PORT ANGELES — Getting a food handler’s card has become a lot easier in Clallam County, and the numbers back it up, county officials said.
Of the 3,491 food worker cards issued in Clallam County last year, 3,212 were secured online through a new partnership with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
“That is a record for the number of food workers going through the system,” Clallam County Environmental Health Director Andy Brastad told commissioners Tuesday.
State law requires that everyone who goes through the online training pay a $10 fee for a food handler’s card.
Clallam County divides the $10 fee with the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department — $7 goes to Clallam County and $3 to Tacoma-Pierce — under an agreement that was renewed by unanimous vote Tuesday.
“This has been, actually, a pretty good program,” Commissioner Mike Chapman said.
“It allows people to get their food handler’s card via online training if they can’t make it to the in-person training. My son actually took advantage of it and zipped right through.”
County Administrator Jim Jones said it took him less than a half-hour to get trained, pass the test and get his food worker card.
He described the service as “very convenient.”
The interagency agreement with Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for online food worker training, testing and card issuance runs though December 2016.
To access the online food worker class, visit www.clallam.net and click on “Online Services.”
________
Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
