Food Worker Cards

The Alaska Food Code requires food workers to obtain a food worker card within 30 days of hire.

Questions about food worker cards?
Contact the Food Worker Card Coordinator.
907-269-6289
decfwc@alaska.gov

About the Food Worker Card Program

The goal of the Food Worker Card program is to educate food workers in Alaska about safe food practices and verify that they have the essential knowledge needed to protect public health in food facilities.

In order to obtain a food worker card, an individual must pay an application fee of $10 and pass an examination on food safety practices.

The exam includes questions on topics from the following content areas:

Receiving food from an approved source
Food protection
Temperature and time requirements for potentially hazardous foods
Food worker health and hygiene
Handwashing procedures
Effective washing and sanitation of food contact surfaces

Each food worker card is valid for three years after the date it is issued.

Two Food Worker Card Programs: State and Municipality of Anchorage

The Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation and the Municipality of Anchorage each have requirements for food worker cards.

Facilities regulated by the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation: Food workers in these facilities must have a current, valid food worker card from the State or from the Municipality of Anchorage
Facilities regulated by the Municipality of Anchorage: Food workers in these facilities must have a current, valid food worker card from the Municipality of Anchorage; the Municipality of Anchorage does not accept State-issued food worker cards

For information about food worker cards in the Municipality of Anchorage, visit the Anchorage Health Department's Food Safety and Sanitation program website.

Who Needs a Food Worker Card?

Food Worker Card is Required

Any person working with unpackaged food, potentially hazardous food, or food-contact surfaces is considered a food worker and needs a food worker card.

Examples of food workers include:

Chefs and cooks
Servers and bartenders
Meat cutters
Food counter workers
Dishwashers

Food Worker Card is Not Required

Some individuals may not need a food worker card if their role does not include working with unpackaged or potentially hazardous food or food-contact surfaces.

Examples of activities that do not require someone to have a food worker card include:

Greeting or seating customers in a restaurant
Processing payment for food or other purchases
Working only with pre-packaged food (cashiers, grocery baggers, delivery drivers, warehouse workers, shelf stockers, etc.)
Assisting patients or residents with their meals at a hospital, assisted living home, rehabilitation center, etc.
Children under the age of 18 assisting with school meal service in a school kitchen
Volunteer activities

A food worker card is not required for those who have a current, valid Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certificate.

How to Get a Food Worker Card

➞ Study the food worker card program materials

Review the Alaska Safe Food Worker Handbook
Take a practice test at the Alaska Food Worker Card online testing site (select "Take a practice test")

➞ Purchase a test ID

Each test ID is $10 and the ID expires after one year. The test ID is required to access the food worker card test.

Online

Access the food worker card online system and log in using your myAlaska username and password
Select the blue button labeled "Click To Purchase Test IDs"
- If you are purchasing one test ID, select "Click To Purchase One Test ID"
- If you are purchasing more than one test ID, select "Click To Purchase Multiple Test IDs"
Fill out the required information and submit
Enter payment information
Save your test ID and invoice number; they are used to print replacement cards and find test results in the food worker card database

In-Person

Go to your nearest Food Safety and Sanitation program office and pay the $10 fee in person
Save your test ID and invoice number; they are used to print replacement cards and find test results in the food worker card database

➞ Take the test

The food worker card test consists of 20 questions and a minimum of 15 questions must be answered correctly to pass. Tests are randomly generated from a pool of questions.

If you do not pass the food worker card test, you may retake the test as many times as needed using the original test ID while it is valid. Each test ID is valid for one year from the date it was purchased.

Online

Have your test ID ready to be entered
Access the food worker card online system and log in using your myAlaska username and password
Select the purple button labeled "Click To Take Food Worker Test"
Choose "Take the test" and complete the questions

In-Person

Have your test ID available to provide to the test administrator
Go to your nearest Food Safety and Sanitation program office and request to complete the food worker card test
The test administrator will print a test for you to complete at the office
Complete the test and return it to the test administrator

➞ Print your food worker card

Food worker cards are valid for three years from the date the test was successfully completed. Up to three additional copies of the food worker card may be printed while it is valid.

Online

Have your test ID ready to be entered
Access the food worker card online system and log in using your myAlaska username and password
Select the green button labeled "Click To Print Food Worker Card"
Follow the direction to access and print your food worker card

In-Person

After successfully completing your test, office staff will print a copy of your food worker card for you to keep

Waivers and Accommodations

Americans With Disabilities Act

In compliance with 42 U.S.C. 12101 - 12213 (Americans with Disabilities Act), the Department of Environmental Conservation will waive the test requirement for certain individuals applying for a food worker card.

As an alternate to completing a written or computer-based exam, a food worker card may be issued to certain individuals who otherwise demonstrate an understanding of the food safey requirements in a manner that is sufficient to ensure that public health is protected for the activities the food worker will perform or will be expected to perform.

If the food worker demonstrates an understanding of the food safety requirements for a limited number of activities, each approved activity that the food worker may perform will be listed on the food worker card.

Tests in Languages Other Than English

The Municipality of Anchorage offers food worker card tests in Spanish, Korean, Chinese Mandarin, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. Food worker cards from the Municipality of Anchorage are accepted in facilities regulated by the Department of Environmental Conservation.

For more information, visit the Anchorage Health Department's Food Safety and Sanitation program website.

Regulatory References

18 AAC 31.330 Food Worker Cards

Resources and Contacts

Resources

Alaska Safe Food Worker Handbook: A publication of the Department of Environmental Conservation to prepare food workers to protect public health in food facilities
Food Worker Card Online System: System to purchase food worker card test IDs, access tests, and print food worker cards
Food Worker Card Testing Site: Access practice food worker card tests and the official food worker card test
Certified Food Protection Managers: Information about the Alaska Food Code requirement for certified food protection managers and current training opportunities
Municipality of Anchorage Food Worker Card Program: Food worker card program materials from the Municipality of Anchorage
Retail Food Protection: Employee Health and Personal Hygiene Handbook: A publication of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

Contacts

Food Worker Card Coordinator

Food Safety and Sanitation

Find your local Environmental Health Officer

Municipality of Anchorage Food Safety and Sanitation Program

825 L Street, Third Floor
P.O. Box 196650
Anchorage, Alaska 99519
907-343-4200

Division of Environmental Health Food Safety and Sanitation Program