s jurisdiction and administer their own food-safety program. Albuquerque’s Food Service and Retail Ordinance (City Council-passed May 6, 2024; effective Aug 1, 2024, with implementing Rules passed Aug 18, 2024 (effective Aug 29, 2024)) independently requires food employees to hold a food handler card unless they hold a valid Certified Food Protection Manager certification; the training program must be accredited or otherwise approved by ABQ Environmental Health.