Top 10 Food Handler Certifications

Certifications for a food handler are important in the job market because they demonstrate that the person has received proper training and is knowledgeable about food safety and hygiene. Certifications also show potential employers that the food handler is committed to providing safe and healthy food to customers. Certification shows employers that the person takes their job seriously and understands the importance of following safety protocols, which can help them stand out from other applicants. Furthermore, certifications may be required by certain employers or states in order for someone to work as a food handler.

This article reviews the top certifications for Food Handlers and explains how they can help to enhance the career of a food handler.

What are Food Handler Certifications?

Food handler certification is a food safety training program designed to educate food handlers in the safe handling, preparation, and storage of food. The certification helps protect public health by ensuring that all food handlers have received training and understand the basic principles of safe food handling. This includes topics such as proper hygiene, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and pest control.

By obtaining a Food Handler Certification, individuals demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of important food safety principles. This certification can help reduce the risk of foodborne illness outbreaks caused by improper handling or preparation of food products. Additionally, having a Food Handler Certification may improve an individual’s job prospects in the foodservice industry. Many employers now require their employees to have this certification before they are allowed to handle or prepare food products. Furthermore, having a Food Handler Certification can provide assurance to customers that the person preparing their meal has been properly trained on how to safely handle their food.

Pro Tip: Before working in the food industry, make sure you obtain a food handler certification. This certification will provide necessary training on food safety and sanitation practices, which are essential for keeping customers safe and healthy.

Related: What does a Food Handler do?

Top 10 Food Handler Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Food Handlers today.

1. ServSafe Food Handler Certification

ServSafe Food Handler Certification is a program developed by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF). It is designed to provide food handlers with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely handle food in a restaurant or other food service environment. The certification is valid for three years and requires successful completion of an online exam.

The ServSafe Food Handler Certification course takes approximately two hours to complete, depending on the individual's level of knowledge and understanding. The course covers topics such as safe food handling practices, personal hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, time/temperature control, cleaning and sanitizing, and pest control. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, individuals will receive a certificate that is valid for three years.

To obtain ServSafe Food Handler Certification, individuals must first register for the course online at servsafe.com or through their local NRAEF office. After registering for the course, individuals can take the online exam at any time during their registration period. The cost of the ServSafe Food Handler Certification varies depending on where it is taken; however, it typically ranges from $15-$30 USD.

2. National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP) Food Handler Certification

The National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP) Food Handler Certification is a nationally recognized certification program that provides foodservice workers with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely handle food in any foodservice establishment. The certification is valid for five years and is accepted by most local, state, and federal regulatory agencies.

The NRFSP Food Handler Certification is a self-paced, online course that takes approximately 2 hours to complete. The course covers topics such as basic food safety principles, proper handwashing techniques, cross contamination prevention, and safe storage practices. Upon completion of the course, participants must pass an exam with a score of 75% or higher to receive their certification.

To get the NRFSP Food Handler Certification, individuals must register for the online course on the NRFSP website. Once registered, individuals will be able to access the course materials and take the exam at their own pace.

The cost of the NRFSP Food Handler Certification varies depending on where you live; however, it typically ranges from $10-$20 USD.

3. StateFoodSafety Food Handler Certification

StateFoodSafety Food Handler Certification is an online certification program designed to provide food handlers with the knowledge and skills they need to safely handle food. The program covers topics such as basic food safety, personal hygiene, cross contamination, temperature control, and cleaning and sanitizing. It also includes a practice test to help prepare for the final exam.

The program takes approximately two hours to complete and consists of a series of lessons followed by a final exam. Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate that is valid for three years.

To get StateFoodSafety Food Handler Certification, individuals must first register for the program on the StateFoodSafety website. Once registered, they can access the course material and take the practice test before taking the final exam. After passing the final exam, participants will be able to print their certificate.

The cost of StateFoodSafety Food Handler Certification varies depending on how many people are taking it at once and whether or not it is being taken as part of a group or an individual purchase. For individual purchases, it typically costs around $10 per person. For group purchases, discounts may apply depending on how many people are taking it together.

