Passaic, NJ Public Health Rules: Food Handler Certification (2026)

Article VI of Chapter 149, Food Establishments, at Section 149-35, requires the Division of Health to periodically offer food-handling training courses to people engaged in preparing, handling or processing food for human consumption in the City of Passaic. Successful completion earns a certificate from the Division of Health that remains valid for three years from issuance, and the Division keeps a registry of everyone who has completed the training. The requirement isn't automatic for every worker. Section 149-35D gives the Health Officer authority to direct a food establishment owner or any employee under that owner to complete the course, or an equivalent food-handling training course, and Section 149-35E lets the Health Officer specifically require temporary food establishment workers to complete the course first if they'll be handling potentially hazardous food at an event.

The course, including the exam, costs $35, with a $10 fee for a duplicate certificate under Section 149-9. A separate, higher tier applies to Risk Type 3 establishments under Article VII: those operators must employ a person holding a specialized food safety and manager's certification recognized by the New Jersey Department of Health, at a $180 training and exam fee, with a certification that lasts five years rather than three. Employers of certified staff must keep records of each employee's name, address, employment date and a copy of the certificate, available to the Health Officer on request under Section 149-38.