Do You Need a Food Handler Card to Work at McDonald's, Starbucks, or Chick-fil-A?

Quick answer: it depends on your state, not the brand. Every restaurant has to follow the food handler rules where it operates. In California, Texas, Illinois, Oregon, Washington, and Utah, and in places like Las Vegas and Maricopa County, Arizona, crew members who work with food need a card, usually within 30 days of starting. In states without a card law, it's up to the company or the franchise owner. None of the 12 employers we checked publishes a nationwide rule that new hires must already have a card.

We checked each company's own corporate site, careers site, and annual report, and we only state what they say. This is general information, not legal advice; your manager has the final word on what your restaurant requires.

Why the Brand Doesn't Decide

Most big restaurant brands are franchises. The restaurant you apply to is often owned by a local business, and that business, not the brand, is your employer. McDonald's says about 95% of its U.S. restaurants are franchised, and Domino's, Taco Bell, Wendy's, Burger King, Subway, Chick-fil-A, and Dunkin' all say their franchisees or Operators make their own hiring decisions. Chipotle, In-N-Out, and Walmart run their own locations, and Starbucks runs most of its U.S. stores and licenses the rest.

Either way, the law that decides whether you need a card is your state's or county's, and the job ads say so. A Taco Bell franchisee in Fresno asks crew to "obtain a food handler's certificate according to state or local requirements." A McDonald's franchisee in California lists a California Food Handler Card, with "training provided at orientation." A Dunkin' franchisee in Las Vegas requires a food handler card from the Southern Nevada Health District.

Does Your State Require One?

Our Food Handler Card Requirements by State: The 2026 Guide covers every state, including the ones, like New York, Colorado, Ohio, and Georgia, that regulate managers instead of every worker.

Brand by Brand

McDonald's

About 95% of McDonald's 13,706 U.S. restaurants were franchised at the end of 2025, according to its annual report, and franchisees control their own employment matters. McDonald's says even its age rules "may vary" between company-owned and franchised restaurants. On food safety, the company says "Restaurant Staff are trained on food safety during onboarding." In a card state, plan on needing the card; the California franchisee ad above provides the training at orientation.

Starbucks

Starbucks ran 10,047 company-operated U.S. stores and 6,813 licensed ones as of September 2025. Licensed stores, often inside other retailers, are run by the licensee, whose employees follow Starbucks operating procedures and attend similar training. New baristas get training in their first month, with more at 90 and 190 days. Baristas make drinks, so in card states they need a card like any food worker; we found no Starbucks policy saying otherwise.

Chick-fil-A

Most Chick-fil-A restaurants are run by franchised Operators, independent businesses that Chick-fil-A says are "solely responsible for all employment matters in their restaurant," including hiring and training. Even the minimum hiring age is set restaurant by restaurant. Ask the Operator's hiring team what they require, and follow your state's card rule.

Taco Bell

Taco Bell's parent company owned 8% of U.S. Taco Bell restaurants at the end of 2025; franchisees run the rest and are independent employers. The franchisee ad in Fresno, California, quoted above, ties the card to "state or local requirements," which is exactly how the law works.

Subway

All of Subway's more than 35,000 restaurants are independently owned and operated by franchisees. Subway says it provides "mandatory training for franchisees and their teams" on food safety, and that "whenever local regulations differ," restaurants "must always follow the most stringent standard," so a state card law applies.

Chipotle

Chipotle owns all of its 3,938 U.S. restaurants; it doesn't franchise. It requires restaurant managers to be ServSafe certified, and all team members get quarterly food safety training. For crew, follow your state's card rule.

Wendy's

Of 5,969 U.S. Wendy's restaurants at the end of 2025, 5,546 were run by 203 franchisees, who make their own hiring decisions. Wendy's says crew members get one-on-one training, and its annual report mentions an annual food safety recertification for its restaurant crew and managers.

