Backcountry Food Certification

(AKA: Backcountry Specialist)

Hey River Guides! Coconino County Environmental Health Department has now developed ONE SINGLE ONLINE TRAINING for ALL Backcountry Food Certification. In other words, whether you've gotten a Food Handler's cert or a Food Manager's cert in the past, you will need to take this new Backcountry course when your current card expires. This “Backcountry Specialist” certification is good for three years, has been approved by Grand Canyon National Park, and is good for Coconino County. 

Here's the deal:

The Backcountry Food Manager's Training includes a wider breadth of topics than the standard Food handler Training. The training covers topics such as vector, sanitation, food, and water safety. This training is unique to Coconino County due to the Grand Canyon and river guide training needs. Please note that the card you will receive after completing the course will indicate that you are a Backcountry Food MANAGER.  Also, see the important note below regarding how to request your certification card once you’ve completed the online course.

Instructions for the Backcountry Course:

Scroll down for the link to the updated Backcountry education and certification.

You will be asked to (1) create an account, (2) choose the Backcountry course, (3) make a payment, and (4) you will be in the course. If you are not in the course, click on my account and click on the EDU link given for the course. Depending on your internet connection the course may take a moment to load.

You may contact Coconino County Environmental Health with any technical issues at 928-679-8760.  A refund will be considered with proof that you have tried to call and resolve any difficulty you are having.   Please be advised that a refund could take 30 days.

IMPORANT NOTE: After you complete the online course, it does not automatically generate a certification card (because there is an ID requirement), so there are three different ways to get it:

Option 1) Applicants must come in person to Coconino County Environmental Health offices in Flagstaff or Page with a valid Photo ID to receive their card.

-Flagstaff offices address: 2625 N. King Street, Flagstaff, AZ, 86004

-Page offices address: 467 Vista Ave. Page, AZ, 86040

Option 2) Applicant who cannot come in person to their offices will require a letter from their Employer containing the following.

-Official company logo

-Verification/ Confirmation of their employment with the Company.

-Statement from the Company/Employer that their identity and legal presence in the US has been verified.

-Full Name of the applicant or applicants that have passed the test, and you are requesting for their card to be sent to the company.

-Company’s mailing address where we will be sending the printed version of their card.

-Official e-mail address from your Management or HR department where we will be sending the digital version of their card with a secure e-mail.

-Signature from Management or HR Department

Option 3) After passing their test, a request must be sent from the applicant for a virtual meeting, so they can show their Photo ID in that meeting. This meeting request must be sent to environmentalhealth@coconino.az.gov with the subject: Obtain my Backcountry Specialist Card / “Name of the Company” (meaning the company you work for). In the body of the e-mail just mention that you have passed your test and your Name. For this meeting, please allow 3 business days to receive the invite. The applicant will receive a digital version of their card in a secure e-mail.

Please do NOT send a copy of your ID to Coconino County — they have these new protocol options listed above because of Privacy Policies. If you have any questions, you can call Coconino County Environmental Health Services at (928) 679-8760.