How to Get a Georgia Food Handler Card (2025 Guide)

Your step-by-step path to legally handle food in any Georgia restaurant, food truck, school cafeteria, or deli. Follow these seven easy steps and save time on day-one onboarding.

Georgia food service workers completing an online food handler course

Under Georgia Food Code 511-6-1, every “food employee” must hold a valid food handler card before touching unpackaged food, utensils, or food-contact surfaces. Getting certified early protects you from costly inspection deductions and keeps your employer compliant with state rules and county add-ons. Use this plain-English guide to breeze through the process.

Seven Steps to Your Georgia Food Handler Card

  1. Verify Your Job Role
    • Anyone handling open food, ice, drinks, utensils, or dishware needs a card.
    • Warehouse staff who handle only sealed packages are generally exempt.
    • Check with your county Environmental Health office for edge-case roles like hostesses.
    • Code ref: Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-6-1-.03(3)
  2. Select an Approved Course
    • Choose a provider on the Department of Public Health’s accepted list.
    • Decide between online vs classroom.
    • Confirm ADA accommodations (screen reader, captions).
    • Code ref: 511-6-1-.03(3)(d)
  3. Create an Account With the Provider
    • Enter your legal name exactly as it appears on ID.
    • Use a personal email—you’ll need it for card retrieval later.
    • Set a strong password; you may re-enter the portal for renewals.
    • Code ref: Provider enrollment policy
  4. Complete the 2-Hour Training
    • Modules cover Time/Temperature, cross-contamination, hygiene, cleaning, allergens.
    • Take notes; many quiz questions echo the slides verbatim.
    • Most providers allow you to pause and resume on any device.
    • Code ref: 511-6-1-.03(3)(e)
  5. Pass the 40-Question Exam
    • Score ≥ 75 % to pass—most exams are open book.
    • Unlimited attempts with some providers; others charge $3-$5 per retake.
    • Use our practice test to prep.
    • Code ref: ANSI Standard 1200G
  6. Pay & Download Your PDF Card
    • Georgia price range: $10-$15 including exam & certificate.
    • Download, then print in color or black-and-white.
    • Laminating prolongs life but avoid heat-pouch machines that warp ink.
    • Code ref: Provider fee schedule
  7. Register With Your County Health Department
    • Email or upload a copy—Fulton, Cobb, Gwinnett, DeKalb, and Cherokee accept online forms.
    • Save the confirmation email; inspectors may ask for proof.
    • Working across counties? Register once per jurisdiction.
    • Code ref: 511-6-1-.10(3)

Choosing a Training Provider

Georgia accepts any food handler program accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). Below is a quick glance at three popular options. Prices reflect 2025 averages—check the provider’s website for promos or bundle deals.

Provider Price Languages Mobile Friendly Instant Download
ServSafe $15 English, Spanish Yes Yes
StateFoodSafety $13 English, Spanish, Korean Yes Yes
360training $10 English Yes Yes

Preparing for the Exam

The exam tests real-world scenarios: cooling chili, storing raw chicken, verifying sanitizer ppm. Skim your course notes, then drill with at least 30 practice questions. Our free practice test mimics the question style and lets you track weak areas.

If English Isn’t Your First Language

Most providers offer Spanish audio tracks and closed captions. You can also slow video playback without penalty. During the exam, enable the language toggle or caption button to reduce comprehension stress.

Receiving & Printing Your Card

After passing, the system unlocks a PDF certificate plus a wallet-size card. Print on plain white cardstock if possible; inkjet paper smudges when laminated. Trim the wallet card, then laminate with a cold-seal pouch or place inside a clear badge holder. For digital convenience, providers like StateFoodSafety let you add the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet—great for surprise inspections.

County Registration

Georgia’s 159 counties keep their own databases so inspectors can verify cards onsite without contacting the provider. Below are the seven most populated counties and their preferred submission method. If you work in multiple counties, register in each jurisdiction.

Keep the auto-reply email or stamped receipt; inspectors sometimes ask for proof of submission.

Keeping Records Safe

Treat your card like a driver’s license—store the original in your wallet and keep a digital copy in cloud storage. Set a calendar alert two years minus one month before expiration so you have time to renew without working uncredentialed. HR departments should maintain a master roster with issue and expiration dates; download our record-keeping template for quick setup.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most ANSI-accredited courses charge between $10 – $15, including training, exam, and digital certificate. Prices vary by provider and occasional promotions. Always compare at least three options; our requirements page lists approved programs and fees.

Yes. Top providers like StateFoodSafety and Always Food Safe offer Spanish narration and, for some modules, Korean subtitles. Verify language support before purchasing to ensure the entire course—including the final exam—is available in your preferred language.

Many providers allow unlimited retakes at no extra charge, while others cap free attempts at two and charge a small fee afterward. Check the provider’s retake policy during sign-up. Use our practice test to boost your first-time pass rate.

Yes. Georgia Food Code includes all “food employees,” regardless of age. Providers accept learners as young as 15 with parental consent. Make sure the minor registers with their legal name to avoid issues during county verification.

The ServSafe Food Handler certificate is accepted statewide as long as it was earned through the Georgia-specific course outline. Print the wallet card version, not just the full-page certificate, and register it with your county like any other provider.

Georgia recognizes food handler cards for three years from issue date. Set a renewal reminder and see our renewal guide to avoid lapses that could cost inspection points.

If you perform food work in multiple counties—say Fulton and DeKalb—you must keep a registration on file in each. Some metro counties share data, but inspectors often ask for a local record, so play it safe and submit to each jurisdiction.

Georgia does not recognize most out-of-state cards because course content is state-specific. However, if the provider’s certificate lists “Georgia” on the front, inspectors usually accept it. When in doubt, take the 2-hour state-specific refresher.

Log in to your training provider’s dashboard and re-download the PDF for a small fee ($0-$5). Then re-print and laminate. Need more help? Visit our lost card guide.

Most online exams are open book but disallow secondary devices. You may keep the course window and notes open in separate browser tabs, yet using a phone to search answers could trigger the proctoring software. Read provider rules before starting.

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