The City of Independence has partnered with State Food Safety to provide you an online course for a regular City of Independence food handler permit. We will no longer be providing in person food handler classes for a regular food handler's permit.
The online course through State Food Safety provides a complete audio-visual and interactive course that is available in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Korean, Vietnamese, American Sign Language (ASL), plus others. The course can be taken 24 hours a day 7 days a week at your own pace – logging in and out as you need.
The online food handler course is $25.00 which includes the City of Independence food handler card fee. Food handlers will get two attempts to take the test. If the test is not passed within those two tries food handlers will be asked to retake the course and another payment of $25.00 will be required.
Once the course is completed and a passing score on the test is received:
Please note that if the 30 days has almost passed from obtaining the "Certificate of Training" and the City of Independence food handler card has not been received in the mail please call (816) 325-7803 for assistance.
State Food Safety Online Food Handler Course
City of Independence Food Manager classes will still be in person. These classes are only provided in English and take place once a month.
Pre-registration is required.
Classes are four(4) hours in duration and the cost is $30.00.
View class schedule and pre-register
Participants receive a Food Managers Permit after successfully passing a written test. These permits are valid for three years and are not renewable meaning the manager's class must be taken again.
City of Independence food handler cards that are getting ready to expire or are expired will need to take the online food handler course through State Food Safety to get a new valid card. The card will be valid for three(3) years.
Please bring your picture ID and $5 to the Independence City Hall.
The Food Handler Reciprocity Agreement allows the acceptance of food handler training cards amongst six local public health agencies including Independence (Cass County, Clay County, Platte County, Jackson County and Kansas City, Missouri) without a transfer fee. Cards are only accepted if the food handler exam was administered by a proctor (unsupervised, online exams will not be accepted.)
Jurisdiction |
Previous Requirement |
Updated Requirement* |
Cass County Health Department 816-380-8425 |
Cass County photo Food Handler card |
Any of the six jurisdictions’ card and photo ID. Jackson County card must say: * This card meets the requirements of the KC Metro Reciprocity Agreement.* |
Clay County Health Department 816-595-4350 |
Clay County photo Food Handler card |
Any of the six jurisdictions’ card and photo ID. Jackson County card must say: * This card meets the requirements of the KC Metro Reciprocity Agreement.* |
City of Independence 816-325-7803 |
Independence Food Handler card |
Any of the six jurisdictions’ card. Jackson County card must say: * This card meets the requirements of the KC Metro Reciprocity Agreement.* |
Jackson County Environmental Health Division 816-847-7073 |
Jackson County State Food Safety Online Certificate or Independence Food Handler card |
Any of the six jurisdictions’ card or Jackson County State Food Safety Online Certificate. Jackson County card must say: * This card meets the requirements of the KC Metro Reciprocity Agreement.* |
Kansas City, MO Health Department 816-513-6015 |
Kansas City photo Food Handler card |
Any of the six jurisdictions’ card and photo ID. Jackson County card must say: * This card meets the requirements of the KC Metro Reciprocity Agreement.* |
Platte County Health Department 816-858-2412 |
Platte County photo Food Handler card |
Any of the six jurisdictions’ card and photo ID. Jackson County card must say: * This card meets the requirements of the KC Metro Reciprocity Agreement.* |
*Jackson County Environmental Health Division’s (JCEHD) Online Tap Series Online Certificate is only accepted in that jurisdiction. If food handlers wish to use that training in other jurisdictions they should contact JCEHD at 816-847-7073 to take a proctored exam and obtain a Jackson County Food Handler Card. The Certificate can also be brought into Independence City Hall to be transferred. A proctored test is given and there is a transfer fee of $5.00 for an Independence card. Cards are only accepted in Independence if the food handler exam was administered by a proctor (unsupervised, online exams will not be accepted.)
Managers are required to have a separate Food Manager card for each jurisdiction in which they work.
Alternate training, such as a ServSafe certificate from a proctored exam, is acceptable in place of attending the class. Certificates are only accepted if the food handler exam was administered by a proctor. Please bring your alternate training certificate and picture ID to Independence City Hall. There is a $5 transfer fee. Permits are valid for a maximum of three years. Permits will expire on the expiration date of the alternate training if it is sooner than three years. We accept the following:
A short quiz may be required for transfers and alternate training. This depends upon the source of the transfer or training.