Prep options compared
Food handler courses online, compared
Four online food handler courses publish their price, attempts or pass mark where we could check them in October 2026: NEHA's PFH, ServSafe Food Handler, StateFoodSafety and Premier Food Safety. Any of them is the wrong buy if your state doesn't accept it, so start with the state.
- ExamPFH
- UpdatedOct 14, 2026
On this page 4 sections
What each course publishes
| Course | Price | Test attempts | Pass mark | Good for | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEHA PFH (English or Spanish) | $15.00 | 1 per purchase | 70% | 3 years | 2 hours, 7 modules |
| ServSafe Food Handler (SSECT6) | $15.00 | 3 included | Not on the page we read | 3 years | Not on the page we read |
| StateFoodSafety Food Handlers Essentials | $10.99 ($10.00 + $0.99 fee); varies by state | 2 | 70% | 3 years | 30 minutes |
| Premier Food Safety (California card) | Not shown on the page we read | 2, then $25 to retake | 70% | 3 years | 90 minutes plus the exam |
Each row's source is in the list at the bottom of the page. Prices change without notice.
Before you pay for any of them
State first. Washington, Oregon and Southern Nevada run their own cards, and Utah counts only providers on its state list, which doesn't include NEHA (list dated 03/26/2026). A national course counts there only if that state says so.
Accreditation second. Where the law says accredited, the check is ANAB's directory (ANSI National Accreditation Board). In October 2026 it listed NEHA, ServSafe, StateFoodSafety, 123 Premier Food Safety, Learn2Serve (360training), Always Food Safe, Trust20 and NRFSP (National Registry of Food Safety Professionals) as food handler certificate issuers (ANAB directory). What the listing means: ANAB-accredited food handler card.
Learn2Serve, Always Food Safe and Trust20 are named here and nothing more: we couldn't read their prices on their pages. If your state needs an accredited card, look the provider up in ANAB's directory before you buy.
Then attempts. A cheap course with one try costs more than its sticker price on a bad day. The two $15.00 options go head to head on the PFH vs ServSafe Food Handler page, and the full cost of a food handlers card covers the state-run cards too.
Buying a course
Do online food handler courses all cost about the same?
Close. As of October 2026: NEHA PFH $15.00, ServSafe Food Handler $15.00, StateFoodSafety $10.99 with its fee (varies by state). Premier's price didn't show on the page we read. Count the attempts before you compare prices.
Is an online food handler course legit for my job?
It's legit where your state or county accepts it. In accredited-course states, a provider listed in ANAB's directory meets the accreditation part of the rule.
Which course is in Spanish?
NEHA's PFH comes in English and Spanish; ServSafe Food Handler adds Simplified Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese (each maker's page, as of October 2026).
Sources
- NEHA shop, PFH online course — $15.00 checked Oct 13, 2026
- NEHA PFH online course handbook — 70%, one attempt, 3 years checked Oct 13, 2026
- ServSafe Food Handler Online Course and Assessment (SSECT6) checked Oct 13, 2026
- StateFoodSafety Food Handlers Essentials checked Oct 13, 2026
- Premier Food Safety, food handlers card checked Oct 13, 2026
- ANAB directory of accredited certificate issuers checked Oct 13, 2026