Exam fact
What does ANSI- or ANAB-accredited food handler training mean?
It means the company behind the certificate has been accredited by ANAB (the ANSI National Accreditation Board, part of the American National Standards Institute) to a standard for certificate programs, ASTM E2659. The Professional Food Handler (PFH) certificate from the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) is on ANAB's list as issuer 1031, as of October 2026.
- ExamPFH
- CheckedOct 13, 2026
- UpdatedOct 14, 2026
On this page 5 sections
NEHA's ANAB issuer ID
1031
ANAB's directory of accredited food handler training certificate programs lists “National Environmental Health Association, Food Handler Training Certificate, 1031” (as of October 2026).
Source: ANAB certificate issuer directory · checked Oct 13, 2026
The letters, decoded
- ANSI
- The American National Standards Institute. Older laws and most course ads still say “ANSI-accredited,” and California's statute does too.
- ANAB
- The ANSI National Accreditation Board, which ANAB's site describes as a wholly owned subsidiary of ANSI. It does the accrediting and keeps the directory.
- ASTM E2659
- The standard for certificate programs. California's law names it, as E2659-09, for any provider selling cards there.
- Certificate issuer
- The organization that gets accredited: NEHA, ServSafe's National Restaurant Association Solutions, StateFoodSafety and others. Your certificate is what you earn by passing that issuer's program.
How to check a provider yourself
Open the directory
Go to the ANAB directory of food handler certificate issuers. It's a public list.
Find the company
Look for the organization that sells the course. Each row gives the organization, its program names and an ID: 1031 for NEHA, 0655 for ServSafe's issuer, 1020 for StateFoodSafety.
Match the program
One issuer can list several programs, such as an allergen course next to the food handler one. The name on your receipt should match a food handler program in that row.
Then check your state
The listing is ANAB's statement about the issuer. Whether your state or county takes the card is its own rule, in the table below.
Where an ANAB-accredited card counts
| State | What's required | Deadline | Good for | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Card only from an ANSI-accredited provider meeting ASTM E2659-09 | Within 30 days of hire | 3 years | Cal. Health and Safety Code §113948 |
| Texas | Course approved by DSHS (Department of State Health Services) or ANSI | Within 30 days of employment | Printed date, or 2 years if none | Texas DSHS FAQ |
| Illinois | ANSI-accredited, or an internal program approved by IDPH (Illinois Department of Public Health) | Generally within 30 days of hire | May be every 3 years | IDPH |
| New Mexico | Card from an accredited food handler training program, with exemptions. That's the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) rule; Albuquerque and Bernalillo County run their own food safety programs | See NMED | — | NMED food program |
| Arizona, Maricopa County | County list of ANSI-accredited providers includes NEHA | See the county | — | Maricopa County |
| Hawaii | At least one employee with food-handler-level certification on duty; ANSI-accredited courses meet it | Every shift, during operating hours | State health department class: 3 years | Hawaii Department of Health |
| Washington | No. State Food Worker Card only; cards from other states not accepted | Before you start; up to 14 days in if your employer trains you | 2 years for the first card | Washington Department of Health |
| Oregon | Only Oregon Health Authority-approved providers; NEHA isn't on that list | Within 30 days | 3 years | Oregon Health Authority |
| Utah | Only providers on the state list dated March 26, 2026, which includes some ANAB-listed national companies; NEHA isn't on it | See the state list | — | Utah approved providers |
| Southern Nevada | No. The health district's own in-person test | See SNHD | 3 years | Southern Nevada Health District |
Counties inside these states can add rules of their own.
State by state
The places that lean on ANAB each have a page here: the California food handlers card, Illinois food handler training, the Arizona food handlers card (Maricopa County is the one we've verified) and the New Mexico food handlers card.
Not listed here? Start with food handlers card requirements by state. The FDA Food Code, the model states build on, asks only that employees be properly trained in food safety, allergy awareness included. The card requirement itself comes from state or local rules.
Checking the claim
Is “ANSI-approved” the same as ANAB-accredited?
People mean the same listing. ANAB is the accreditation body under ANSI, and the directory you can check is ANAB's. California's law still says “American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited” (Health and Safety Code §113948, as of October 2026).
Is every ANSI food handler test the same?
No. Each accredited issuer writes its own course and test. California sets a floor for cards sold there: at least 40 questions and a 70% minimum score (§113948, as of October 2026).
Which food handler programs are ANAB-accredited?
Among the ones people ask about: NEHA (1031), ServSafe's issuer National Restaurant Association Solutions (0655), StateFoodSafety/Certus (1020), 123 Premier Food Safety (1021), Learn2Serve (0975), Always Food Safe (1203), Trust20 (9065) and NRFSP, the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (1039), per ANAB's directory, as of October 2026.
A course website says it's accredited. Is that enough?
Check the directory instead of the badge. If the organization and its food handler program aren't in ANAB's listing, the claim isn't backed by ANAB.