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Florida Food Manager Certification
What is a Food Manager?
A person who is responsible for the food establishment
and/or has direct authority, control or supervision over employees who
engage in the storage, preparation, display, or service of foods.
What type of Food Establishments are
required to have a Certified Food Manager?
Food service establishments as defined in section
381.0072,
Florida Statutes, are required to meet manager certification requirements,
unless otherwise exempted. All establishments required to have a certified
food manager shall designate in writing the food service manager or managers
for each location. The establishments include, but are not limited to:
- Civic or fraternal organizations
- Churches that are required to maintain a Department of Health food
certificate
- Mobile Food Units and Caterers that are required to maintain a Department
of Health food certificate
- Detention facilities
- Residential Facilities that are required to maintain a Department
of Health food certificate, such as, but not limited to:
- Assisted Living Facilities
- Hospices
- Adult Day Cares
- Drug and alcohol treatment centers
- Intermediate Care Facility for the Developmentally disabled (ICFDD)
- Prescribed Pediatric Extended Care (PPEC)
The following types of food service establishments
are exempted from Department of Health manager certification
requirements:
- Bars and lounges
- Public and private schools (provided that the food service is
operated by school employees)
- Hospitals licensed under chapter 395, Florida Statutes
- Nursing Homes, licensed under part II of Chapter 400, Florida Statutes
- Childcare Facilities as defined in s. 402.301, Florida Statutes
- Residential Facilities collocated with a nursing home or hospital
is all food is prepared in a central kitchen that complies with nursing
or hospital regulations.
- Theaters that are required to maintain a Department of Health food
certificate
What are the responsibilities of a Certified
Food Manager?
It shall be the responsibility of the certified manager
or managers to inform all employees under their supervision and control
who engage in the storage, preparation, or serving of food, to do so in
accordance with acceptable sanitary practices as described in the Food Hygiene
Rule, Chapter 64E-11
(PDF file, 164 KB),
Florida Administrative Code. Establishments that serve highly
susceptible populations (a group of persons who are more likely than
other populations to experience foodborne disease because they are
immunocompromised or older adults institutionalized or preschool age
children in custodial care), or that have three or more employees at one
time engaged in the storage, preparation or service of food must have at
least one certified manager present at all times when these activities
are taking place. All other establishments (general populations or two
or less employees) must have a certified manager or managers responsible
for all periods of operation but the manager or managers need not be
present at all times.
How do I become a Certified Food Manager?
To become a certified food manager in compliance with
Department of Health requirements, individuals must successfully pass a
certification examination administered by any approved Manager
Certification Test Provider (see below for listing). Applications are available directly from
the approved providers. The Department of Health does not require
individuals attend an examination preparation or training course;
however, preparation courses, study guides, and other helpful materials
are offered by each of the approved test providers. Please contact the
approved test provider for times, dates, and cost of the examination as
well as ordering training materials and scheduling a preparation course.
Make sure you request the Florida Department of Health, Food Manager
Certification test information, since these providers do offer
examinations for other food related programs. The test provider issues a
certificate to successful participants, which is valid for a period of
five years from the date of issuance. All establishments shall designate in writing the food service manager or managers for location.
How do I obtain a copy of my Food Manager certification?
If you are unable to locate your food manager certificate, please contact the approved provider who issued your certification for a replacement and any applicable fees.
The general requirements for manager certification can be
found in section 64E-11.012, F.A.C.
(PDF file, 24 KB)
of the Department of Health - Food Hygiene Rule.
If you have any general questions about the Department of
Health's manager certification requirements, please contact
Ric Mathis, Vakesha Brown
or Leslie Harris at the Bureau of Community Environmental Health, HSEC, 4052 Capital
Circle SE, BIN A08, Tallahassee, Florida, 32399-1710, (850) 245-4277.
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