Florida has county-specific food handler programs. If you work in Miami-Dade County, you need that county's card — not the statewide Florida card.
Florida Food Handler Card: State and County Requirements (2026)
Florida requires food service employees to complete an approved food handler training program within 60 days of hire under Florida Statute 509.049. Training must be approved by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) Division of Hotels and Restaurants — a state-specific approval pathway that's distinct from the FDA Food Code or generic ANAB-CFP route used by some other states. Cards are typically valid 3 years (set by employer and provider practice rather than mandated by statute, though most DBPR-approved providers issue 3-year cards). Out-of-state cards are accepted in Florida only if the issuing program is on Florida's DBPR-approved list — generic ANAB-accredited cards from non-DBPR-approved national programs are not automatically valid. Miami-Dade County is Florida's highest-search-volume jurisdiction for food handler cards and uses the same DBPR-approved provider list as the rest of the state. Note: Florida Statute 509.039 separately requires each licensed food establishment with 4+ employees to have at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) — that's a different higher-tier credential from the food handler card.
Florida Food Handler FAQ
Is Florida's food handler card different from ANAB-accredited cards used in other states?
Yes, in an important way. Florida requires food handler training to be approved by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), which maintains its own approved-provider list. While many ANAB-accredited national providers are also DBPR-approved (Learn2Serve, StateFoodSafety, ServSafe, Food Safety First, AAA Food Handler), the approval is a separate process. A generic ANAB-accredited card from a provider not on Florida's DBPR list is NOT automatically valid in Florida. Always verify your provider is DBPR-approved before purchasing if you'll be working in Florida.
What about Miami-Dade County requirements?
Miami-Dade County uses the same statewide DBPR-approved provider list as the rest of Florida — there is no separate Miami-Dade-specific food handler card program. Workers in Miami, Hialeah, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Aventura, and other Miami-Dade municipalities can take any DBPR-approved course and the resulting card is valid throughout the county and statewide. Miami-Dade does have additional permitting requirements for mobile food vendors (food trucks, pushcarts) at the county level, but those are separate from the food handler card itself.
How long do I have to get my Florida food handler card after I'm hired?
60 days from your start date of employment, under Florida Statute 509.049. This is a longer window than most states (Washington allows 14 days, California and Oregon 30 days). Your employer must keep proof of your training on file and produce it during DBPR inspections. If you change employers within Florida, your existing valid food handler card transfers — you don't need to retake training as long as the card hasn't expired.
What's the difference between a Florida food handler card and a Florida Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification?
Two different credentials. The food handler card (F.S. 509.049) is for line-level food service workers — servers, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders. It's typically a 1-2 hour course costing $7-$15. The CFPM (F.S. 509.039) is a higher-tier credential required at each licensed food establishment with 4 or more employees — the establishment must have at least one staff member with a current CFPM certification. CFPM exams are administered through ANAB-CFP accredited programs (ServSafe, NRFSP, Prometric, etc.) and typically cost $100-$200 with 5-year validity. Holding a CFPM generally satisfies food handler training requirements at the same establishment.
Will my food handler card from another state work in Florida?
Maybe. Florida only accepts cards from programs on its DBPR-approved provider list. Many ANAB-accredited national providers (Learn2Serve, StateFoodSafety, AAA Food Handler) are DBPR-approved and their cards transfer in either direction. However, cards from state-only programs that are not DBPR-approved — such as Oregon and Washington's state-issued cards, or Texas DSHS-only cards — are not automatically valid in Florida. Check the DBPR approved-provider list before relying on an out-of-state card. If your existing card is from a provider not on the list, you'll need to take a DBPR-approved Florida course within 60 days of hire.
How long does Florida food handler training take?
Most DBPR-approved online courses take 1-2 hours to complete. The course consists of self-paced video and reading content covering foodborne illness, personal hygiene, time-temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and cleaning/sanitization, followed by a final exam. Courses are typically available 24/7 and you can pause and resume. Upon passing the exam, your certificate is available immediately for download. Most providers offer the course in English and Spanish given Florida's demographics; some also offer Haitian Creole and Portuguese.