On this post, we’re going to breakdown everything you need to know regarding the Missouri food handlers permit.
For those new to the industry, the Missouri food handlers permit is a certificate given – usually to an hourly restaurant employee – once they have successfully passed a county-approved food safety course. The card/permit/certificate shows health inspectors and employers alike that you have a basic understanding of food safety… and are therefore qualified to handle unpackaged foods.
Pretty simple, right? Well, not exactly.
The Missouri food handlers permit is a simple concept. However, the process of getting one isn’t… and it can often be quite confusing for the average person.
Why is getting a Missouri food handlers permit so confusing?
Because each county in the state of Missouri has their own rules and regulations pertaining to food handlers. Some counties have no requirements, some are pretty lenient, while others have strict requirements.
To make matters worse, if there is any information found online about the Missouri food handlers permit, it’s pretty difficult to find. After a quick google browse, you’ll find either a bunch of deceiving online food handler courses, old and outdated government websites, or as always – bundled advertisements.
Because of this chaos, we decided to do the digging for you…
On this post, you’ll find information on all things Missouri food handlers permits. This includes state and county requirements, steps to get the RIGHT Missouri food handlers permit, answers to common questions, helpful links, tips, and other resources.
Apron up ladies and gentlemen, let’s give this a go.
How to Get a Food Handlers Permit in Missouri
As briefly mentioned above, all Missouri food handler permit regulations are enforced by whichever county your food establishment is located in.
The state of Missouri itself doesn’t actually REQUIRE typical hourly food workers (i.e. food preps, line cooks, servers, bussers, etc.) to get a permit. Instead, they simply recommend it… and pass on the authority to the county health departments.
If you work in the following counties – chances are, you will HAVE to receive county-approved food safety training in order to be a food handler:
- Jackson
- Cass
- Independence
- Kansas City
- Clay
- Platte
If you are NOT located in the counties listed above, you do NOT have to receive a Missouri food handlers permit. However, keep in mind, restaurant owners and/or managers may still require workers to receive a permit despite county and state laws.
If you are located in one the counties above, simply keep reading – as we’ll be providing resources and information for each.
*** The counties shown above are part of the Regional Food Handler Reciprocity Agreement. This means that they accept Missouri food handler cards issued in one of these other counties… and you will not have to pay a transfer fee.
Jackson County Food Handlers Permit
If you’re a typical hourly employee (line cook, food prep, server, etc.) working in Jackson County, you are REQUIRED to have a Missouri Food Handlers Permit.
This means you will have to pay to take a county-approved food safety course (see below), take the training, and successfully pass the quiz.
How do you get a Jackson County Missouri Food Handlers Card?
Jackson County provides employees with an online and offline course. The online course is available 24/7 via TAP series. It’s important to know that the TAP Series course is the ONLY online food handlers course the county allows. All other courses are not valid.
Applicants must pass the final examination with a 70% score at minimum. And the course will cost $24.95 altogether.
Cass County Food Handlers Permit
If you’re a typical hourly employee (line cook, food prep, server, etc.) working in Cass County, you are REQUIRED to have a Missouri Food Handlers Permit within the first 30 days of employment.
This means you will have to pay to take a county-approved food safety course (see below), take the training, and successfully pass the quiz.
How do you get a Cass County Food Handlers Card?
Cass County provides employees with an online and offline course. The only online food handlers card class Cass County approves of is StateFoodSafety. The course will cost $25.
Upon passing the StateFoodSafety course, you still HAVE to bring in a copy of the StateFoodSafety Certificate and photo ID to obtain an official Cass County, Missouri food handlers permit.
Address: Cass County Health Department, 300 S. Main St. Harrisonville, MO 6470
Food Handler cards are printed Monday-Friday except for County holidays. Hours are 8:00am-noon, 1:00-4:30pm. And the office is closed the first Thursday of the month from 8:00-10:30am.
If you prefer to take the course offline, in a classroom environment, please click here to learn more and view the schedule.
Food Handlers Permit Independence Missouri
In Independence county all common food handlers (i.e. food preps, line cooks, chefs, servers, bussers) are REQUIRED to have a food handlers permit. This means you must take a county-approved food safety course, pay a fee, and pass the test.
How do you get an Independence Food Handlers Permit?
Just like the other counties, Independence county provides both an online and offline course. If you wish to take an offline course, simply click here for further instruction.
IMPORTANT: If you do wish to take the food handling course online, listen up because this can get a little tricky.
The only online courses Independence county approves is StateFoodSafety and ServSafe Starter (proctored). But once you complete the course and print out your certificate, you’ll still need to go to the Independence City Hall (with a photo ID and your printed certificate) in order to get the Independence County Food handlers card.
From there, you will still have to pay $25 to get the county-approved certificate.
Independence Food Handler Permits are valid for a maximum of three (3) years. Permits will expire on the expiration date of the alternate/online training if it is sooner than three years.
Since you have to visit a physical location (the city hall) regardless, in both online and offline scenarios, we suggest food handlers in Independence county to take the offline course route as it turns out to be cheaper too.
Food Handlers Permit Kansas City Missouri
According to the Kansas City Health Department, anyone who handles unpackaged food products… or those who handle food prepared or served to the public should likely attend a food safety course.
Under the current Food Code, food establishments may choose one of two options:
A certified food service operations manager must be present in the food service area and on duty at all times of business operations, and must present a food manager permit or card to the authorized regulatory authority inspector at the time of inspection
OR
For food service operations where no manager is certified, 80 percent of required food handler staff shall obtain a three-year food handler card from KCHD either upon completion of the food handler course through KCHD or upon KCHD’s approval of a comparable food handler permit or card from another provider.
If you’re just an employee, it’s best to just ask your employer or manager which route they have chosen. Nevertheless, it’s still a good idea to get a food handlers permit as it strengthens your resume.
Establishments must select one of the two options above; they may not alternate between them.
How do you get a Kansas City Food Handlers Permit?
Unlike other counties, Kansas City county only provides an online food safety course.
If you are going to take the Kansas city food handling course online, listen up because this can get a little tricky.
The ONLY online courses Kansas City county approves is Premier Food Safety and StateFoodSafety. Regardless, each course will be $25. Also – if food handlers do not pass the test in two tries, they will be asked to retake the course for an additional $25.
IMPORTANT: Once you complete the course and print out your certificate, you’ll still need to go to do the following:
- Print out the certificate and bring it to Kansas City Health Department within 30 days of completing the course, Monday through Friday between 8am and 3pm.
- Please bring a photo ID with you that includes both your first and last name.
- Food handlers will need to answer several brief questions to verify that they are the person who took the online class before they obtain their food handler card.
- If the printed certificate is more than 30 days old, you will need to retake the online course.
**Please click the following links that will bring you to the correct source of information.
Other Missouri counties that require a food handlers license: