STATE of South Dakota
State Of South Dakota
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South Dakota Food License – Get Certified Quickly Online
Planning to work in a restaurant, food truck, or grocery store in South Dakota? A food license is essential for anyone involved in preparing or handling food. Our online course helps you meet South Dakota Food License training requirements while teaching best practices to prevent foodborne illness.
This course is ideal for food handlers, kitchen staff, and entry-level workers across all food service settings in the state.
Why Take South Dakota Food License?
✅ 100% Online – Study at your convenience
✅ Complies with South Dakota Food Safety Rules
✅ Works on All Devices – Desktop, Tablet, Mobile
✅ Simple to Follow – No prior experience needed
✅ Get Your Certificate Immediately After Completion
OUR CLIENTS
BENEFITS OF TRAINING
PREVENT
Education is the best tool to prevent, minimize, or eliminate foodborne illnesses and food hazards.
AWARENESS
ELIMINATE
Training helps reduce or eliminate food safety hazards before they become major issues.
MINIMIZE
PRODUCTIVITY
Reducing food safety complaints will create a happier workplace and in turn increase productivity.
WORKPLACE SATISFACTION
WHY CHOOSE US
- Satisfaction Guarantee
- Online Interactive Course
- Meets and Exceeds State Guidelines
- Price Match Guarantee
- Owners and Managers: Manage, Track and Record Employee Progress
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
A Food Handler card is a certificate showing that you’ve completed a state-approved food safety course and passed an exam. In California, most employees who prepare, store, or serve food must obtain a Food Handler card within 30 days of hire.
Food safety certification is official recognition that you have been trained in proper food handling, hygiene, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and other safety practices. In California, the most advanced version of this is the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification.
California requires at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) in each food facility, with certification from a nationally accredited food manager program through the ANAB and the Conference for Food Protection (CFP).
All food employees in California must complete an ANAB accredited food handler training course within 30 days of hire, as required by Health & Safety Code §113948. Some counties, such as Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego, have their own food handler card requirements that take precedence over the state law. Employees must also provide a copy of their certificate to their employer, who is required to keep records on file.
Effective January 1, 2024, Senate Bill 476 (SB 476) shifts the responsibility of training costs from employees to employers. Employers must pay for accredited training, cover related expenses, compensate employees for the time spent on training/testing, excuse them from regular duties during the course or exam, and cannot require applicants to already hold a card as a condition of employment. Food handler cards remain valid for three (3) years.
The Food Handler card covers basic safety for entry-level workers, while the Food Protection Manager Certification is an advanced qualification for supervisors or managers, focusing on compliance, HACCP, and leadership in food safety.
Yes. Under California Assembly Bill 1221, alcohol servers and their managers must complete Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) training and pass an online exam.
It is valid for five years, after which you must retake and pass the nationally accredited exam.
AAA Food Handler combines state-specific compliance expertise, national accreditation, and a decade of training experience to ensure California food service teams meet the highest safety standards.
Yes. We offer California Food Handler cards, Food Manager Certification, Responsible Beverage Service (RBS) alcohol training, and Food Allergen courses.
Yes. AAA Food Handler provides discounted pricing and easy tracking for restaurants, hotels, schools, and catering companies training multiple employees.
AAA Food Handler combines state-specific compliance expertise, national accreditation, and a decade of training experience to ensure California food service teams meet the highest safety standards.
With AAA Food Handler’s online course, you can finish in about two hours and download your card instantly after passing.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
The South Dakota Department of Health expects all food workers to be properly trained. A food handler certificate confirms that you understand essential skills like handwashing, illness reporting, and safe cooking temperatures, which are part of South Dakota food license standards.
Take the AAA Food Handler’s online course, pass the exam, and download your official certificate right away. This serves as proof of training for your employer.
Most food handler certificates are valid for 2–3 years. Always confirm with your employer or inspector to stay compliant.
Restaurants, cafeterias, catering services, grocery stores, and food trucks all require properly trained staff. Roles include cooks, servers, prep workers, bartenders who handle food, dishwashers, and bussers.
You must pass a Food Protection Manager Certification exam accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and recognized by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP). The AAA Food Handler offers a program that meets these requirements.
Administrative Rules of South Dakota 44:02:07:03 require every food service establishment to designate a person in charge who holds Food Protection Manager Certification. This certified manager must be present for each shift to oversee safe practices.
Certification is valid for five years. Renewal requires at least four hours of refresher training and passing another accredited exam.
Certified managers ensure employees follow the Food Code, maintain proper storage and cooking methods, oversee cleaning and sanitizing, and inform customers when food items are undercooked. Their leadership is critical to South Dakota food license compliance.
Working in a county that requires training without a certificate can result in:
- Fines or penalties
- Job ineligibility
- Violations of the establishment’s health inspection report
Having a valid certificate helps protect both employees and businesses
All staff who prepare, serve, or handle food should take allergen training. Employers often require a food allergen certificate to minimize liability.
Yes. AAA Food Handler offers a self-paced online course that allows you to complete training on any device and download your certificate instantly.
Most employees finish the training in about two hours, making it a fast and practical step toward safer food service.
Food Establishments (Restaurants, Caterers, Grocery Stores, Cafeterias):
South Dakota Department of Health
Office of Health Protection
600 East Capitol Avenue
Pierre, SD 57501
