Obtaining a Food Handler Certificate: Chicago
Eating out is practically a national pastime in America, and Illinois is no exception. In 2018, the state was home to over 25,000 food and drink establishments employing over half a million workers in restaurant and foodservice roles.1 To help ensure each restaurant and its staff are practicing safe, responsible, and sanitary food handling procedures, the state of Illinois requires certain employees to obtain and maintain various food handling certificates. Below, we'll cover these different certificates in more detail, including who needs them, why they're required, and how to obtain them.
What are the food safety certifications in Illinois?
There are three types of food safety certifications in Chicago, Ill., each of which requires unique training and/or testing and applies to specific members of staff. Depending on your role in a foodservice establishment and how the establishment itself operates, you'll likely be required to maintain one or more of these certifications, such as a food handler certificate. Chicago recognizes three main risk categories for foodservice venues; each venue and its employees are categorized by the type of food handling and preparation that's performed, which in turn determines what certificates staff are required to have.2
Certified Food Protection Manager: Typically, any venue classified as Risk Category 1 or Risk Category 2 requires the person in charge (PIC) to be a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).3 At least one CFPM must be present during all hours of operation. The majority of staff won't be required to maintain this certificate, but if you're a PIC, you'll need to keep yours up to date.
Allergen Training: If a venue is classified as a Risk Category 1, it must have at least one CFPM on staff who has completed allergen training through an ANSI-CFP approved course.4 Again, the majority of staff won't need to worry about this, but if you're a CFPM, you'll want to check with management to verify whether you need to obtain this additional certificate.
Food Handler Certificate: Chicago, like the rest of the state, requires all food handlers other than those already holding a CFPM certification to obtain and maintain a current food handler certificate.5 The only exemptions are for volunteer workers or employees of a temporary food service, so you'll most likely be required to maintain this certification throughout your tenure at any foodservice venue.
What is a food handler certificate for?
Even in mild cases, foodborne infection can quickly spread through a community, disrupting daily life and impacting business far beyond the foodservice sector. According to a 2015 analysis by the USDA Economic Research Service (ERS), it's estimated that just 15 pathogens are responsible for 95 percent of foodborne illnesses, and that "these 15 pathogens impose $15.5 billion in economic burden annually," with economic burden being determined by both number and severity of illnesses.6 Of these 15 pathogens, just five are responsible for 90 percent of that cost: Salmonella, Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria monocytogenes, Norovirus, and Campylobacter.
With so many highly contagious and sometimes life-threatening illnesses spread through improperly handled food, restaurants need a way to build trust with customers and safeguard public health. This is where food handler training comes in. By ensuring that all employees preparing, serving, or storing food are educated on best handling and food safety practices, foodservice venues can more effectively stop the spread of these dangerous illnesses before they start.
When it comes to individuals, obtaining a food handler certificate opens doors to jobs in the foodservice industry for which they may not otherwise qualify. This training lets potential employers know you're serious about food safety and capable of taking the necessary steps required to ensure compliance with state regulations. It also provides you with the tools and knowledge you need to prevent the spread of foodborne illness in your personal duties, minimizing the danger of outbreaks.
How do you get a food handler's card in Illinois?
There are a few ways to get an Illinois food handler certificate. Chicago, like the rest of the state, requires training courses for food handlers working in restaurants to be approved by the American National Standards Institute-Conference for Food Protection (ANSI-CFP).7 This training is available from many sources and may include virtual, classroom, or live training, either synchronous or asynchronous. At the end of the course, students must pass a standardized assessment with a score of 75 percent or higher to complete the course and obtain proof of training.
- Most courses provide a certificate upon successful completion, but some do not; instead of a certificate, a foodservice worker may obtain a written or electronic document with their name, the training course they took, and the date it was completed.
- No matter which type of document is provided, all food handlers must keep their proof of training up to date and available for any inspectors who request to see it.8
- Before enrolling in any food safety course, verify that it's ANSI approved and provides the required proof of training documentation upon course completion.
Staff in non-restaurants (establishments where less than 50 percent of sales are comprised of ready-to-eat food for immediate consumption) can take any training course registered with and approved by the Illinois Department of Public Health, regardless of ANSI approval.8
How long is a food safety certificate valid?
If you completed ANSI approved training for restaurant workers, your food handler certificate is valid for three years from the date of course completion, at any establishment in the state of Illinois. You do not need to complete new training if you change employers; a restaurant food handler training certificate is the property of the certificate holder.9 After three years, your food handler certificate will expire, and you must obtain a new one to continue working as a food handler in a restaurant.
If you completed an IDPH-approved internal training program through your place of work, rather than an ANSI-approved certificate program, your food handler training may not be transferable – meaning you'll have to complete a new training course if you change jobs.10 Speak with your employer to verify what type of training they offer, if any.
A non-restaurant food handlers card is not transferable from one employer to another, meaning if a person working in a non-restaurant venue changes jobs, he/she must complete new training.11
How much is a food permit in Illinois?
Many ANSI-approved food handler training courses are available in a range of price points. According to the Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act of 2013, at least one food handler training option must be available for $15 or less, so there are several options available at low, affordable prices.12 The amount of money paid for the course doesn't matter as long as the course is ANSI certified and provides documented proof of training upon successful completion.
Your employer is not responsible for paying the cost of the training, although some businesses may offer internal training programs for free or reduced cost to employees.
The ANSI National Accreditation Board provides a list of ANSI-accredited food handler training programs for those wanting to start studying right away.13
Key Terms
- ANSI – American National Standards Institute
- CFPM – Certified Food Protection Manager
- Food Handler – Any person working in a food facility whose duties include preparing, storing, or serving food
- IDPH – Illinois Department of Public Health
- Non-restaurant – Any facility where primary sales are not ready-to-eat food, such as nursing homes, daycares, hospitals, schools, and grocery stores
- PIC – Person in Charge
- Restaurant – A business that primarily sells ready-to-eat food for immediate consumption, where "primarily" means at least 51 percent of total sales, excluding liquor, such as a restaurant, concession stand, or buffet
Note: Information contained in this article is based on Public Act 098-0566, Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act, signed into law August 27, 2013.12 Information in this article is up-to-date as of November 2021.
References
- Industry Statistics: Illinois Restaurant Industry at a Glance. Illinois Restaurant Association. Accessed November 2021.
- Establishment Categories. Illinois Food Service Safety Certification and Training. Accessed November 2021.
- Food Service Training Requirements/Classes. Dupage County Health Department. Accessed November 2021.
- Allergen Awareness Training. Illinois Restaurant Association. Accessed August 2023.
- Illinois Food Handler Certificate Requirements. Food Handlers Card Help. Accessed November 2021.
- Quantifying the Impacts of Foodborne Illnesses. USDA Economic Research Service. Accessed November 2021.
- Illinois Food Handler Requirements. Illinois Restaurant Association. Accessed November 2021.
- New Food Handler Training Requirements in Illinois. Lake County Health Department & Community Health Center. Accessed November 2021.
- Food Handler Training in Illinois. Illinois Department of Public Health. Accessed November 2021.
- Food Handler Training in Illinois Frequently Asked Questions. Illinois State Board of Education. Accessed November 2021.
- Frequently Asked Questions: Food Handler Training in Illinois. Kane County Health Department. Accessed November 2021.
- Public Act 098-0566, Food Handling Regulation Enforcement Act. Illinois General Assembly. Accessed November 2021.
- Food Handler Training Certificate Program (Accredited). ANSI National Accreditation Board. Accessed November 2021.
