California Restaurant Association

05/17/2017 | Press release | Archived content

California Food Handler Card Sb 602 requires workers to receive food safety training

A CA Food Handler Card is required by law.

Employees who handle food must have a California Food Handler card on file with their employer within 30 days of hire. Employees must complete the 90-minute training and pass the exam with a 70% or higher to obtain a card. This training and test meets the requirements of California's food safety law SB 602.

Important Update for 2024

Starting January 1, 2024, California law requires that employers purchase food handler training and exams on behalf of their employees. Before making a purchase, please check with your employer on how they prefer to provide you with your food handler training and exam.

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Online Training

The ServSafe® California Food Handler program includes an interactive course and a 40-question exam. It's $11.99 and approximately 90 minutes. Offered in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese. Food handlers will have to complete a registration process in English to access the course.

For San Diego residents, the program is $14.99.

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Take the online training - California

Take the online training - San Diego Only

Key themes covered

Basic food safety

Time + temperature

Cleaning + sanitation

Cross-contamination

Personal hygiene

Private Training*

A certified instructor will come to your establishment with all the necessary equipment and training materials. The instructor will lead a 90-minute training followed by a 90-minute written exam. Contact Macy Fitch at 916.431.2751 or [email protected].

*Private training is for CA Food Handler Card only; excludes San Diego, Riverside, and San Bernardino counties.

Materials needed for this training

  • Scantron Answer Sheet $11 per registrant
  • Food Handler Workbook (suggested) $16 per registrant

Single Private Training

CRA member Price

Non-member Price

Maximum 100 employees
$700

$950

Two Same-Day Private Trainings*

50 employees

Additional employees after 50

*Max of 100 employees per session.
(200 per day)

$380

$5.70/person

$522.50

$7.60/person

Three Same-Day Private Trainings*

50 employees

Additional employees after 50

*Max of 100 employees per session.
(200 per day)

$360

$5.40/person

$495

$7.20/person

Become an instructor or proctor

Managers, shift leaders and owners can easily register as an instructor with ServSafe® to administer the food handler training and test to employees. For more information visit servsafe.com/foodhandler, or contact Macy Fitch at [email protected].

California Restaurant Association published this content on May 17, 2017, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on June 29, 2026 at 04:51 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]