Want to be a Qualified Food Handler? Get Your Certification From These Sites

What is a food handler course?

According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), every sixth American contracts a foodborne illness as a result of consuming contaminated food and beverages. Therefore, it is crucial to check that a restaurant abides by legal regulations and provides its staff with the necessary food handler training.
A food handler is essentially any employee that works in a restaurant and handles both packaged and unpackaged food, as well as the utensils and other supplies necessary to make and/or serve meals. Therefore, it is crucial that they follow the national standards for food safety. Having the appropriate food handler licenses is one way to guarantee that the requirements are being followed.
A food handler's license is a certification that attests to a worker's training in safe food handling procedures. Any employee who has to be certified as a food handler must take a course and pass an exam. There are numerous public and private organizations, including Zipfoodhandler, that have received state accreditation to grant licenses for programs including proper food handling and food safety.

How to get a food handler card?

The permits required for safe food handling are called food handler cards. These permits are issued to employees in the Food Industry who handle, prepare, serve, and store food after they have fulfilled the course requirements.
Most states offer offline and online food handler courses that have a short learning/training module and an exam. Many local health departments also offer local classes. Such courses don't cost much, and the license is valid for at least two years. Every state has its own rules, but most states require at least one employee with a food handler card to be on duty during business hours.
If an employee decides to get a food handler card, they have to take a brief food safety training course and pass an exam on food safety topics to get their card. As discussed, there are offline and online options available for a food handler course. Many government agencies or third-party providers also provide in-person certification options. But it is best to check the state and local health department rules and see which courses are approved for your state/area.
Listed below is the basic process that anyone taking a food handler course has to go through-

• You have to register with accredited government agencies or third-party providers like Zipfoodhandler in your state, pay for the course, and take the exam.
• Then choose how to receive your food handler card online or via post.
• Go through the course material. If you already have been studying for the test you need to take the test.
• Most online exam modules have about 90-120 minutes of instruction after which you can take the food handlers certification exam. Most exams have about 40-45 questions and people taking the test need to answer around 70%+ of the questions correctly.
• When you get the passing score, you become a licensed food handler and can either print out your food handler card or wait for it in the mail.

Know more about food handler courses

If anyone wants to be certified as a food handler, then, as discussed, they need to register with an organization or website accredited in their state to take an exam. The two largest accredited independent organizations are the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Conference for Food Protection (CFP).
Most courses, in online and in-person formats, take about two hours to complete and cost less than $20. Most of the courses will cover information on- basic Food Safety, proper food storage practices; proper personal hygiene practices; allergens; cross-contamination; and proper cleaning procedures.
A person who received their food handler card after completing the course is well-versed in the above-mentioned subjects. Their understanding of the basics of food safety protocols is much needed to keep customers happy, healthy, and coming back.
A business that has a food handler license demonstrates to clients that it is serious about adhering to local and state laws and cares about public health and well-being, which in turn fosters a favorable impression of the company in their minds. There are occasions when food service establishments receive unexpected health inspections, and failing to have even one certified food handler on staff is a violation that could result in a temporary closure and a loss of income.
A food handler card also opens up a lot of business opportunities in an industry known for its high turnover rate.

Top 5 sites offering food handler courses

As discussed, each state has its own rules and regulations for food safety and has a list of organizations accredited to certify food service workers for permits such as a food handler certificate. If you are interested in obtaining a food handler card, then here is a list of sites that provide the study material for the course and allow you to take the exam and qualify for the permit. The courses and exams offered by these websites are valid in most areas across the United States.

1. Zipfoodhandler.com

The website provides the most affordable and easiest way for a food worker to certify for a food handler card. The site offers a two-hour online Food Handler course that has been accredited by ANSI. After participants finish the course, they take a 40-question assessment, and if they score 70% or more, they can download and print their food worker card and provide it to their manager. The course costs around $7.95, and the course material can be accessed via TV and mobile. The food handler card from the site is accepted across states (except Washington).
The course covers seven areas of safe handling and has a practice quiz at the end of each chapter. While taking the course, participants learn the following-

• How improperly cooked or stored food can cause people to fall ill.
• Prevent contamination of food and food contact surfaces.
• Danger of food contamination from pesticides and cleaning products.
• How to clean and sanitize utensils, equipment, and food preparation areas.
• Use of time and temperature control in the food cycle from receiving to storing, preparing, serving, and reheating.
• How to maintain a clean environment for the receiving, preparing, serving, and storing of food.
• Special processes to follow for orders with food allergies.

2. 360training

The Learn2Serve food handler course by 360training is completely online. When you open the site, you can select the state where you want to take the test, and once you are on the appropriate page, you learn about the basic food safety issues, the state regulations, and techniques to maintain a safe environment. The course also teaches you the proper food handling procedures. Once you complete the course, which covers subjects like food safety, personal hygiene, and proper food storage, you will have to take the exam. If you score at least 70% (the score may differ for different states), you will get your food handler certificate. The course offers gaming activities that educate you about real-life scenarios and uses games and quizzes to motivate users. That course costs around $8.99, and the site offers information about what being a food handler means.

3. Always Food Safe

The website offers an ANSI-accredited food handler course that provides applicants with information about legal requirements and safe practices for storing and preparing food, as well as the basic principles of techniques needed to keep food areas/kitchens clean and safe. The course also teaches applicants how to make changes to food service practices to improve food safety. The course is divided into chapters that you need to study and watch video content for. You have to take a quick quiz at the end of each chapter. Once the applicant completes the study materials, they have to take the exam and get a score of 75% or more as determined by industry-accepted methodology to be certified as a Food Handler. The certificate is issued as a pdf document and also sent to the applicant via email. The course is available in many states and counties. The cost of the course is determined by the state in which you are taking the exam.

4. National Registry of Food Safety Professionals

The website provides food handler courses in online and classroom settings. The course provides participants with information about how to handle food safely for human consumption. Participants learn about current regulations and requirements and industry practices for preparing, handling, serving, and displaying food. Participants learn topics like foodborne illness, time and temperature, avoiding food contamination, personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitizing, and common problems and solutions faced during food prep. Once the participant has completed the study material, they have to pass the assessment with a minimum score of 70% to become a licensed food handler. The online food handler program and the permit are accredited by ANSI and recognized in any state that recognizes ANSI-accredited food handler programs. If a participant opts for an online exam, then they can get their certificate faster. The course is available for around $12.95.

5. ServSafe

The ServSafe food handler program is developed by the National Restaurant Association along with experts from the food service industry. The applicants are provided with easy-to-understand illustrations, real-world examples, and activities that help reinforce concepts and knowledge. The training and exams can be taken online or in a classroom. Once you are on the website, you need to enter the state where you want to take the exam. The course covers areas like basic food safety, contamination and allergens, personal hygiene, time and temperature, and cleaning and sanitation. Once an applicant completes the course material, they have to take the exam and score a minimum of 75% to be a certified food handler. You can access the certificate online once you pass the exam. The course is available for $15, but you can check individual state courses.