Penn State Extension

Food safety courses offered

Penn State Extension will offer the ServSafe Food Safety Manager course, which is aimed at restaurant and food service managers and others who need food safety certification.

The course will be held 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 8 and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 15 at Penn State Berks, Franco Room 105, 1801 Broadcasting Road, Reading.

The course exam will be held 11 a.m. Oct. 15.

These in-person trainings, led by certified ServSafe instructors, will teach participants how to prevent contamination by properly receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, cooling and serving food and by sanitizing food service facilities.

The classes are taught by food safety experts — extension educators with advanced degrees, extensive food safety training and industry experience.

Extension educators, based in the communities they serve, remain available as resources after the course.

There is a cost and the course fee covers an all-in-one bundle, including the cost of the most recent edition of the “ServSafe Manager” book, virtual study materials, handouts, class instruction, review and exam. The registration deadline is Oct. 1.

A second option to help food service managers, chefs, caterers, cooks, health officials and inspectors prepare to take a food protection manager certification exam, such as ServSafe, is the “TAP Online Food Safety Manager Certification” course. The online portion can be taken anytime, but the exam is conducted in person and proctored at a scheduled location, typically in conjunction with the second day of the in-person ServSafe class. Alternate exam arrangements can be made with the course instructor.

The online course is self-paced, can be started anytime throughout the year and must be completed within 180 days of enrollment. There is a course fee.

After completing the in-person or online course and passing the multiple-choice exam with a score of 70% or higher, participants will receive a ServSafe Food Protection Manager certificate. This certification is valid for five years.

A third option, “Food Safety Manager Certification Prep Course,” is a live online webinar, spread over two days, preparing participants for the certification exam. Participants receive live instruction from food safety experts without needing to travel.

A textbook will be mailed before the first day’s class. After the course, participants can choose from several certification exam options, available in multiple languages. There is an exam fee and a separate course fee. Participants are responsible for registering and paying for their chosen exam.

All course and exam options meet the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirements for the Food Employee Certification Act.

To register for any of these courses or to learn more, visit https://extension.psu.edu/food-safety-manager-certificate-training-options.

To register by phone or for registration questions, call 877-345-0691.