Food Handler Card Requirements in Arizona
There is no statewide food handler card law in Arizona — each county decides whether food workers need one. This page lays out which counties require a card, which courses count, and how a card transfers between counties — every fact checked against the official sources cited below.
Arizona Food Handler Card at a Glance
- Card required?
- Decided county by county — no statewide law
- Deadline
- Varies by county. Maricopa County: food employees must be trained on foodborne disease prevention within 30 days of performing any food employee activity (Environmental Health Code Ch. VII, Reg. 2(a)); temporary/special-event workers before the event starts.
- Cost
- Varies by county/provider. Pima County: $30 county class + exam ($20 exam only). Maricopa County: third-party ANSI course prices set by providers.
- Valid for
- 3 years (Maricopa County certificates, both county-issued and third-party, expire 3 years from issue - Env. Health Code Ch. VII Reg. 4(b); county cards enjoy statewide reciprocity until expiration per A.R.S. 11-269.12).
- Approved courses
- Official Arizona approved-provider list
FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.
Does Arizona Require a Food Handler Card?
Every state writes its own food safety rules. Of the 10 states we have published so far, 8 require food handler training statewide, 1 leaves the decision to counties, and 1 requires no individual card at all. Arizona sits in the county-by-county group: whether you need a card depends on where the establishment is, so check the county before you pay for any course.
Your deadline
Varies by county. Maricopa County: food employees must be trained on foodborne disease prevention within 30 days of performing any food employee activity (Environmental Health Code Ch. VII, Reg. 2(a)); temporary/special-event workers before the event starts.
Accepted Food Handler Training in Arizona
Where a county requires a card, state law (A.R.S. sec. 11-269.12) forces broad acceptance: courses may be online, computer, or live classroom and must meet the ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 certificate-program standard, and a card issued by any Arizona county is valid in every county that requires one until it expires. Maricopa County accepts: a card issued by another AZ county, the county's own course, or any third-party course meeting ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 (county publishes an ANSI provider list incl. ServSafe, 360training, AAA Food Handler, 123 Premier, Food Handler Solutions). Pima County offers its own class/exam at the Abrams Public Health Center.
Named on the official list
- ServSafe
- 360training / Learn2Serve
- AAA Food Handler
- 123 Premier
- Food Handler Solutions
As listed by the official source cited below when we last checked — always confirm a course appears on the current official list before you pay for it.
FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.
Statewide vs. County Rules in Arizona
Arizona has no statewide card mandate — counties decide, and state law (A.R.S. § 11-269.12) makes any Arizona county’s card valid in every county that requires one:
| Where | What counts | Deadline | Valid for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa County (Phoenix metro) | Card required — another AZ county’s card, the county’s own course, or any ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 course | Within 30 days (before the event for temporary workers) | 3 years |
| Pima County (Tucson) | County class and exam offered ($30); a universal card mandate could not be confirmed from current county sources — verify with Pima County Health Dept. | Not published | Not published |
| Other counties | Requirements vary and were not verified — check the county environmental health department | Varies | Varies |
Table condensed from the official sources cited at the bottom of this page. The full verified detail:
No statewide card mandate - counties decide (A.R.S. 11-269.12 regulates HOW a county that requires cards must run the program). Maricopa County (Phoenix metro, the state's biggest market): card/training required within 30 days, ANSI third-party courses accepted, 3-year validity, at least one Certified Food Protection Manager per establishment. Pima County (Tucson): county food handler class offered ($30) and CFPM required since Jan 2017 (county code 8.08.050 revision), but the county's current page describes its own food handler certificate as 'not ANSI-accredited... intended for educational purposes only,' and a universal card mandate for every food employee could not be confirmed from Pima's current primary sources - verify with Pima County Health Dept (520-724-7908) before stating one. Other counties (Yavapai, Coconino, Yuma, Mohave, Pinal, etc.): requirements vary and were not verified - check each county's environmental health department.
Food Manager Certification in Arizona
The food handler card is not the only training rule — Arizona also has a separate requirement for certified food protection managers:
County-driven. Maricopa County: every food establishment must have at least one Certified Food Protection Manager on staff (exempt if serving only non-TCS foods); CFPM cert from a program per 2017 FDA Food Code sec. 2-102.20 (ANSI-CFP exams), valid 5 years, replacement CFPM within 90 days of separation. Pima County: at least one CFPM with supervisory authority required since Jan 2017 via ANSI-accredited program.
Preparing for a manager exam?
Manager exams go deeper than food handler courses — HACCP, active managerial control, and temperature rules in detail. Our free practice test mirrors that format, with an explanation for every answer.
Free Food Manager Practice TestArizona Food Handler Card FAQs
Do you need a food handler card in Arizona?
Not under a statewide law — in Arizona, each county decides whether food workers need a card. Varies by county. Maricopa County: food employees must be trained on foodborne disease prevention within 30 days of performing any food employee activity (Environmental Health Code Ch. VII, Reg. 2(a)); temporary/special-event workers before the event starts.
How much does a food handler card cost in Arizona?
Varies by county/provider. Pima County: $30 county class + exam ($20 exam only). Maricopa County: third-party ANSI course prices set by providers.
How long is a Arizona food handler card valid?
3 years (Maricopa County certificates, both county-issued and third-party, expire 3 years from issue - Env. Health Code Ch. VII Reg. 4(b); county cards enjoy statewide reciprocity until expiration per A.R.S. 11-269.12).
What food handler training does Arizona accept?
Where a county requires a card, state law (A.R.S. sec. 11-269.12) forces broad acceptance: courses may be online, computer, or live classroom and must meet the ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 certificate-program standard, and a card issued by any Arizona county is valid in every county that requires one until it expires. Maricopa County accepts: a card issued by another AZ county, the county's own course, or any third-party course meeting ANSI/ASTM E2659-09 (county publishes an ANSI provider list incl. ServSafe, 360training, AAA Food Handler, 123 Premier, Food Handler Solutions). Pima County offers its own class/exam at the Abrams Public Health Center.
Does Arizona require a certified food manager?
County-driven. Maricopa County: every food establishment must have at least one Certified Food Protection Manager on staff (exempt if serving only non-TCS foods); CFPM cert from a program per 2017 FDA Food Code sec. 2-102.20 (ANSI-CFP exams), valid 5 years, replacement CFPM within 90 days of separation. Pima County: at least one CFPM with supervisory authority required since Jan 2017 via ANSI-accredited program.
Sources
Last reviewed July 21, 2026. Every fact on this page was checked against the primary sources below on the dates shown.
- A.R.S. sec. 11-269.12 - County food handler training; certificates (reciprocity, ANSI/ASTM E2659-09, online courses) Accessed July 21, 2026
- Maricopa County Environmental Health Code, Chapter VII - Food Employees / Certified Food Protection Managers Accessed July 21, 2026
- Maricopa County - ANSI-Accredited Providers (food handler training) Accessed July 21, 2026
- Pima County - Food & Pool Certification Accessed July 21, 2026
- Maricopa County - Food & Restaurants (Environmental Services) Accessed July 21, 2026
Ready for the Test at the End of the Course?
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FoodHandlerTest is an independent study resource and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) or any certifying organization.