Replace a Lost Georgia Food Handler Card

Exact steps to reprint your certificate, notify regulators, and dodge costly inspection citations.

Restaurant manager prints a duplicate food handler certificate for an employee

Misplacing your Georgia food handler card can escalate from a minor headache to a costly violation under Ga. Comp. R. & Regs. 511-6-1 if inspectors arrive before you sort it out. Acting within 24 hours protects both your job and your employer’s health-score. Use the guide below to confirm whether the card is truly lost, order a duplicate, update county records, and create temporary proof that satisfies regulators.

1. Confirm the Card Isn’t Hiding Somewhere

Before paying for a replacement, give your current card a last chance to surface. Check the pockets of chef coats, delivery bags, glove boxes, and that often-ignored locker shelf. Many Georgia operators keep photocopies of staff credentials in an office binder—ask your manager if a spare copy already exists. If you recover the original, snap a well-lit photo and upload it to a cloud folder labeled “Food Safety Docs” so you have a backup next time.

Average duplicate-card fees & processing times
ProviderInstant PDFMailed Physical Card
ServSafeFree$15 (5–7 days)
Always Food SafeFree$12 (4–6 days)
eFoodHandlers$2$10 (7–10 days)
  1. Log in to your training-provider portal or open live chat support.
  2. Download the replacement PDF or order a mailed copy if required.
  3. Print immediately on plain paper for short-term compliance.
  4. Notify your manager and place the printout in the facility log.
  5. Set a calendar reminder for the new replacement date and renewal window.

2. Request a Duplicate From Your Training Provider

Georgia-approved vendors keep your certificate on file for the card’s entire validity period. Most allow unlimited re-prints, so long as your original course is still active. For example, after signing in to ServSafe.com you can click My Certificates → View/Print to generate a new PDF in seconds. Print the file on standard letter stock or save it directly to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet for digital access during inspections. If you prefer a durable plastic card, several vendors offer mail-out service for $10–$15. Remember: A laminated printout is acceptable, but only if the text and signature fields remain legible.

3. Update Your County Health Department Records

County environmental health offices store copies of food handler credentials for each permitted facility. If your new certificate carries a different ID number or issue date, email the update immediately. Below is a mini-directory for the five largest Georgia counties; copy the template and adjust to fit your details.

Subject line suggestion: Food Handler Card Update – [Employee Name] – Facility ID [Number]. Attach the PDF, include the new expiration date, and keep the sent email receipt with your facility’s logbook to prove timely compliance. Some counties charge a small $5 re-recording fee—budget for it.

4. Temporary Proof Options While You Wait

Most inspectors allow a 7-day grace window when you can present a clearly printed PDF, email confirmation, or wallet screenshot as evidence your replacement is underway. Combine the document with a government-issued photo ID so the name match is obvious. If your provider’s website is down, show the payment receipt or support email timestamped within the last 48 hours. Employers may also draft a “statement of due diligence” citing Ga. Code §511-6-1-.03(3)(d) to note the duplicate request.

Proof Type Accepted at Inspection? Time Limit
Printed PDF copy✓Up to 7 days
Digital wallet version✓Indefinite (must show offline)
Screenshot + payment receipt✓72 hours
Verbal assurance only✗Not accepted

5. Prevent Future Loss

Treat your new card like any other legal credential. Slip it into a waterproof sleeve, snap a cellphone photo, and store the PDF in two separate cloud accounts. Many Georgia restaurants keep a second copy in a break-room binder so the Person-in-Charge can produce it instantly during inspections. Finally, add a recurring calendar alert 60 days before expiration—an early renewal beats an emergency replacement every time.

Planning ahead? Review our guide on renewing your food handler certification to avoid last-minute scrambles.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you order a physical replacement from ServSafe, allow five to seven business days for postal delivery in most parts of Georgia. The PDF version is available immediately after payment and is accepted by inspectors as long as it prints clearly, shows your full name, and lists the expiration date.

Yes—Georgia regulators accept a digital wallet version as primary proof, provided the screen is bright enough for them to verify your name, issue date, and expiration date. Keep the file saved for offline use because weak back-of-house Wi-Fi is not an acceptable excuse if you cannot load the credential.

No. If your original course period has lapsed, most vendors treat replacement as a new enrollment, meaning you must re-take the course and exam. Always verify your card’s expiration date before attempting to download a duplicate to avoid surprise fees.

Only if the card has already expired. Georgia requires an active, valid certificate, not the physical plastic itself. If your credential is still within its three-year window, you may simply request a duplicate without redoing the training or exam.

Contact your training provider’s support team before reprinting. Most vendors will update your profile after you email legal documentation such as a marriage certificate. Once the name is corrected, regenerate the PDF and send the updated copy to your county health department for record alignment.

Health inspectors typically issue violations to the food establishment, not the individual worker. However, employers often pass the penalty along by withholding shifts until proof of certification is produced. Act quickly to protect both your schedule and the facility’s inspection grade.

Lamination is allowed, but be cautious: excessive heat can blur inkjet prints, making barcodes or QR codes unreadable. A better option is placing the printout in a clear badge holder. If you do laminate, inspect the card under bright light to ensure all text remains crisp.

Some rural Georgia counties issue their own handler cards. Contact the environmental health office that printed the original—many will reissue on the spot for a small fee after you show a photo ID. Keep the receipt in your facility log until the new card is delivered or printed.

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