Whether aspiring of becoming a sous chef, planning to serve street tacos from a food truck or seeking a part-time restaurant job — one thing is almost always required first: a food handlers permit.

Many states, including Utah, require food service workers to complete food safety training before receiving their permit. This applies to those who prepare, serve or handle food for public consumption from restaurant staff and caterers to food truck operators and others whose roles involve direct contact with food.

In Utah, earning a food handlers permit means completing a 75-minute training course focused on food safety. The course teaches how to prevent food and surface contamination, use proper time and temperature controls to avoid foodborne illnesses, and maintain a clean and sanitary environment for food preparation and service, explained Cassandra Fairclough, program specialist at the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.

“It shows you understand the basics of food safety,” she said. “There are five or six things that are very concerning for food protection that can cause illness so those are some of the things taught in the training classes, like handwashing hygiene, cross contamination in food, temperature control — holding at the right temperature for the correct amount of time and those factors.”

Another significant focus is proper chemical usage, said Jeff Oaks, food protection bureau manager for Salt Lake County’s health department.

“There's a component of dishwashing that has to be done,” he said. “You have to learn how you wash dishes in a restaurant because that's different than in your house with a triple sink and not a double sink.”

After the training, participants take a 40-question exam and must score at least 75% to pass. In Salt Lake County, those who pass will receive a temporary permit; the official Utah Food Handlers Permit will be mailed within 30 days. The permit is valid for three years. The course must be retaken for renewal.

Since 2013 the Utah Department of Health has approved third-party agencies to conduct the training, although local health departments can provide training as well and they are responsible for issuing the permits. From July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024, Salt Lake County Health Department issued 41,240 of the state’s 109,865 food handlers permits.

To find a certified provider, visit the state’s approved training list: www.epi.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/foodHandler_list.pdf. Providers may offer in-person or online options, sometimes in multiple languages. Check to ensure the online courses are compatible with all devices and operating systems.

The base cost of the training is $15, though agencies may include additional processing or administrative fees. In some cases, employers may cover the cost or offer group discounts.

Additional licenses, permits or certifications may be required for specific roles — such as serving alcohol, being a food manager, running a food truck or operating a booth at a farmers market.

“Different agencies will have requirements,” Oaks said. “In Salt Lake County, all restaurant workers have a food handlers permit, but for example, there are companies that package produce locally, like a bag of carrots or lettuce, and they are regulated by the state’s agriculture and food department. But within their facilities, they require food handlers permits or some other certification. Some companies may say, we still want you to get a food handlers permit. We have almost 5,500 restaurants (and others that serve food) so all their employees either have managers’ certificates or food handlers permits. Usually, the grocery store employees have food handlers permits if they're working in the deli or the butcher shop or the produce, where they're cutting and doing food preparation and established concessioners such as the (University of Utah) Utes or Utah Jazz have food handlers permits.”

“It’s best to check with your local health department to get specific conditions and information on the type of food service that is being provided so they can help people learn what is required,” Fairclough said.

She said the food handlers training and certification program is regularly reviewed by state officials, local health departments and industry professionals to ensure it aligns with the latest (2022) version of the FDA Food Code, along with Utah-specific amendments. The Food Code is designed to protect public health and provide a standardized approach to food safety across various service environments.

Oaks, who has taught food handlers permit classes, said he had parents who would bring their kids to get a food handlers permit.

“It’s good knowledge and they wanted their kids to know; it had nothing to do with employment,” he said. “If you want to up your game for food safety, food preparation or food serving at home or wherever you might be, it's not a bad idea to get it. Not all states require a food handlers permit, but I’m glad Utah does. I'm glad our legislature and our state health department see the value in it, so there's at least a minimum standard for food workers.”