4. Training Food Handler Certification

Training Food Handler Certification is a certification program designed to ensure that food handlers have the necessary knowledge and skills to safely handle, prepare, and serve food. The certification is required by many local health departments in order to work in the food service industry.

The length of time it takes to get Training Food Handler Certification varies depending on the provider, but most courses can be completed in one day or less. The course typically covers topics such as food safety regulations, proper hygiene practices, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention and more.

To get Training Food Handler Certification, you must complete an approved training course and pass an exam. There are several providers that offer these courses both online and in-person. Many employers will provide the training for their employees or may even require that they take it before they can start working.

The cost of Training Food Handler Certification varies depending on the provider, but typically ranges from $20-$50 per person. Additionally, some employers may cover the cost of the certification for their employees.

5. Prometric Food Handler Certification

Prometric Food Handler Certification is a certification program offered by Prometric, an independent testing organization. This certification is designed to help food handlers understand and demonstrate the knowledge of safe food handling practices. The program is based on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Food Code and provides individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to properly handle food.

The program consists of an online course that takes approximately two hours to complete, followed by a multiple-choice exam that tests the student's comprehension of the material covered in the course. Upon successful completion of the exam, students will receive their official Prometric Food Handler Certification card via email.

To get certified, you must first register for the course at Prometric’s website. Once registered, you will be able to access the online course materials and take the exam when ready. The cost for this certification is $25 USD per person.

Once you have completed your registration and taken your exam, you will receive your official Prometric Food Handler Certification card in about three weeks after passing your exam. This card must be renewed every three years in order to remain valid.

6. Learn2Serve Food Handler Certification

Learn2Serve Food Handler Certification is an online course designed to provide food handlers with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely handle food. It is a comprehensive program that covers topics such as food safety, sanitation, personal hygiene, and more. The certification is valid for three years and can be renewed by taking a refresher course.

The Learn2Serve Food Handler Certification course takes approximately 3 hours to complete, depending on the individual’s learning speed. The cost of the certification varies depending on the state or jurisdiction in which it is taken. In most cases, it costs between $10-$20.

To get certified, individuals must register for the course online at Learn2Serve.com and then take the exam at an approved testing center or online through ProctorU. Upon successful completion of the exam, individuals will receive their certificate of completion via email within 24-48 hours.

7. International Food Safety Training Association (IFSTA) Food Handler Certification

The International Food Safety Training Association (IFSTA) Food Handler Certification is a program that provides food handlers with the knowledge and skills necessary to safely handle food. The certification is designed to help ensure that all food handlers understand the importance of food safety and are able to properly apply safe practices in their daily work.

The IFSTA Food Handler Certification is an online course that takes approximately 2 hours to complete. During the course, participants will learn about topics such as personal hygiene, food safety principles, temperature control, cross contamination prevention, cleaning and sanitizing procedures, and more. Upon completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate of completion that can be used as proof of their training.

To get certified by IFSTA, individuals must first register for the online course on their website. After registering for the course, they will be provided with access to the online materials which they can use to study and prepare for the certification exam. Once they have completed all of the required modules and passed the exam with a score of 80% or higher, they will receive their IFSTA Food Handler Certification.

The cost for IFSTA's Food Handler Certification varies depending on where you live; however, it typically costs between $20-$30 USD per person.

8. ANSI-CFP Accredited Food Protection Manager Certifications

ANSI-CFP Accredited Food Protection Manager Certifications is a certification program that is designed to ensure that food service managers have the knowledge and skills necessary to protect their customers from foodborne illnesses. The program is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Conference for Food Protection (CFP).

The certification requires successful completion of a standardized exam that tests knowledge in areas such as food safety regulations, sanitation practices, safe food handling, and other related topics. The exam must be taken at an approved testing site and is administered by an ANSI-accredited organization.

