Florida has two different food safety requirements, and they get mixed up all the time. One is for every food worker. The other is for managers. Here is the difference.
At a glance
| Food handler (employee) training | Food manager certification | |
|---|---|---|
| Who needs it | Employees who store, prepare, display or serve food | Managers responsible for food safety at the establishment |
| Florida law | Fla. Stat. §509.049 | Fla. Stat. §509.039 |
| Deadline | Within 60 days of hire | Pass the exam within 30 days of hire |
| Exam? | No exam | Yes, an accredited, proctored exam |
| Good for | 3 years | Usually 5 years, set by the exam provider |
| Our course | Employee Food Handler, $13 (Spanish) | Exam Prep, $89, or Refresher, $59 |
Food handler training
Every food service employee in a licensed Florida establishment must complete approved food safety training within 60 days of starting work. There is no test, and the certification lasts three years. Our Employee Food Handler course takes about an hour and gives you a certificate the same day.
Food manager certification
Florida requires food service managers to pass an exam approved by the Conference for Food Protection within 30 days of being hired. During inspections, the state also checks that at least one certified food manager is present whenever four or more employees are working with food at the same time.
The certification comes from passing the accredited exam itself, which is taken through an approved exam provider. Our courses prepare you for that exam:
- Certified Food Manager Exam Prep ($89): 18 lessons on the 2022 FDA Food Code and a 90-question practice exam, for first-time test takers.
- Certified Food Manager Exam Refresher ($59): 7 lessons and a 76-question timed practice exam, for experienced managers renewing.
Which one do I need?
If you handle food and are not the manager in charge, you need food handler training. If you are a manager or the person in charge of food safety, you need manager certification. Many managers start with food handler training and then move up to the manager exam.
This page is a plain-language summary of Florida Statutes §509.039 and §509.049, not legal advice. Check with the Florida DBPR Division of Hotels and Restaurants for your specific situation.