Food Manager Certification - FAQs

A food safety certification is mandatory in many states, including California, Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Arizona, Florida and Maryland. However, different states and counties sometimes have different certification guidelines and requirements. For more information, please review our certification requirements by state or contact your local health authority.
This varies from State to State. Some have requirements for minimum training hours, while others do not. Please select your state from the list or contact your local health department for more information.
Student’s must receive 75% or higher to become a certified food manager.
There are 80 questions in the ServSafe Food Manager Exam.
The standard for food managers is to obtain their certification every 5 years, but this may vary depending on the state and/or local jurisdiction. For more information please visit our state requirements pages or contact your local health authority.
We currently offer classroom training in California, Arizona, Illinois, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC. However, we offer other accredited training and certification programs that are accessible nationwide. Please give us a call and we will help you find an option to best fit your needs.
If you have already passed a Food Safety Manager exam from ServSafe, Prometric or any other ANSI-accredited provider and it has not expired, your certification is valid nationwide. However, some states and counties have their own specific regulations and may require you to complete additional steps, such as training or issuance of a local certificate. Please make sure to always check with your local health authority for any additional requirements.

ServSafe® In-Person Certification Exam

The ServSafe Food Manager Certification is a nationally accredited program accepted by health departments nationwide.

Premier Food Safety has partnered with ServSafe to offer you the Food Manager Certification Exam, as well as multiple training packages to meet your training needs.

You can rest assured that you’re receiving training from one of the best companies, and obtaining a certification from the leading nationally accredited provider.

Classroom training is highly recommended and usually the most effective way to prepare for the exam if this is the first time you are taking it. Our most popular training and certification package is $139 and includes:

  • Classroom training with a food safety expert - Available in English, Spanish, Korean and Chinese, depending on class location.
  • ServSafe certification Exam - Available in English, Spanish, Korean, Chinese and French Canadian
  • E-Study Guide – Emailed to you for download

Classes typically run from 10am – 4pm, although this may vary depending on the language and location. We ask students to arrive 30 minutes in advance for check-in.

Please see below for a typical class schedule:

  • 10am to 1:00pm | Class Instruction
  • 1pm to 1:30pm | 30-Minute Break
  • 1:30pm to 2pm | Review Session
  • 2pm to 4pm | Exam

This 65+ page resource covers all the core FDA food safety standards and guidelines, 2 Practice Tests and the Top 5 Tips to Passing the Food Safety Exam.

The Study Guide is emailed to you upon registration so you can review it prior to the class.
Yes, depending upon the number of students, we can have our instructor come on-site to your company. Many of our clients prefer this option because of the convenience of having a class catered to fit their work schedule.
Yes, if your company certifies several employees a year, please contact our office and we will determine if you qualify for a corporate discount. Please email us at info@PremierFoodSafety.com if you have any further questions.

ServSafe® Online Certification Exam

The ServSafe® Online Exam is a simple and easy to use option. First, choose your training and certification package. Once registered, we will send you a unique exam code, which you will use to schedule your exam with ProctorU. You will have to create a ServSafe account and a ProctorU account to access the portal and select your preferred date and time for the exam. On the day of the exam, you will have to ensure access to a quiet, private area, where you will connect with a live ProctorU proctor who will administer the exam.

Yes. The certification exam is 100% online and adminstered by a live proctor via ProctorU.

You may choose the date and time that best work for your schedule. On the day of your exam, you will be required to log in to connect with the proctor and complete the exam.

Please make sure you have access to a quiet, private space that is free of interruptions for the entire duration of the exam session

Once you register, you will receive a username and password to log in and complete the training from home. The self-paced online course incorporates media-rich learning experiences, graphics, audio, and interactive learning exercises.

The course is between 4 and 8 hours long, depending on the State you are getting your certification for. It is widely accepted by a broad range of clients, including regulatory agencies and educational institutions, as fulfilling training requirements for most counties and states nationwide.

Once you are ready, you will need to complete the following steps:

  1. Create a ServSafe account
  2. Create a ProctorU account
  3. Download the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox
  4. Download and install the ProctorU web browser extension
  5. Verify that your PC or Mac meets the Minimum System Requirements (no tablets or mobile devices allowed).
  6. Review ProctorU Exam readiness guide
  7. Schedule your exam.

Please click here to watch a video that will walk you through the entire process.

For additional step-by-step instructions, please click here.
With the Online ServSafe Certification Exam option, you receive your test score immediately following the exam.

For additional information and to register for the ServSafe Online Exam option please click here.