San Diego County Food Handler Card: How to Get It

Quick answer: San Diego County runs its own food handler program. You need a card from a county-authorized training school; food handler cards issued outside San Diego County aren't accepted, and not every California course counts. The course runs 3 hours, you need 80% on the test, and the card lasts 3 years. Your employer has to pay for it.

This is general information, not legal advice. When in doubt, check with the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality or your employer.

Why San Diego County Is Different

California's food handler card law exempts food handlers covered by a local program that took effect before January 1, 2009, and San Diego County had one. So instead of the state card, San Diego has its own rules: training from a county-authorized school, and no cards from outside the county. The county warns that not all courses offered in California are accepted here.

The state's employer-pays rule from SB 476 still applies: your employer must pay for the training, count your training and test time as paid work, and can't require you to already have a card to be hired.

Who Needs It and When

Every food handler needs either a valid San Diego County food handler card or a pass on the County of San Diego food handler test (see below). County code lets an employer hire a food handler who hasn't yet passed the food handler test for their first 10 days of employment. Ask your manager how that applies to you, and get your card early.

How to Get Your Card

1. Pick a county-authorized school. The county publishes a list of authorized schools, with both classroom and online options. Schools teach in a range of languages, including Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and American Sign Language, depending on the school.
2. Take the 3-hour course. County code requires a three-hour food sanitation training course.
3. Pass the test with 80% or better.
4. Get your card from the school and give your employer a copy; the permit holder has to keep copies on file.

Schools set their own prices, and your employer pays. For extra study material, the county sells a training packet for $2 at its office at 5500 Overland Avenue, Suite 170, and publishes food handler booklets in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Vietnamese. Our free California Food Handler Practice Test covers the same food safety basics.

Prefer to study by listening? "Food Handler Card Audio Cram," our own roughly 57-minute audio session from Kanti Press, walks through the core topics every food handler test covers.

The Workplace Test Option

Instead of a school card, a food handler can pass the County of San Diego food handler test given by a current food safety manager who has passed a state-approved food safety certification exam. That test result is valid for three years from the test date, or until the food handler stops working at that facility, so it doesn't go with you to a new job the way a card does.

How Long It Lasts and How to Renew

A San Diego County food handler card lasts 3 years. To renew, complete another 3-hour course and pass the test at an approved food handler training school. Renewals are no longer offered at the county's offices.

Lost Your Card?

Contact the school that trained you for a new one; the expiration date stays the same as your first card. If you can't get one, you'll have to retake the training. Our How to Renew a Food Handler Card (or Replace a Lost One) covers other counties and states.

Working Elsewhere in California

Most California counties use the state food handler card, but Riverside and San Bernardino counties run their own programs too: see our Riverside County Food Handler Card: How to Get Your Certificate and San Bernardino County Food Handler Card: How to Get It guides. Our California Food Handler Card: How to Get Certified Step by Step covers the rest of the state.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a California food handler card valid in San Diego County?

Not automatically. San Diego County accepts cards only from its county-authorized schools, and cards issued outside San Diego County aren't accepted.

Can I get a San Diego County food handler card online?

Yes, if the school is on the county's authorized list. The list includes both classroom and online schools.

How long is a San Diego County food handler card good for?

3 years. Renew by taking another 3-hour course and passing the test at an approved school.

What score do I need to pass?

80% or higher, after a three-hour food sanitation course.

Who pays for a San Diego County food handler card?

Your employer. California's SB 476 employer-pay rule applies in San Diego County, including paying you for your training time.

Bottom Line

In San Diego County, choose a school from the county's authorized list, take the 3-hour course, pass with 80%, have your employer pay, and renew every three years. Warm up with our free California Food Handler Practice Test.

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