Hours of Operation: (Berea) Mon, 8AM-6PM Tues-Wed, 8AM-4:30PM       (Richmond) Mon, 8AM-6PM, Tues-Thurs, 8AM-4:30PM, Fri, 8AM-12PM           Phone: (859) 626-4263

Our Mission: To protect, promote and improve the health of our community

Madison County Health Department

Food Safety

Food Handlers

All people who work in food service establishments in Madison County are required to have a food handler card issued by the Health Department. Restaurants and other establishments must keep a copy of the card on file for every employee that handles food and drink. This includes waiters, bartenders, dishwashers, cooks, and kitchen workers. Certified food managers are not required to have a food handler card. Please note that this test and certification is valid in Madison County, Kentucky only and may not be recognized by other county health departments. It is your responsibility to check acceptability with the health department in your county.

Applicants for Food Handler Testing are given a study book to review, then a short written multiple-choice test. Topics include food preparation, cooking and holding temperatures, dishwashing and sanitation, hand washing procedures, chemical storage, and other information related to safe storage, preparation, and serving of food and drink. Effective July 1, 2019, tests cost $15.00, and permits are good for 3 years. Duplicate or replacement cards can be purchased for $5.00 per card.

MCHD offers Food Handler Testing at the Environmental Health office on 216 Boggs Lane in Richmond, and at the Martha Pride Community Health Center on 1001 Ace Drive in Berea.

Richmond hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm. 
Berea hours are Monday through Wednesday, 8:00 am – 4:00 pm.

Call 859-626-4249 for more information

In order to become certified or re-certified, food service managers must go through our online Food Manager Certification course and pass the test at the end of the course. The fee for the class is $80 per person and the certification is valid for three (3) years. In this course we will discuss the principles of food safety that a Certified Food Manager must be proficient in

Training topics include:

  • The Importance of Food Sanitation
  • Receiving and Storage
  • Insect and Rodent Control
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Prevention of Foodborne Illness Through Proper Food Handling
  • Preparation and Service
  • Sanitization of Tableware and Equipment

How to Register:

  • Follow the link https://ky-madisonchd.statecert.com
  • Register your information by clicking “Register” in the upper right corner of the page.
  • After Registration, log in with your created account and under “Get License” the Food Manager Course is available.
  • You will have to pay the $80 via credit card to start the course.
  • After payment has been processed, you will be able to go through the course. You may stop this course at any time and when you log back on you will resume from the point where you left off.
  • When you complete this course you will receive a certificate in your email and a printable version of the certificate and wallet sized card. Upon completion of the course you have met the requirements and are a certified food manager.
Click here to register

Food Managers

Madison County Health Regulation 400:200 requires that all food service establishments in Madison County be operated by a certified food service manager. At least one (1) certified food service manager must be on duty during all hours of operation.  Restaurants and other food service establishments may certify as many managers as they need to meet that requirement. 

Failure to comply with MCHR 400:200 will result in legal action being taken against the permit holder of the establishment.  This may include fines ranging from $10 to $100 per day for each day the violation has occurred.