Getting your card
Do you need a food handlers card in Arizona?
We found no statewide food handler card rule in Arizona; where a card is required, the rule comes from your county. Maricopa County publishes a list of providers accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and the National Environmental Health Association's (NEHA) Food Handler Training Certificate is on it as of October 2026.
- ExamPFH
- UpdatedOct 14, 2026
On this page 5 sections
Maricopa County and NEHA's course
Maricopa County's Environmental Services department keeps a page called ANSI-Accredited Providers. NEHA is on it for its Food Handler Training Certificate, sold as the Professional Food Handler (PFH) course, next to ServSafe, StateFoodSafety, 123 Premier Food Safety, 360training and others (Maricopa County, as of October 2026). The county notes that the list is subject to change, so look at it the week you buy.
That list is about accreditation, and NEHA's course is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). How to check any provider: ANAB accreditation, explained.
The PFH costs $15 online in English or Spanish on the NEHA store and takes about two hours over seven modules (NEHA). The NEHA online handbook sets the pass mark at 70% on the assessment.
One limit worth saying out loud. The list tells you which courses Maricopa recognizes. It doesn't tell you who in your kitchen needs a card or by when; your manager knows what the county inspector checks. Other states, for comparison: food handler card rules by state.
What we checked, and what we didn't
| Place | What we read | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona, statewide | We found no statewide card rule | Maricopa's list is the one source we verified |
| Maricopa County | The county's list of ANSI-accredited providers | NEHA's PFH is on the list |
| Pima, Coconino, Yuma, other counties | Nothing yet | Ask that county's environmental health office |
Getting a card in Maricopa County
Confirm the county
Make sure the job is inside Maricopa County. Working in Flagstaff or Tucson? Stop and call that county instead.
Pick a provider from the list
Any provider on Maricopa's page. If the restaurant already pays for one, use that.
Study, then sit the assessment
Drill the basics on the free practice test first. NEHA allows one attempt per course purchase (NEHA handbook, as of October 2026).
Print it and keep a copy
The certificate downloads after you pass. Print it and give your manager a copy. The full walkthrough is on how to get a food handler card.
Arizona, county by county
Is there an Arizona state food handlers card?
Not one we could find. Arizona's food handler rules sit with the counties, and Maricopa County publishes the providers it accepts.
Maricopa County card online: where do I start?
With the county's provider page. Several providers on it sell online courses, NEHA included at $15 (NEHA store, as of October 2026). Find the provider's name on the county page itself, not just in its own ad.
What about Coconino or Pima County?
We haven't read those counties' rules, so we're not going to guess. Call the county environmental health office and ask two things: which providers they accept, and does your job need a card at all.
Is a free food handlers card in Arizona a real thing?
Sometimes an employer covers the cost. Anything advertised as free deserves a second look; is a free food handler card real walks through it.
Sources
- Maricopa County, ANSI-Accredited Providers — NEHA Food Handler Training Certificate listed checked Oct 13, 2026
- NEHA, Professional Food Handler Certificate — ANAB accreditation, two hours, seven modules checked Oct 13, 2026
- NEHA store, PFH online course — price, languages checked Oct 13, 2026
- NEHA PFH Online Course Handbook — 70% pass, one attempt per purchase checked Oct 13, 2026