What is a ServSafe Certification?
Food safety is serious business and making sure everyone involved understands safe food practices is essential. Before getting dinner started, make sure all hands on deck are knowledgeable and have a ServSafe certification. What is a ServSafe certification? Below we will go over what it is and how to get a certification, so your food business can stay safe.
For more food safety, check out our article on best practices for maintaining food safety to help your commercial kitchen.
What is a ServSafe Certification?
A ServSafe certification is a training course and certificate for food safety and food handlers. It ensures that a person is safe and knowledgeable to handle food and prevent things like cross-contamination and food-borne illnesses. It is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANAB) Conference for Food Protection (CFP). Many states like Illinois, Texas and more recognize and require this training for any food establishment employees so that they can safely assist in commercial kitchens. They also have a ServSafe alcohol training course and certification to help front-of-house staff and food service employees safely serve alcohol.
How to Get a ServSafe Certification
Getting a Servsafe certification is relatively straightforward. Some food businesses will pay and help servers/bartenders/staff take the course to earn their certificate. For those who are looking to get straight to the course, the ServSafe website has tabs to access both the course and exam. When you finish the course and pass the exam, you can either choose to download your certificate and print it at home, or they offer certificates to be mailed by USPS for $10.
For more food safety, you can look into our Food Safety Certification article that includes sections on Canada and Mexico as well.
Where is it Required?
While a ServSafe certificate is essential for many areas, it depends on where you live if it is required for food service. Different states and counties have different requirements for food handling, so for your specific location make sure you check with the local health department for certification requirements. ServSafe also has a requirement map that is easy to see which states and counties require a ServSafe certification.