Burger King

Burger King's parent reported 5,893 franchised and 1,132 company restaurants in the U.S. and Canada at the end of 2025, and on its careers site says hiring decisions are made solely by the franchisee. Its food safety policy says all team members are trained on food safety in their first weeks and "all restaurant managers are required to be food handler certified."

Dunkin'

Dunkin' says each franchisee is "an independent employer and thus solely responsible for hiring decisions." The Las Vegas franchisee ad quoted above requires the Southern Nevada Health District card, the card every food worker there needs.

Domino's

About 96% of Domino's U.S. stores are franchised: 6,924 stores run by 754 franchisees at the end of 2025. Domino's says each franchisee is the sole employer, and that it provides food safety training to store employees. Drivers who only carry sealed orders are a gray area; our Who Needs a Food Handler Card? A Job-by-Job Guide explains why.

In-N-Out Burger

In-N-Out says it has "never franchised," and each store makes its own hiring decisions. It runs In-N-Out University for entry-level managers. If your store is in a card state, you need the card like any other food worker.

Walmart (deli, bakery, and prepared foods)

Walmart runs its own 4,611 U.S. stores and says associates get ongoing training on food safety fundamentals. Whether a deli or bakery associate needs a card depends on the state, because grocery stores are treated differently: California's card law exempts grocery stores, including their delis and bakeries, while Illinois requires training for deli workers. A Sam's Club prepared-meals job in Texas listed a food handler certification as preferred.

Which Crew Jobs Need a Card

In a card state, the test is whether you work with unpackaged food, drinks, ice, utensils, or food-contact surfaces. That covers cooks, line and prep crew, baristas, and dishwashers, and usually cashiers who bag food or pour drinks. Our Who Needs a Food Handler Card? A Job-by-Job Guide goes job by job, including hosts and delivery drivers.

Who Pays for It?

In California, your employer must pay for the course and for your time taking it. Elsewhere it's up to the employer, and many pay or train you during orientation, like the McDonald's franchisee above. Illinois, for example, doesn't require employers to pay and treats the certificate as yours. Ask before you buy a course, and use the one your employer recommends if it has one. Our How Much Does a Food Handler Card Cost? Prices by State and Provider has typical prices.

Before Your First Shift

1. Ask the hiring manager whether they want the card before you start or within your first weeks, and whether they pay.
2. Use a course your state accepts. Washington, Las Vegas, and the Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego county programs accept only their own cards.
3. Warm up with our free Free Food Handler Practice Test.
4. Bring the card or a copy to your first shift, and note when it expires.

For the rest of what to bring, including the non-slip shoes most kitchens expect, see our Your First Restaurant Job Checklist: What to Bring, Wear, and Do Before Day One.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a food handler card to work at McDonald's?

In a state or county with a card law, yes, for crew who work with food. About 95% of U.S. McDonald's restaurants are franchised, so the owner sets the details, and some train you at orientation. Elsewhere, ask the restaurant.

Do Starbucks baristas need a food handler card?

In card states, yes: making drinks counts as working with food. Starbucks runs most U.S. stores itself, and licensed stores follow its procedures, but the requirement comes from state law.

Does Chick-fil-A require a food handler card?

Each Chick-fil-A Operator handles hiring and training for their restaurant, so ask the hiring team. Where state law requires a card, every Operator has to follow it.

Do Walmart deli workers need a food handler card?

It depends on the state. California's card law exempts grocery stores, including their delis and bakeries, while Illinois requires training for deli workers. Ask your store.

Can I start working before I get the card?

Usually yes. Most card states give new hires a deadline, 30 days in California, Texas, Illinois, and Oregon, 14 days in Washington, and 7 days in Riverside County. Your employer can require it sooner.

Bottom Line

The logo on the door doesn't decide whether you need a card; your state does, and the restaurant's owner fills in the details. In a card state, get it within your deadline from a course your state accepts, and ask whether your employer pays.

Sources