About The Training
Food service workers and/or volunteers who meet Food Handler Card Exemptions 1–3 are not required to possess a valid Food Handler Card in order to prepare and serve food.
Exemption 1: Food Employees who only handle non-TCS foods are exempt, provided the permit holder (facility owner or designee) provides training and maintains record of training.
Exemption 2: Employees or volunteers who occasionally function as Food Employees are exempt, provided the permit holder (facility owner or designee) provides training and maintains record of training. Examples include: restaurant hosts, teachers assisting with family-style dining, and nurses/therapists assisting patients.
Exemption 3: Food Employees, or volunteers working as Food Employees at Temporary Events, are exempted, provided that the permit holder (facility owner or designee) provides training and maintains record of training.
Those who qualify for Exemptions 1–3 must still receive training from their place of employment that is applicable to the food-related job duties they perform. Facility owners or managers are responsible for keeping records of this training for the duration of the individual’s employment and making these records available to NMED upon request.
Facility owners/managers may:
- Create their own training program,
- Use a third-party training program, or
- Use the training program created by NMED to fulfill this requirement, See below.
Exempt Food Service Worker Training Program
The Exempt Food Service Worker Training Program is designed for use in:
- A classroom setting
- Small groups
- Individual instruction
Start with the Instructions, which outline how to use the training program and maintain proper training records.
To use this training program, you will need the following materials:
Exemption 4
NMED may approve an entity’s (Company’s) training program to be used in lieu of requiring a food handler card. Food employee’s must complete entity’s approved training program at least every three years. Exemption is only valid during the food employee’s time of employment with entity that administered the training. To obtain an application, please contact the Food Program at food.program@env.nm.gov.