DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (DC)
FOOD HANDLERS CARD​

The food handler course educates participants on safe food handling, preparation, and service. It includes essential topics such as personal hygiene, avoiding cross-contamination, proper cleaning and sanitizing, preventing foodborne illnesses, and following local health guidelines.

There is no difference—Both terms refer to the document you receive after completing a recognized food safety course. Some counties or employers may refer to it as a “card,” but the certificate serves the same purpose—it proves you’ve completed an approved food safety course.

You’ll need to finish the online course, pass the final exam with a 70% or higher score, and download your proof of completion to earn your certificate. This certificate can be shown to employers or health officials as evidence of your food safety training.

The training takes approximately 1.5 hours to complete. It’s entirely self-paced, so you can take breaks and resume the course whenever convenient.

Once you complete the course and pass the exam, you’ll receive a Food Handler Certificate, which verifies that you’ve been trained in food safety best practices.

Once you enroll, you’ll have unlimited access to the course for 3 months. During that time, you can review the material as often as needed.

The food handler course is officially approved and accredited throughout the District of Columbia. It meets all local food safety requirements and complies with the standards set by D.C. health authorities.

Our course is developed in alignment with the District of Columbia health regulations and is accepted across all city areas. It meets the standards required to issue a valid Food Handler Card.

Choose your preferred language and click “Purchase English” or “Purchase Spanish” to begin. The course is available online anytime and can be accessed on any device.

The course is available in English and Spanish, making it accessible to a diverse workforce.

You’ll have two attempts to pass the final exam at no extra cost. If you don’t pass on your first try, you can review the course material and retake the test when ready.

Employers can take advantage of bulk purchase discounts. After purchase, courses can be easily assigned to staff, and managers gain access to a dashboard to track progress, manage cards, and generate training reports.

The DC food handlers card is ideal for anyone who works with food—whether you’re preparing, serving, or handling ingredients in restaurants, food trucks, or other establishments.

To obtain your District of Columbia Food Handler Card, you must complete an accredited course approved by the ANAB. Once you pass the final exam, you can download your official card as proof of compliance.

You can take the District of Columbia food handlers card online. As long as the course is accredited by the ANAB, it is accepted citywide. Our online course meets these requirements and is accessible 24/7 from any device.

Non-potentially hazardous foods, such as baked goods (without cream or custard), jams, jellies, candies, dry mixes, and granola, are allowed. These items must be shelf-stable and not require refrigeration.

The AAA Food Handler Card satisfies the food safety training requirement for the District of Columbia’s Cottage Food Law, provided the course is accredited by the ANAB. The District of Columbia recognizes this certification as fulfilling the necessary training for cottage food operators.

To register as a cottage food producer in Washington, D.C., you must complete a Food Handler certificate from an approved provider like AAA Food Handler that is ANSI accredited. After that, submit an application with details about your business, products, and food safety practices to the D.C. Department of Health.