ANAB accredited · Accepted by Maine CDC
Maine 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 Maine’s requirement for a Certified Food Protection Manager at eating establishments.
- 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 Maine?
Maine requires most eating establishments to employ at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM). The Maine CDC Health Inspection Program lists The Always Food Safe Company among its accepted exam providers.
10-144 CMR Ch. 201 — Maine CDC
The CFPM Requirement
- An eating establishment must have at least one employee with supervisory and management responsibility designated as a CFPM.
- The CFPM must pass an exam that is part of an accredited program. Maine CDC lists The Always Food Safe Company among its accepted exam providers.
- New establishments and changes of ownership must submit a CFPM certificate with the license application.
- If your last CFPM leaves, you have 60 days to certify an employee or hire a new CFPM.
- Certificates must be posted in a conspicuous area and renewed every 5 years.
Sources: Maine CDC Rule Ch. 201 · Maine CDC CFPM handout · Maine CDC accepted exams
When more is required
Exemptions and Extra CFPMs
- Exempt: temporary eating establishments open fewer than 14 days, continental-breakfast-only lodging, places serving only non-TCS or prepackaged foods, hot-holding-only operations with no cooling, short-season camps, and minimal-risk Category 1 establishments.
- Maine CDC may require every person in charge to be a CFPM if the person in charge cannot demonstrate food code knowledge or multiple critical violations are found.
- Repeat inspections, a foodborne illness outbreak or a pest infestation can trigger a CFPM requirement or additional CFPMs.
Source: Maine CDC Rule Ch. 201
How to Get Certified in 4 Steps
- 1
Enroll online
Purchase the $179.95 Maine 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 Maine 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 post at your establishment and submit with your Maine license application.
Nationally recognized
Always Food Safe’s exam is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), the same accreditation standard held by ServSafe®.
Maine Food Manager Course Topics
The course covers the knowledge Maine 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.
Maine Food Manager Certification FAQs
Is food manager certification required in Maine?
Yes, for most eating establishments. Maine CDC rule Chapter 201 requires at least one employee with supervisory and management responsibility to be designated as a Certified Food Protection Manager.
Is the Always Food Safe certification accepted in Maine?
Yes. Maine CDC lists The Always Food Safe Company among the exam providers accepted as meeting Maine’s CFPM certification requirement, and the exam is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB).
Which Maine establishments are exempt?
Exemptions include temporary eating establishments open fewer than 14 days, lodging serving only a continental breakfast, establishments serving only non-TCS or prepackaged foods, hot-holding-only operations with no cooling, camps operating 90 days or less for their own guests, and minimal-risk Category 1 eating establishments.
What happens if our certified manager leaves?
Maine requires a current employee to become certified, or a new CFPM to be hired, within 60 days of the last CFPM leaving employment.
Do I need a CFPM certificate to open a new establishment?
Yes. Maine CDC requires a copy of a valid CFPM certificate with the license application for a new establishment or a change of ownership.
Can Maine require more than one certified manager?
Yes. Maine CDC may require every person in charge to be a CFPM if the person in charge cannot demonstrate food code knowledge or multiple critical violations are found, and may require additional CFPMs after repeat inspections, an outbreak or a pest infestation.
Can I take the Maine 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 the certificate valid?
The certificate is valid for five years. Maine requires CFPM certification to be renewed through retraining and retesting every five years.
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 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 certification equivalent to ServSafe?
Yes. Maine CDC lists both The Always Food Safe Company and National Restaurant Association Solutions (ServSafe) among its accepted food protection manager exam providers.
Start Your Maine Food Manager Certification Today
Course, remote-proctored exam, second attempt and 5-year certificate — one price.
Questions? Contact Food Manager USA · Terms of sale