It typically takes about two weeks to complete the certification process. To get certified, individuals must first register for the exam with an approved testing provider. Once registered, they must study for the exam and then take it at a designated testing center. After passing the exam, applicants will receive their certificate within two weeks.

The cost of getting ANSI-CFP Accredited Food Protection Manager Certification varies depending on the provider, but generally ranges from around $100-$200 USD.

9. Professional Food Manager (PFM) Certificate Program

The Professional Food Manager (PFM) Certificate Program is an industry-recognized certification program designed to provide foodservice professionals with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to successfully manage a foodservice operation. The program focuses on the critical areas of food safety, sanitation, personnel management, customer service, and cost control.

The PFM Certificate Program consists of two parts: an online course and an in-person exam. The online course covers topics such as food safety regulations, proper sanitation practices, customer service techniques, inventory control methods, and financial management strategies. It takes approximately 8 hours to complete the online course and can be completed at your own pace.

Once you have completed the online course, you must take the PFM Exam in order to receive your certificate. The exam is administered by a Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) who will evaluate your knowledge of food safety and management principles. The exam typically takes about 2 hours to complete and costs $125 per person.

Upon successful completion of both the online course and in-person exam, you will receive your PFM Certificate which is valid for 5 years from the date it was issued. This certificate is recognized by most state health departments as proof that you have met their minimum requirements for managing a safe food environment.

10. Certified Professional in Food Safety (CPFS)

Certified Professional in Food Safety (CPFS) is a professional certification program developed by the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA). The CPFS credential is designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated knowledge, skills, and abilities related to food safety. It is intended for professionals working in the food industry, including those in management positions, regulatory agencies, food service establishments, and educational institutions.

It typically takes about 6-12 months to complete the requirements to become certified as a CPFS. To become certified, you must first complete an approved training course in food safety. You must then pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as foodborne illness prevention, safe food handling practices, and food safety regulations.

The cost of becoming a Certified Professional in Food Safety varies depending on the provider of the training course and exam. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $400-$800 for the entire process.

Once you have completed your training course and passed your exam, you will be awarded your CPFS certification which is valid for five years from the date of issuance. Renewal requires completion of continuing education credits or retaking the exam every five years.

Do You Really Need a Food Handler Certificate?

The answer to this question depends on the context. In some cases, such as when working in a restaurant or other food service industry, having a food handler certificate may be required by law. In other cases, it may not be necessary but highly recommended.

A food handler certificate is proof of having received training on safe food handling practices and is designed to protect both consumers and those working with food from potential health risks. It can demonstrate competence in areas such as personal hygiene, temperature control, storage and preparation of food, cleaning methods, and basic safety procedures. Many employers in the food industry will require employees to have a valid certificate before they are allowed to handle food products.

Having a valid food handler certificate can also help you stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs in the culinary field or any business that involves handling food products. It can provide employers with confidence that you are knowledgeable about proper safety protocols when dealing with food and show your commitment to the field.

In conclusion, whether or not you need a valid food handler certificate depends on the situation but it can certainly be beneficial if you plan on working in the culinary field or any business that involves handling of food products.

Related: Food Handler Resume Examples

FAQs About Food Handler Certifications

1. What is a Food Handler Certification?

Answer: A Food Handler Certification is a certificate that proves an individual has completed a food safety training program and understands the basic principles of food safety as it relates to their job duties.

2. Who needs a Food Handler Certification?

Answer: Most states require food handlers in restaurants, grocery stores, and other food service establishments to have a valid Food Handler Certification.

3. How do I get my Food Handler Certification?

Answer: You can obtain your Food Handler Certification by taking an accredited online course or attending a classroom-based course in your area. Once you have successfully completed the course, you will receive your certification.

4. How long does my Food Handler Certification last?

Answer: The length of time that your certification is valid varies by state but usually ranges from two to five years.

5. What happens if I don't have a valid Food Handler Certification?

Answer: If you are working without a valid Food Handler Certificate, you may be subject to fines and other disciplinary actions by local health authorities.