Washington requires a Food Handler Card (county-issued). Every figure below is verified against the official source and dated.

What it’s called

Washington requires a food worker card — its own term for the training card, not a license. “Food handler license,” “food handlers permit,” “food handler card” and “food safety certificate” 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. Washington’s food worker card is issued by the local health jurisdiction (WAC 246-217).

Quick facts

  • Requirement level: State-mandated — county-issued
  • Valid for: 2 (initial); renewals 3; up to 5 if applicant documents “additional food safety training” within the prior 2 years (WAC 246-217-035)
  • Cost: $10 flat statewide fee — “Each applicant for a food worker card must pay a fee in the amount of ten dollars” (WAC 246-217-025). Paid to the local health jurisdiction.
  • Who needs it & when: All food service workers must obtain a food worker card within 14 calendar days from the beginning of employment at a food service establishment (WAC 246-217-015(1)). A “food service worker” is an individual who handles unwrapped/unpackaged food or who may contribute to transmission of infectious disease through contact with food (WAC 246-217-010). SEPARATE ESTABLISHMENT-LEVEL MANDATE – Washington requires BOTH credentials at once: every food service worker needs the food worker card, AND, under WAC 246-215-02107 (titled “Certified food protection manager (FDA Food Code 2-102.12)”): “By March 1, 2023, food establishments must have at least one certified food protection manager on staff as evidenced by a valid certificate available from an accredited program. The certificate must be available upon request. If the certified food protection manager leaves employment for any reason, the food establishment must have another certified food protection manager on staff within sixty days.” (Part of the ch. 246-215 WAC revision incorporating the 2017 FDA Food Code; WSR 21-01-122, filed 12/15/2020, effective 3/1/2022, with the CFPM compliance date of March 1, 2023.)
  • Who issues it: Local health jurisdiction / local health officer, under the Washington State Department of Health rule (Chapter 246-217 WAC). Cards must be issued and signed by the local health officer; the exam is uniform statewide and prepared/approved by the Department of Health.

Who does NOT need this — exemptions

ADULT FAMILY HOME WORKERS – the one true exemption, stated in both tiers. Statute, RCW 69.06.080: “Except for the food safety training standards adopted by the state board of health under RCW 69.06.010, the provisions of this chapter do not apply to persons who work in adult family homes and successfully complete training and continuing education as required by RCW 70.128.250.” Rule, WAC 246-217-015(4): a food service worker in an adult family home is exempt from possessing a food worker card if the worker (a) began working in an adult family home after June 30, 2005, has successfully completed basic or modified-basic caregiver training, and has documentation of receiving safe-food-handling information or training from the employer before providing food handling or service; or (b) held a valid food worker card before June 30, 2005 and has obtained 0.5 hours of continuing education in food handling safety per year since June 30, 2005.

OUTSIDE THE DEFINITION OF “FOOD SERVICE WORKER” – WAC 246-217-010(5) expressly excludes “persons who simply assist residents or patients in institutional facilities with meals, or students in K-12 schools who periodically assist with school meal service.”

OUTSIDE THE DEFINITION OF “FOOD SERVICE ESTABLISHMENT” (so no card duty attaches) – WAC 246-217-010(4)(b): (i) private homes where food is prepared or served for consumption by household members and/or their guests; (ii) establishments offering only commercially prepackaged nonpotentially hazardous foods; (iii) commercial food processing establishments licensed and regulated by the USDA, FDA or WSDA; and (iv) farmers exempt from licensure under RCW 36.71.090.

ALTERNATIVE PERMIT, NOT AN EXEMPTION – RCW 69.06.070: “The local health officer may issue a limited duty permit when necessary to reasonably accommodate a person with a disability. The limited duty permit must specify the activities that the permit holder may perform, and must include only activities having low public health risk.” Test accommodations must also be made under the ADA (WAC 246-217-025(10)).

GRACE PERIOD, NOT AN EXEMPTION – a new worker may work up to 14 calendar days before obtaining the card (WAC 246-217-015(1)), but only if the employer first provides safe-food-handling information or training and documents it on file for inspection (WAC 246-217-015(3)).

COMMONLY ASSUMED EXEMPT BUT NOT – UNPAID VOLUNTEERS. WAC 246-217-010(5) defines a food service worker as an individual who works “(or intends to work) WITH OR WITHOUT PAY in a food service establishment” and handles unwrapped or unpackaged food (or may contribute to disease transmission through contact with food, equipment and facilities). Volunteers who handle unwrapped food therefore need a food worker card. TEMPORARY EVENTS ARE ALSO NOT EXEMPT: WAC 246-217-015(2) sets a floor – at a minimum the operator or person in charge each shift must hold a valid food worker card obtained BEFORE the event – while subsection (1)’s requirement that all food service workers obtain a card still runs, with subsection (4) (adult family homes) as the only stated exception. Grocery, supermarket, retail meat/fish market, retail bakery and delicatessen staff; school, hospital, jail, prison, nursing home, assisted living and child care food staff; caterers and central preparation sites; satellite servicing and remote feeding sites; bed and breakfast operations; mobile food units; and adult family homes are all inside the definition of “food service establishment” (WAC 246-217-010(4)(a)). THE ESTABLISHMENT CFPM MANDATE CARRIES ITS OWN CARVE-OUT – WAC 246-215-02107(2): “This section 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” – a risk determination made by the regulatory authority, not an enumerated list.

Approved training providers

Card must be issued and signed by the local health officer (WAC 246-217-025); the examination is uniform statewide and prepared/approved by the WA Dept. of Health, and any local exam variant must be department-approved before use. Local health jurisdictions may contract out training/testing. Per DOH, the only authorized ONLINE training/testing program is the state’s own foodworkercard.wa.gov.