New York Food Handler Practice Test

New York has no statewide food handler card. In New York City, a supervisor with the Health Department's Food Protection Certificate must be on the premises whenever a food service establishment is open, and a few counties run their own programs. This free practice test mixes questions on those rules with the food safety questions the NYC course and every food handler exam cover.

Want to review away from the screen? "Food Handler Card Audio Cram," our own roughly 57-minute audio session from Kanti Press, walks through the same topics as this test, so you can study on the bus or the walk to work.

New York questions and answers

Take the test first: this section gives the answers away. Here is every New York-specific question in the test, with the rule behind it. The rest of the test comes from our core bank, and Food Handler Test Questions and Answers lists all of those.

1. 1Does New York State require every food worker to hold a food handler card?

   1. Yes, renewed every 3 years
   2. Yes, within 30 days of hire
   3. Only workers under 21
   4. No; there’s no statewide card, and rules vary by city and county

   Answer: D. No; there’s no statewide card, and rules vary by city and county

   New York has no statewide food handler card. New York City requires a certified supervisor, and a few counties have their own programs. Review this in the New York guide

2. 2In New York City, who must hold a Food Protection Certificate?

   1. Every food worker
   2. A supervisor on the premises during all hours of operation
   3. No one; it’s optional
   4. Only the owner, renewed each year

   Answer: B. A supervisor on the premises during all hours of operation

   NYC Health Code §81.15 requires a certificate holder on the premises whenever the establishment operates. It’s a supervisor requirement, not one for every line cook. Review this in the New York guide

3. 3How long is an NYC Food Protection Certificate valid?

   1. 3 years
   2. 1 year
   3. 5 years
   4. It never expires

   Answer: D. It never expires

   The certificate doesn’t expire and needs no renewal. Review this in the New York guide

4. 4What does the NYC Health Department’s online Food Protection Course cost?

   1. $114
   2. $24 per lesson
   3. Nothing; you pay only for the in-person exam
   4. $250

   Answer: C. Nothing; you pay only for the in-person exam

   The online course is free. You then pay about $24 for the final exam, which you take in person. The in-person classroom course is $114 with the exam included. Review this in the New York guide

5. 5How do you take the final exam for the NYC Food Protection Certificate?

   1. Online at home
   2. At your restaurant, with your manager
   3. In person, with the NYC Health Department
   4. By mail

   Answer: C. In person, with the NYC Health Department

   Even if you take the free online course, the final exam is taken in person. Review this in the New York guide

6. 6How long is the in-person NYC Food Protection Course?

   1. 15 hours over five days
   2. 40 hours over two weeks
   3. 1 hour online
   4. 2 hours in one afternoon

   Answer: A. 15 hours over five days

   The classroom course is 15 hours over five days and costs $114, exam included. The free online course has 15 lessons, but its final exam is still taken in person. Review this in the New York guide

7. 7Does an online ANSI-accredited food handler course satisfy New York City’s certificate rule?

   1. Yes, any ANSI course counts
   2. Only for food trucks
   3. Yes, if it’s less than 3 years old
   4. No; only the Health Department’s own exam produces the certificate

   Answer: D. No; only the Health Department’s own exam produces the certificate

   The NYC Food Protection Certificate is issued by the Health Department after you pass its exam. An online ANSI course doesn’t replace it. Review this in the New York guide

8. 8You lose your NYC Food Protection Certificate six years after passing. What can you do?

   1. Print a copy from any ANSI provider
   2. Get a $16 replacement from the Health Department
   3. It can’t be replaced
   4. Nothing; you must retake the course

   Answer: B. Get a $16 replacement from the Health Department

   The Health Department replaces lost certificates for $16, by appointment, if you passed within the last 10 years. Review this in the New York guide

9. 9In Monroe County (Rochester), how long is the food worker certification for higher-risk facilities valid?

   1. 3 years
   2. 5 years
   3. 1 year
   4. It never expires

   Answer: B. 5 years

   Monroe County runs two levels: a 5-year certification for higher-risk facilities and a 3-year one for lower-risk operations and single-pushcart vendors. Review this in the New York guide

10. 10What does every NYC mobile food vendor need?

    1. Only a driver’s license
    2. A Mobile Food Vending License, which requires the vendor food protection course
    3. A restaurant Food Protection Certificate for every worker
    4. An online ANSI food handler card

    Answer: B. A Mobile Food Vending License, which requires the vendor food protection course

    Each vendor needs a Mobile Food Vending License, and getting one requires the Health Department’s food protection course for mobile vendors. Review this in the New York guide

How the real New York exam works

For the NYC certificate, take the Health Department's Food Protection Course, free online or $114 in person, then pass its exam in person with 70% or better. The certificate never expires. Outside the city, check your county: Monroe County, for example, runs its own two-level certification. Our New York Food Handler Requirements: No Statewide Card — Here's What Applies walks through each step, with sources.

Want more practice away from the screen? The Food Handler Practice Exam Pack has 100 questions on the core food safety rules every state tests, as four printable exams of 25 with an answer key at the back. It doesn't cover state-specific rules; this page's test does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this the official NYC Food Protection exam?

No. The official exam is given in person by the NYC Health Department, and passing it is what earns the certificate. This practice test covers the city's rules and the food safety topics the course teaches.

Do line cooks in New York City need the Food Protection Certificate?

Not by law. The city requires a certified supervisor on the premises during all hours of operation, not a certificate for every worker, though many employers require food safety training for all staff.