Food Safety Certification
The objective of the Ohio Department of Health’s certification in food protection rule, 3701-21-25 of the Administrative Code, is to educate and train food personnel on effective food safety practices for preventing foodborne illness. Ohio's Certification program consists of two levels of training: Person-In-Charge (formerly "level one") and Manager (formerly "level two").
Person-In-Charge (Level One) Certification
Person-In-Charge (PIC) Certification in Food Protection is a mandated training for the designated person in charge for each shift of a risk level I, II, III, and IV food service operation or retail food establishment if any of the following apply:
- A food service operation or a retail food establishment initially licensed after March 1, 2010 unless the individual has successfully completed an equivalent or more comprehensive manager certification in food protection course (Manager Certification).
- A food service operation or retail food establishment has been implicated in a foodborne disease outbreak.
- The licensor has documented a failure to maintain sanitary conditions in accordance with section 3717.29 of the Revised Code for a retail food establishment or section 3717.49 of the Revised Code for a food service operation.
Approved Courses and Providers
The following application must be submitted when requesting approval of materials for a new Person-In-Charge (level one) Certification in Food Protection Training:
To request approval to provide of a Person-In-Charge (level one) Certification in Food Protection Training to food employees, use the following application:
Obtaining the Ohio Person-In-Charge (level one) Certification in Food Protection
Food employees seeking to obtain the Ohio Person-In-Charge (level one) certification need to complete an approved course through a provider approved by the Ohio Department of Health. A list of approved providers of the Ohio Person-In-Charge (level one) certification, including approved online courses, is available at:
***Attention Service members, Veterans and their spouses***
The Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection Food Safety Program offers expedited certification application processing for service members, veterans and their spouses. Applications must include proof of service member/veteran status. Documents considered acceptable proof for service members or veterans would include:
- Department of defense identification card (active, retired, temporary disability retirement list (TDRL));
- DD214 military discharge certificate indicating disposition of discharge;
- Report of separation from the national archives national personnel records center in St. Louis, Missouri; or
- Veterans’ identification card from the department of veterans’ affairs.
All acceptable proof documents, except veterans’ identification card, must show the veteran status as honorable, general, general under honorable conditions, or discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Questions regarding Ohio Certification should be directed to the food safety staff.
Mailing Address:
Ohio Department of Health
BEHRP Food Safety Program
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614) 644-7416
E-mail: foodsafety@odh.ohio.gov
Manager Certification (Level Two)
The Manager Certification in Food Protection program is a more extensive training that provides managers with in-depth knowledge of proper food safety practices for use in their facilities. The Ohio Department of Health has administered the Manager Certification in Food Protection program since 1973.
Beginning March 1, 2017, each risk level III and risk level IV food service operation and retail food establishment is required to have at least one employee with supervisory and management responsibility and the authority to direct and control food preparation and service that has obtained the Ohio Manager Certification in food protection.
Approved Courses and Providers
Information about the Ohio Manager Certification in food protection program is available in the Guidelines to the Ohio Department of Health's Manager Certification in Food Protection. The guidelines were established to provide a foundation for the evaluation of course content and providers, and obtaining manager certification in food protection.
Anyone interested in being an approved provider of the Ohio Manager Certification (level two) in Food Protection to food employees as an instructor and/or proctor will need to complete and submit an Application to be a provider of the Ohio Manager Certification in Food Protection along with the required supporting documentation listed on the application.
Approved Online Courses
The Ohio Department of Health has approved online courses for the Ohio manager certification. Individuals who complete an approved online course will still need to have a certification exam proctored by an approved provider.
The following online courses are approved for meeting the requirements of the Ohio Manager Certification in Food Protection:
- ServSafe Manager 7th Edition online (Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association)
- Learn2Serve Ohio Manager Certification in Food Protection online course (360Training.com)
- Super SafeMark: Retail Best Practicies and Guide to Food Safety Sanitation (Food Marketing Institute)
- TAPSeries Food Safety Manager Certification
- Diversys Learning (TrainingNow.com)
- StateFoodSafety (Above Training, Inc.)
- NEHA Professional Food Manager (National Environmental Health Association)
- Food Protection Manager Course (AlwaysFoodSafe.com)
- M&M Biz Solutions Ohio Food Manager Certification (www.mmbizsolutions.com)
- AAA Food Handler Certified Food Protection Manager (www.AAAFoodHandler.com)
Approved Manager Certification Exams
A list of approved Food Safety Manager Certification Exams is maintained by the ANSI-CFP Accreditation Program. Any of the exams included in the ANSI-CFP list meet the exam requirement of the Ohio Administrative Code for the Ohio manager certification in food protection.
Obtaining the Ohio Manager Certification in Food Protection
Food employees seeking to obtain the Ohio manager certification need to complete an approved course and certification exam through a provider approved by the Ohio Department of Health. A list of approved providers of the Ohio Manager (level two) certification is available at:
Individuals who have taken an approved course and exam from an instructor who is not approved by the Ohio Department of Health may apply for the Ohio Manager Certification (level two) using the application linked below:
Application for the Ohio Department of Health's Manager Certification in Food Protection
If the applicant completed an instructor-led course, the Manager Certification in Food Protection Confirmation of Class Instruction, must be completed by the instructor and submitted along with the manager certification application..
***Attention Service members, Veterans and their spouses***
The Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Environmental Health and Radiation Protection Food Safety Program offers expedited certification application processing for service members, veterans and their spouses. Applications must include proof of service member/veteran status. Documents considered acceptable proof for service members or veterans would include:
- Department of defense identification card (active, retired, temporary disability retirement list (TDRL));
- DD214 military discharge certificate indicating disposition of discharge;
- Report of separation from the national archives national personnel records center in St. Louis, Missouri; or
- Veterans’ identification card from the department of veterans’ affairs.
All acceptable proof documents, except veterans’ identification card, must show the veteran status as honorable, general, general under honorable conditions, or discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable.
Questions regarding Ohio Certification should be directed to the food safety staff.
Mailing Address:
Ohio Department of Health
BEHRP Food Safety Program
246 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
Telephone: (614) 644-7416
E-mail: foodsafety@odh.ohio.gov