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Meat cutter license
Learn how to get a meat cutter license in King County by taking a Meat Cutter exam.
Short URL: kingcounty.gov/meat-cutter
Meat Cutter exam
If you cut fresh beef, veal, lamb, and/or pork within a King County meat establishment, you are required to obtain an annual occupational Meat Cutter license, which requires you to study and pass the Meat Cutter exam.
The Meat Cutter exam checks for basic skills of meat cutting, handling, care, and knowledge of sanitation and code requirements. You will need to pass the exam to get your meat cutter license. There is a fee for the exam and a separate fee for the annual license.
- Meat Cutter exam: $105
- Meat Cutter annual license: $79
Licenses expire on June 30th each year and need to be renewed annually.
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Determine which exam applies
- Traditional Meat Cutter "Exam A" - Employed at a supermarket with 40 or more employees.
The exam is in two parts, the first part consists of 70 questions on meat cutting, carcass identification, safe meat handling and sanitation. The second part consists of 30 pictured cuts of meat to identify. - New Meat Cutter "Exam B" - Employed at a supermarket with 40 or less employees, Non-Traditional Meat Market, Halal Meat Market, or Kosher Meat Market.
The exam covers safe meat handling, cleaning, and sanitizing of equipment, and workplace safety.
- Traditional Meat Cutter "Exam A" - Employed at a supermarket with 40 or more employees.
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Schedule an in-person or online exam
- In-person: Email or call Environmental Health Services to schedule an in-person testing appointment.
- Online: Email or call Environmental Health Services to make a payment and register to take an online exam. You will need to provide a valid email address for testing. Once you pass the online test then you will need to complete a separate payment for the annual license fee.
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On the day of your in-person exam
- You will need to download, print, and complete the Meat Cutter License Exam Application (57 KB) and bring it with you to take the exam.
- You will need to pay for both the exam and the license fees at your in-person exam appointment.
- The in-person exam will be at the King County Environmental Health office in downtown Seattle.
Address: 401 5th Ave., 11th Floor, Seattle, WA 98104
Previously licensed as a Meat Cutter
If your meat cutter’s license has expired, and/or you need to reactivate a previously held meat cutter license, email or call Environmental Health Services for verification and payment of the annual license fee.