A strong line cook resume shows your food handler card (required by law in states such as California, Texas and Illinois), the stations you can run, how busy your kitchens were in covers or tickets, and that you can work evenings and weekends. Keep it to one page with your city, state, phone and email at the top.
Line cook resume checklist
Food handler card with its expiration date, if your state or county requires one
The stations you can run: grill, fry, saute, cold side, prep
Numbers: covers per night, tickets per hour, size of the menu
City, state, phone and email at the top. No photo, birth date or Social Security number
Certifications and licenses for line cooks
Certification
Why it matters
How much
Food handler card California, Texas, Illinois, Oregon, New Mexico
Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date. A food manager certificate also counts for the person who holds it. California requires food employees in restaurants, bars, cafes and similar places to get a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire and keep it valid. It lasts 3 years. Grocery and convenience stores are exempt. Since 2024 the employer pays for the course and the time it takes (SB 476), and cannot require you to have a card before you are hired. Texas requires food employees who work with unpackaged food to complete an accredited food handler course within 30 days of hire. A card with no expiration date is good for 2 years. Illinois requires restaurant food handlers to complete accredited food handler training within 30 days of hire and repeat it every 3 years. Oregon requires food service workers to get an Oregon food handler card within 30 days of starting work. It lasts 3 years, and cards from other states are not accepted. New Mexico requires food employees to pass a food handler test and hold a card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Utah requires food handlers to finish approved training within 14 days and get a food handler permit from the local health department within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Washington requires food service workers to get a Washington food worker card within 14 days. The first card lasts 2 years, and renewals last 3 or 5 years. Florida requires public food service establishments to train every food service employee through an approved program within 60 days. Training lasts 3 years. Alaska requires food workers who handle unpackaged food to hold a state food worker card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Source
Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date. California requires food employees in restaurants, bars, cafes and similar places to get a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire and keep it valid. It lasts 3 years. Grocery and convenience stores are exempt. Since 2024 the employer pays for the course and the time it takes (SB 476), and cannot require you to have a card before you are hired. Texas requires food employees who work with unpackaged food to complete an accredited food handler course within 30 days of hire. A card with no expiration date is good for 2 years. Illinois requires restaurant food handlers to complete accredited food handler training within 30 days of hire and repeat it every 3 years. Oregon requires food service workers to get an Oregon food handler card within 30 days of starting work. It lasts 3 years, and cards from other states are not accepted. New Mexico requires food employees to pass a food handler test and hold a card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Utah requires food handlers to finish approved training within 14 days and get a food handler permit from the local health department within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Washington requires food service workers to get a Washington food worker card within 14 days. The first card lasts 2 years, and renewals last 3 or 5 years. Florida requires public food service establishments to train every food service employee through an approved program within 60 days. Training lasts 3 years. Alaska requires food workers who handle unpackaged food to hold a state food worker card within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Source
Required by law
Food handler card Arizona, Nevada
Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date. Arizona has no statewide card, but Maricopa County (Phoenix, Mesa, Scottsdale and nearby) requires food employees to get a food handler certificate within 30 days. It lasts 3 years. Other counties set their own rules. The Southern Nevada Health District (Las Vegas and Clark County) requires food safety training for a food handler card before you start work. It lasts 3 years. Other areas set their own rules. Source
Often asked for
Food handler card All states except Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington
Rules differ by state, county and city, so check with your local health department. Many kitchens ask for a food handler card even where it is not required, and a short online course is enough. Name the card, the state or county that issued it, and its expiration date.
Often asked for
Food manager certificate (such as ServSafe Manager)
The FDA Food Code, which most states base their rules on, says the person in charge of a kitchen should be a certified food protection manager. One with this certificate can run a shift, so it helps you move up to lead cook or kitchen manager. California requires most restaurants to have at least one owner or employee with a food protection manager certificate, valid 5 years. Illinois requires every food service establishment to be under the supervision of a certified food service sanitation manager, valid 5 years. Utah requires each food service establishment to have at least one certified food safety manager, renewed every 5 years. New Mexico requires at least one supervisory employee in each food establishment to be a certified food protection manager. Texas rules say at least one supervisory employee at a food establishment shall be a certified food protection manager, and some cities require one on site at all times. Source
Helps you stand out
State rules for line cooks
These states have their own rules for this job. Each page explains the rule and how to list it on your resume.
A one-page example you can copy. The person is fictional.
Marco Diaz
Line cook
Sacramento, CA · (916) 555-0142 · marco.diaz@example.com
Summary
Line cook with 3 years on busy grill and fry stations. Calm during rushes and careful with food safety.
Availability
Available evenings, weekends and holidays. Can start right away.
Certifications and licenses
California Food Handler Card (expires May 2028)
ServSafe Food Protection Manager (2025)
Work experience
Line cook, Capitol Grill House, Sacramento, CAMar 2023 to Present
Run the grill and fry stations for 150 to 200 covers a night, with ticket times under 12 minutes.
Prep sauces, proteins and garnishes for a 45-item menu before each service.
Check and log cooler and hot-holding temperatures twice a shift. Passed every county health inspection.
Trained 4 new cooks on station setup and plating specs.
Prep cook, River City Diner, Sacramento, CAJun 2021 to Feb 2023
Prepped vegetables, soups and desserts for 90 to 120 covers a day.
Labeled and rotated stock using FIFO, cutting food waste by about a quarter.
Skills
Grill, fry and saute · Knife skills · Allergen handling · English and Spanish
Education
High school diploma, Hiram Johnson High School, 2021
Before and after
Before
Responsible for cooking food.
After
Cooked on the grill and fry stations for 150 to 200 covers a night, keeping ticket times under 12 minutes.
Before
Objective: To obtain a challenging position where I can grow.
After
Line cook with 3 years on busy grill and fry stations. Food handler card current. Available evenings and weekends.
Common questions
Do line cooks need a food handler card?
It depends on your state, and sometimes your county. California, Texas, Illinois and several other states require food employees to get a food handler card soon after they are hired. Where it is not the law, many kitchens still ask for it, so list it if you have it.
What is the difference between a food handler card and ServSafe Manager?
A food handler card is a short course for everyday food workers. A Certified Food Protection Manager certificate, such as ServSafe Food Protection Manager, is a longer exam for the person in charge. Many states, including California, Illinois and Utah, require at least one certified food manager per restaurant, so having one can help you move up.
How long should a line cook resume be?
One page is enough for most line cooks. Two pages are fine only if you have many years in kitchens and every line is useful.
What numbers can a cook put on a resume?
Covers per night, tickets per hour, ticket times, the number of menu items you prep and how many cooks you trained.
California Health and Safety Code section 113948: Food handler cards (page dated January 1, 2024, checked November 15, 2026) The Legislature's site blocked automated reading on the checked date, so the text was read from a published copy of the statute. SB 476 changes took effect January 1, 2024.