A food worker that has obtained "Additional Food Safety Training" within the past two years is eligible to receive a 5-year food worker card when he/she is renewing a card in Washington State.

"Additional Food Safety Training" is defined in Chapter 246-217 of the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) as completion of comprehensive training on food safety of at least four (4) hours in length. Training may include topics such as proper cooking, hot-holding, cold-holding and cooking of potentially hazardous foods; cross-contamination prevention; HACCP; and/or proper hand washing techniques.

Approval of training programs can be obtained from the local health jurisdiction or the state health department (if it impacts more than one county.) Approval of training programs must be obtained in advance, which means food workers cannot simply present proof of an unapproved training course to the person issuing food worker cards and expect to receive a 5-year card.

The training courses currently approved by the Washington State Department of Health are (this list was last updated May 14, 2003):

• All Washington State local health department manager certification programs
• Costco Manager Training
• Costco Associate Training
• DMA (Dietary Managers Association) - Food Protection Training Program or Sanitation and Safety Course (resulting in the Certified Food Protection Professional (CFPP) credential)
• Experior Assessment - Food Manager Certification
• Food Safety and Sanitation Course - Island Market Company, Inc. (dba Vashon Thriftway)
• Fred Meyer - Food Safety Certification Class
• Grant County Health Department 4-Hour Food Safety Training
• HANA Concepts Training
• Learn Associates Training
• NEHA 2-day Manager Certification Program
• NEHA 1-day fast-track Manager Certification Program
• NEHA 1-day Review Program
• Seattle Central Community College Culinary Arts - Principles of Sanitation Class (HOS110)
• ServeSafe Manager Certification
• ServeSafe Employee Certification
• "Serving it Save" Food Safety Training Program
• Town and Country Markets - Food Safety in the Workplace

Additional Food Safety Training course approval

Approval of Additional Food Safety Training courses can be obtained from the local health department or, if it impacts more than one county, the state health department. Approval must be obtained in advance, which means food workers cannot simply present proof of an unapproved training course to the person issuing food worker cards and expect to receive a five-year card.

To obtain Department of Health approval, send a letter requesting approval along with the course outline to:

Department of Health
Office of Food Safety and Shellfish Programs
P.O. Box 47824
Olympia, WA 98504-7824

For more information on the approval process, contact Janet Anderberg, Public Health Advisor, at (425) 745-1726 or e-mail: janet.anderberg@doh.wa.gov

Information is also available on our website at: www.metrokc.gov/health/foodsfty/foodhandlerscard.htm