Section 246-217-025. Issuance of food worker cards—Fees.

(1) In order to qualify for issuance of an initial or renewal food worker card, an applicant must demonstrate his/her knowledge of safe food handling practices by satisfactorily completing an examination conducted by the local health officer or designee.

(2) Each applicant for a food worker card must pay a fee in the amount of ten dollars. The fee shall be used by the jurisdictional health department or designee to defray the costs of food worker training and education, administration of the program, and testing of applicants. Photographic identification may be required at the time of application.

(3) The local health officer or designee must furnish to the applicant a copy of the latest edition of the "Food and Beverage Service Workers' Manual" or similar publication, as prepared or approved by the department.

(4) Effective January 1, 2000, prior to conducting the examination of the applicant(s), the health officer (or designee) must provide at least thirty minutes of instruction, including both audio and visual presentations. Instruction content shall include topics related to safe food preparation, storage and service. At a minimum, topics must include: Food borne illness overview; basic bacteriology as it relates to food borne illness; proper cooking, hot holding, cold holding and cooling of potentially hazardous foods; cross-contamination prevention; and proper handwashing techniques. Instruction content must also include the topic of food allergy awareness that is presented and/or distributed to each applicant.

(5) The food worker card examination will be uniform statewide and will be prepared by and/or approved by the department; except that jurisdictional health departments may include additional questions to address local health concerns. The examination will cover topics identified in subsection (4) of this section, except food allergy awareness, as required instruction topics. An exam must be approved by the department prior to its use. To pass the examination the applicant must answer at least eighty percent of the questions correctly.

(6) Upon payment of the required fee and the applicant's satisfactory completion of the examination, the applicant will receive the food worker card.

(7) A copy of the card or the applicable information must be kept on file at the jurisdictional health department.

(8) Copies of food worker cards for all employed food service workers must be kept on file by the employer or kept by the employee on his or her person and open for inspection at all times by authorized public health officials.

(9) All food worker cards must be issued and signed by the local health officer. The local health officer may contract with persons to provide the required training or testing within his/her jurisdiction. The contracts must include test security provisions so that test questions, scoring keys, and other examination data are exempt from public disclosure to the same extent as records maintained by state or local government agencies.

(10) The health officer or designee must make test accommodations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act for those requesting such accommodations.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 06-05-008, § 246-217-025, filed 2/2/06, effective 3/5/06. Statutory Authority: Chapter 69.06 RCW. WSR 02-22-079, § 246-217-025, filed 11/5/02, effective 1/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 99-13-019, § 246-217-025, filed 6/7/99, effective 7/8/99.]

RCW 43.20.050. WSR 06-05-008, § 246-217-025, filed 2/2/06, effective 3/5/06. Statutory Authority: Chapter 69.06 RCW. WSR 02-22-079, § 246-217-025, filed 11/5/02, effective 1/1/03. Statutory Authority: RCW 43.20.050. WSR 99-13-019, § 246-217-025, filed 6/7/99, effective 7/8/99.