Food Service Worker Program

Food Service Worker

You must bring Proof of Legal Status/ID to take the test or the class or get the card.

Food Service Worker Cards are required for any person who handles, prepares, serves, sells or gives away food for human consumption, including those whose duties are restricted to busing or washing dishes. The rule does not apply to workers in facilities that handle food or beverages exclusively in a closed package or container. New workers must obtain their licenses within 30 days.

Cards are obtained by coming in to one of our offices. You have the choice of taking a written test after reviewing a study booklet of food safety information, in one of our offices (click here for testing schedules, locations, and maps) or by using an approved on-line testing web site (click here for a listing of approved web sites). If you chose an on-line testing center the bar-coded certificate and the appropriate fee must be presented to our regional offices in order to obtain your FSW card.

Cards must be renewed every three years by re-testing. This includes older cards issued prior to 1997. The fee to take the test is $10.00 per attempt. When the test is passed, the fee for the card is $5.00. An original of the card must be kept at the workplace. Those who wish to retain a copy for their own records or for multiple job locations may obtain duplicates of their license for $3.00. We accept cash and credit cards at our four testing offices. Food Service Worker cards are valid for a period of three years.

Certified Manager

You must bring Proof of Legal Status/ID to get the card.

In 1998, Maricopa County adopted a change to its food code requiring all food establishments handling open, potentially hazardous foods to have at least one licensed Certified Manager who has undergone more extensive food service training. The deadline for meeting this requirement was January 1, 2000. New establishments must meet the requirement within 90 days of opening.

Obtaining licensure as a Certified Manager is a two step process. You must first pass an approved exam by a testing agency recognized by the county for this purpose. Click here for a page that lists currently recognized exams and testing agencies. At this time, Maricopa County does not provide this testing or instruction. It must instead be sought from the private sector.

Once you have passed one of the recognized tests, you must bring your documentation to one of our offices for issuance of a license. The fee for a Certified Manager license is $5.00 Duplicates of your license cost $3.00 Licenses for managers must be renewed every five years.

Please note that special accommodations can be made for individuals with special needs or learning disabilities. Please visit one of the four offices for a referral.