Food Handler Card Requirements in Alabama

There is no statewide Alabama food handler card and therefore no statewide accepted-training standard. Where a county programme exists, the county controls what counts and third-party cards are generally NOT portable: Jefferson County accepts (a) its own classroom course at the health department, (b) online training from the single exclusive approved provider it names, or (c) on-the-job training by a Certified Food Safety Manager who is on duty at all times. Mobile County accepts ONLY its own county-specific online course - 'Cards issued by State Food Safety for other counties or by other food handler training providers are not valid in Mobile County and will not be recognized' - and exempts employees who already hold a current, approved Food Safety Manager certification. For the manager credential that state rules do require, ADPH Chapter 420-3-22 requires certification from an 'accredited program', meaning a food protection manager certification programme evaluated and listed by an accrediting agency as conforming to national standards.

Yes, for higher-risk establishments. ADPH Food Establishment Sanitation rule 420-3-22-.02(2)(a) requires that for Priority Category 3 and 4 establishments the permit holder or their designee possess a valid certification from an accredited program, or have verification of attendance from an accredited program. On or after 1 January 2020, a designated person in charge with a valid certification from an accredited program (or verification of attendance) must be present during ALL hours of operation. Where multiple permitted establishments sit within one physical structure under the same operating ownership - such as multiple departments in one retail grocery store - the rule addresses them as a group. A permit is issued only when the Health Officer verifies, where required, that the permit holder or designee holds a valid accredited-program certification issued within the previous five years (60 months), or completed an accredited program without certification within the previous 12 months from the date of the permit application. Failure to hold that certification at inspection is a violation that must be corrected within 120 days. Priority Category 4 means an establishment meeting the Category 2 or 3 definition that also performs an operation requiring a variance or a HACCP plan; Priority Category 3 includes establishments handling unpackaged raw food of animal origin. Note that Alabama expressly excludes FDA Food Code sections 2-102.11(A) and 2-102.11(C) from adoption.