Food Managers Certification Course Manual

---

Manual de estudios para la certificacion del curso de Food Manager

The Department of Health Services provides food safety training in both a traditional classroom setting and in an online format at reasonable cost. The course offered by Suffolk County is available to individuals who operate or are employed by a food establishment that is regulated by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services (SCDHS).  Although a permit number must be provided when registering for the course, certain individuals who are not employed by a Department permitted facility may qualify to take the class, if for example they are employed in a child care facility or conduct food service at temporary events such as fairs, feast or carnivals.  Please call (631) 852-5997 if you are unsure of your eligibility to take the course.

Students who successfully complete the course are issued a certificate that must be renewed every three years.  Certificate holders who register for renewal within 90 days following expiration of their certificates are eligible for the two half-day renewal course.  All food service establishments located in Suffolk County are required to have a current certified individual on their premises during all hours of operation.

What class should I take?
The class required depends on the type of establishment you own or work in.

Limited Class

Individuals who operate or are employed by ice cream stores, taverns, hot dog or ice cream trucks, and snack bars with minimal food preparation may take the “Limited” Food Manager class, which is a 3 hour classroom class offered once a month.  If you are unsure if you qualify to take the Limited class, please call (631) 852-5997.

Online Class

The online Food Manager’s course is equivalent to the traditional classroom class, and satisfies the Food Manager certificate requirement for all food establishments, allowing you to take the class at your convenience.  The course consists of 20 modules that address various food safety topics, with a short quiz that follows each module.  Successfully answering the quiz questions allows you to advance to the next module.  You must complete all modules within 45 days of registering for the course.  After completing all modules, you will be prompted to sign up for a test date.  The exam is given at our offices in Yaphank and test dates are scheduled on a regular basis. Click here to register for the Online Food Manager's Class.

Classroom Class

The traditional classroom-based Food Manager’s course is offered monthly and is taught by experienced Department food safety instructors in our Yaphank classroom over 3 half days.  An exam is given on the third class day.

Click here for Food Manager’s Classroom Training Registration

Certificate Renewal Class

Food Manager’s certificate holders can renew their certificates in a shortened (2 half day) class by registering for the Renewal course within 90 days following expiration of their current certificate.  The Renewal class is offered monthly and taught in our Yaphank offices.  An exam is given on the second class day.  Individuals needing to renew their certificates may also take the online course.

How do I get a reciprocal certificate?

Suffolk County recognizes food safety certificates issued by entities that offer training equivalent to its own, and issues reciprocal Suffolk Food Manager’s certificates for valid certificates issued within the prior 3 years by an approved government agency or private corporation.  An original certificate issued by one of the following approved entities must be presented to the Department with a completed Reciprocal Certificate Application and a nominal fee in order to obtain a reciprocal certificate.  Your original certificate is returned to you with the reciprocal Suffolk certificate.

Approved Food Safety Certificate Issuing Entities

• National Restaurant Association (ServSafe^®
• New York State Education Department
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Nassau County Health Department
• Prometric
• National Registry of Food Safety Professionals
• The American Food Safety Institute

Classroom Class - (11 hours) $50

Classroom Class, Spanish - (11 hours) $50

Classroom Class – Limited Course (4 hours) $35

Certificate Renewal Class – (7.5 hours) $40

Online Class $30

Reciprocal Certificate Processing Fee $20

Course and certificate fees may be made by check, money order, or Visa/Master Card, and online payment may be made by Visa/Master Card.

How do I register for a class?

Click here for Food Manager’s Classroom Training Registration
Click here to register for the Online Food Manager's Class.  

Call (631) 852-5997 to register for the Food Manager's Course 

Legend