Food Handler & Manager Permits

• All food service employees in Independence are required to obtain a Food Handler Permit.
• All food service managers in Independence are required to obtain a Food Service Manager Permit.
• Food establishments must have at least one permitted Food Service Manager on duty at all times

Online Food Handler Class

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:

• A "Certificate of Training" is provided. 
  • This certificate will be available for immediate printing.
  • The certificate will also be sent via e-email to the e-mail address used at registration and can be viewed and/or printed anytime.
• The "Certificate of Training" is valid for 30 days in the City of Independence. 
• The actual food handler card will be mailed within those 30 days to the mailing address used at registration.
• The City of Independence food handler card is valid card for the following jurisdictions:  Independence, Cass County, Clay County, Jackson County, Kansas City, and Platte County.
• Once the food handler card is received in the mail please provide a copy to your employer.
• Food handler cards are valid for three (3) years

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

Food Service Manager Permits

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.

Renewing Food Handler Cards

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.

Duplicate/Replacement Cards, Reciprocity, and Alternate Training

Duplicate/Replacement Permit

Please bring your picture ID and $5 to the Independence City Hall. 

Regional Food Handler Reciprocity Agreement

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.)

*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

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:

• Alternate Training for Food Handler Permit
  • State Food Safety
  • ServSafe Starter (proctored)

• Alternate Training for Food Service Manager Permit
  • ServSafe Manager Certification
  • Prometric
  • Safe at the Plate
  • National Registry of Food Service Professionals
  • Certified Professional Food Managers, 360training.com
  • Culinary degrees
  • Certified Dietary Manager, Registered Dietitian (no transfer required)

A short quiz may be required for transfers and alternate training. This depends upon the source of the transfer or training.