Looking to earn your DC food safety certification? Whether you work in a restaurant, food truck, grocery store, or catering business in Washington, D.C., food safety training is essential to protect public health and meet local health department standards.
Our online course is ANAB-accredited and accepted for food handler certification in D.C. It’s designed for food workers at all levels who need to understand safe food handling, hygiene practices, and how to prevent foodborne illness.
✅ 100% Online – Learn on your schedule
✅ Accepted for DC food safety certification
✅ Works on any device – phone, tablet, or computer
✅ Simple, fast, and beginner-friendly
✅ Get your certificate instantly after completion



















Education is the best tool to prevent, minimize, or eliminate foodborne illnesses and food hazards.
Training helps reduce or eliminate food safety hazards before they become major issues.
Reducing food safety complaints will create a happier workplace and in turn increase productivity.
Yes. Washington, D.C. follows the FDA Food Code, which requires a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) at each licensed food establishment.
A CFPM is someone who has passed a nationally accredited food manager certification exam through the ANAB and the Conference for Food Protection (CFP). This ensures managers have advanced food safety knowledge.
Yes. Anyone selling food at street fairs, farmers’ markets, or festivals in D.C. must follow health department rules, and many require a CFPM or trained food handler to be present.
Completing food handler training through AAA Food Handler not only boosts your job prospects by showing employers that you take food safety seriously, but it also helps protect public health. The CDC estimates that a large percentage of norovirus outbreaks—often mistaken for the “stomach flu”—are linked to food workers handling food while contagious. In fact, Washington, DC has experienced several foodborne illness outbreaks in recent years. By applying the safe food handling practices you learn in training, you can make a real difference in preventing foodborne illnesses and keeping your community safe.
You must complete a Food Protection Manager Certification exam from an ANAB-accredited provider. AAA Food Handler offers online courses to help prepare for the exam.
Most Food Handler courses take about 2–3 hours, while the Food Manager course usually takes 6–8 hours before you attempt the certification exam.
The passing score is generally 70% or higher on an ANAB-accredited exam.
Yes. Any school or childcare program that prepares and serves meals must follow food safety rules, and many require trained staff or a Certified Food Protection Manager.
Yes. CFPM certification is valid for five years. Renewal requires retaking and passing the accredited exam. AAA Food Handler provides refresher courses to make the process easier.
Yes. AAA Food Handler provides nationally accredited Food Protection Manager Certification, Food Handler training and allergen awareness programs that comply with D.C. standards.
Yes. AAA Food Handler provides group accounts with dashboards to help employers manage certification dates, renewals, and staff compliance.
Foodborne illness remains a serious concern across the U.S., including in Washington, DC. In fact, between 2003 and 2012, the Center for Science in the Public Interest recorded 19 outbreaks in the District—most commonly caused by preventable viruses like Norovirus and Sapovirus. Because food service managers are responsible for training staff and enforcing food safety practices, they play a critical role in prevention. Earning an ANAB-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification through AAA Food Handler ensures managers have the knowledge and skills to maintain the highest safety standards. These certifications are backed by the FDA and CDC, reinforcing their value in protecting public health.
Food Handler Reviews
4.9
Great
very through and informative
Clearly explained modules that virtually guarantee a passing grade if you pay attention.
I have had my food handlers card in the past and went through a different website to obtain it. I got this website from my current supervisor and honestly this website was very informative. Considering that this is women owned, things are explained in a good detail. 1.5 hours of this does seem long but it is not. I learned some new information from the last time I took it and also the final exam was 40 questions. Final exam questions were fairly simple and reflected everything that was talked about.
easy and concise to follow
It was informative and good learning material.
Well worth it & Very Recommended
Very Easy & Recommended
Me gusto lo bien explicados que estan los modulos y la informacion tan importante
The information was clear and concise.
Modules was short and to the point. Very informative on food handling.
Accessed through mobile phone and found the course to be a bit slow
Definitely interesting. I’ve had to take this course several times over my life and this one kept my attention well. The narrator used had a good voice and having to interact at times kept me on my toes. I liked it overall and will be back if available when it is time to do it again.
The information makes one aware of how to protect yourself and your loved ones from needless illnesses by using preventive measures, common sense and paying attention to the potetntial hazards and cross contamination when it comes to handing food. This info also keeps me alert when I am being served in a restaurant. Just recently, I was at a restaurant, and was served my meal with white bread instead of pita bread. I brought it to the server’s attention, he apologized and he grabbed the two pieces of bread off my plate. We thought that was kind of weird, but at least he was nice about it, and wearing gloves. However, he touched other things with his gloves, since he was busy serving other people. If I knew then, that that would’ve been a violation, I think I would’ve told the manager, instead of letting it go. Even though some of this info is common sense, it is helpful to bring the topic up with an explanation to back up the standards. Otherwise, it is very easy to let things slide. Also, there are specific info that I wasn’t aware of, like how many degrees should you receive food when hot or when cold. Overall, this course was very insightful. I kept thinking my whole family should take this course, so we can all be on the same page. I also feel the need to practice these guidelines regularly in my own home kitchen.
simple and informative.
This course goes into great depth and provides an in depth understanding of food safety.
Great program
Easy and straight to the point
This course was sufficient in preparing me for the food handlers test