Food Handler Card Requirements in Indiana

No food handler card is required of ordinary food employees in Indiana, and no local government may create one (see countyNotes). Voluntary food handler certificates are widely offered and local health departments describe them as 'recommended' for retail food establishments that perform open handling of food, but they carry no legal force. Two credentials in Indiana are genuinely mandatory and both are manager-level, defined by IC 16-42-5.2-3.7 as a 'certificate, letter, or other document that verifies that the individual has passed an accreditation examination given by an accredited testing service recognized by the Conference for Food Protection or an equivalent nationally recognized certification program as determined by the state department of health': (1) the Certified Food Protection Manager required of most food establishments, and (2) a certificate required of all home-based vendors, who must obtain a certified food handler certificate from an ANSI/ANAB-accredited certification programme. Because accreditation attaches to the examination rather than the course, the exam must be proctored - Indiana health departments warn specifically that an online-only food handler certificate does not satisfy the requirement.

Yes, for most establishments, with statutory exemptions. IC 16-42-5.2-8(a) requires a food establishment to have at least one certified food protection manager responsible for all periods of the establishment's operation, though the CFPM need not be present during all hours; a variance may require presence at all hours if agreed (IC 16-42-5.2-8(b)). Timing: a food establishment that begins operation or changes ownership must comply within six months (IC 16-42-5.2-9), and if the CFPM leaves, the owner must comply within three months of the termination date (IC 16-42-5.2-10). One CFPM suffices for multiple establishments operated by the same individual on the same or contiguous properties (IC 16-42-5.2-11). The CFPM must give the establishment a copy of the certificate and photo identification card, and the establishment must produce these to an inspector and remove the certificate when the CFPM leaves (IC 16-42-5.2-7.1(a)(1), 16-42-5.2-8.5). Exemptions - IC 16-42-5.2-2(a) provides the chapter does not apply where the establishment's food handling does not include cooking raw food of animal origin or is limited to: heating or serving precooked foods; preparing or serving a continental breakfast such as rolls, coffee, juice, milk and cold cereal; preparing or serving beverages or ice; preparing or serving packaged or unpackaged low hazard foods including elephant ears, funnel cakes, cotton candy, confectioneries, baked goods, popcorn, chips and grinding coffee beans; or providing prepackaged food in its original package. IC 16-42-5.2-3 further exempts hospitals licensed under IC 16-21, health facilities under IC 16-28, housing with services establishments, continuing care retirement communities, community mental health centres, private mental health institutions, area agencies on aging providing nutrition service programme food (though the preparation premises are not exempt), and qualifying 501(c)(3) food pantries (but not food banks distributing to other organisations). Certain sales-tax-exempt organisations are also exempt under IC 16-42-5.2-3.5. Civil penalties: up to $50 per day for working with an expired certificate and up to $100 per day for other violations (IC 16-42-5.2-12).