Accepted by California health departments · ANAB accredited
California Food Manager Certification Online Course + Remote Proctored Exam
Train at your own pace, then take your proctored exam from home or the office. No testing center, no appointment. Meet California’s requirement for an ANAB-accredited food protection manager certificate under Health & Safety Code § 113947.1.
- Self-paced video course in English or Spanish
- 80-question ANAB-accredited exam with remote proctor included
- Second exam attempt included at no extra cost
- Certificate valid for 5 years
Exam requires a laptop, desktop or Chromebook with webcam and microphone. Phones and tablets are not supported.
Who Needs Food Manager Certification in California?
California requires most food facilities to have a certified food protection manager. The certificate must come from an ANAB-accredited exam such as Always Food Safe’s.
Restaurants & food facilities
Food Protection Manager — H&S Code § 113947.1
- Facilities that prepare, handle or serve nonprepackaged potentially hazardous food need at least one certified owner or employee.
- New facilities, ownership changes, or facilities that lose their certified person have 60 days to comply.
- One certified person cannot be the required certified person for a second facility.
- Certified individuals must recertify every 5 years by passing an accredited exam.
Sources: H&S Code § 113947.1 · § 113947.3
Non-manager food employees
California Food Handler Card — § 113948
- Food handlers must get a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire.
- Food handler cards are valid for 3 years.
- The food handler card is a different, entry-level credential. It does not meet the § 113947.1 manager certification requirement.
- Some counties with long-standing local food handler programs follow their own rules.
Source: H&S Code § 113948
How to Get Certified in 4 Steps
- 1
Enroll online
Purchase the $179.95 California package. Your login details arrive by email.
- 2
Complete the video course
Self-paced on any device. Chapter quizzes and a practice exam show what to review.
- 3
Take the proctored exam
On a laptop, desktop or Chromebook with webcam and mic. No scheduling required.
- 4
Get your certificate
See your score immediately. Pass and receive your 5-year Food Protection Manager certificate.
What’s Included in the California Package
Video-based training
Self-paced online video course that you can pause and resume around your work schedule. Available in English and Spanish.
Quizzes & practice exam
Chapter quizzes and a full practice exam highlight weak areas so you can review before the real test.
Remote-proctored exam
80-question ANAB-accredited exam taken from home or office with an on-demand online proctor. The session works much like a video call.
Second attempt included
If you do not pass the first time, your second exam attempt is included in the package price.
5-year certificate
Pass and receive a Food Protection Manager certificate from Always Food Safe, valid for five years, to show your employer or local health inspector.
Nationally recognized
Always Food Safe’s exam is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the same accreditation standard held by ServSafe®.
California Food Manager Course Topics
The course covers the knowledge California environmental health inspectors expect a certified manager or person in charge to demonstrate.
- Introduction — responsibilities of a Food Protection Manager
- Contamination — hazards and major food allergens
- The Food Handler — personal hygiene and work attire
- Time & Temperature Control
- Purchasing to Storeroom — receiving and storage
- Preparation — thawing, prepping and cooking
- Service — holding and serving food safely
- Cleaning & Sanitizing
- Food Safety Management — building a food safety system
- Facilities & Pest Management
Before You Order: Remote Exam Requirements
You will need
- A laptop, desktop or Chromebook with webcam and microphone
- Windows 10+, macOS 10.14+ or ChromeOS
- Google Chrome browser (version 120 or newer)
- Internet speed of at least 1.5 Mbps down / 750 Kbps up
- A current, government-issued photo ID
- A private, quiet room where no one walks in and out
Not supported
- Mobile phones, iPads and other tablets
- Onn / Surf Onn, Amcrest and Nexigo webcams
Exams are available in English and Spanish. Proctors give directions in English.
California Food Manager Certification FAQs
Is food manager certification required in California?
Yes. Under California Health and Safety Code section 113947.1, food facilities that prepare, handle or serve nonprepackaged potentially hazardous food must have at least one owner or employee who has passed an approved and accredited food safety certification exam.
Is the Always Food Safe certification accepted in California?
Yes. California requires certification through an accredited food protection manager certification exam. Always Food Safe’s Food Protection Manager exam is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
How long do I have to get certified?
A food facility that opens, changes ownership, or no longer has a certified owner or employee has 60 days to comply with the California food manager certification requirement.
Can I take the California food manager exam online?
Yes. The exam is taken online with a remote proctor from your home or office. No scheduling is required. You need a laptop, desktop or Chromebook with a webcam and microphone, a government-issued photo ID and a private room.
How long is a California food manager certificate valid?
The certificate is valid for five years. California requires certified individuals to recertify every five years by passing an approved and accredited food safety certification exam.
What does the $179.95 package include?
The package includes the self-paced online video course, chapter quizzes and practice exam, the ANAB-accredited Food Protection Manager exam, the remote proctor fee, a second exam attempt if needed, and the 5-year certificate.
What happens if I fail the exam?
Your package includes two exam attempts. If you do not pass the first attempt, you can take the exam a second time at no additional cost.
Can I take the course and exam in Spanish?
Yes. The course and exam are available in English and Spanish. Remote proctors give their directions in English.
Can I use my phone or tablet for the exam?
No. Mobile phones, iPads and tablets are not supported for the proctored exam. You can study the course on any device, but the exam requires a laptop, desktop or Chromebook with a webcam and microphone.
Is this the same as a California Food Handler Card?
No. This is the Food Protection Manager certification required under section 113947.1. The California Food Handler Card is a separate credential for non-manager food employees and must be obtained within 30 days of hire.
Is this certification equivalent to ServSafe?
Both the Always Food Safe and ServSafe food manager exams are accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) under the Conference for Food Protection standards, and both meet California’s accredited food protection manager exam requirement.
Start Your California Food Manager Certification Today
Course, remote-proctored exam, second attempt and 5-year certificate — one price.
Questions? Contact Food Manager USA · Terms of sale