Food Manager Certification Requirements for Nursing Homes
Every nursing home is required to have a director of food and nutrition services for overseeing the center’s foodservice operation.
Federal guidelines define what qualifies a person to serve in this role, but many states have different requirements that require a specific type of food manager certification, officially called the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential.
Having worked as a consultant dietitian for dozens of nursing homes across three states, I can help you understand your state’s requirements and determine whether food manager certification is needed to serve as a dietary manager or director of food and nutrition services.
Director of food and nutrition services qualification
Every nursing home that receives funding from Medicare or Medicaid must follow with federal regulations. These regulations govern all aspects of facility operations, including food and nutrition services.
Federal regulations require a nursing home to designate a director of food and nutrition services if a registered dietitian is not employed full time.
To serve in this role, a person must meet at least one of the following qualifications (1):
- Be a certified dietary manager
- Be a certified food service manager
- Hold a similar national certification for food service management and safety from a national certifying body
- Hold an associate’s degree or higher in food service management or hospitality with coursework in food service or restaurant management
The third qualification, a similar national certification from a national certifying body, refers to the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential.
In some states, the CFPM credential is required even if the individual meets another qualification pathway, such as being a registered dietitian or certified dietary manager.
To earn a CFPM credential, an individual must pass an exam accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) under the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) Standards.
FoodSafePal is one of the few organizations that offers an ANAB-accredited CFPM certification exam.
Food manager certification requirements for nursing homes by state
The table below shows whether a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification is required to serve as the director of food and nutrition services in each state.
| State | Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) Required | Action / Next Step |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Alabama CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Alabama Guide (coming soon) |
| Alaska | Yes, certification is required to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Alaska CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Alaska Guide |
| Arizona | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Arizona CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Arizona Guide (coming soon) |
| Arkansas | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Arkansas CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Arkansas Guide (coming soon) |
| California | Yes, certification is required to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get California CFPM Certified or read our Detailed California Guide |
| Colorado | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Colorado CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Colorado Guide (coming soon) |
| Connecticut | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Connecticut CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Connecticut Guide (coming soon) |
| Delaware | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Delaware CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Delaware Guide (coming soon) |
| Florida | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Florida CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Florida Guide |
| Georgia | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Georgia CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Georgia Guide (coming soon) |
| Hawaii | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Hawaii CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Hawaii Guide (coming soon) |
| Idaho | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Idaho CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Idaho Guide (coming soon) |
| Illinois | Yes, certification is required to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Illinois CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Illinois Guide |
| Indiana | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Indiana CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Indiana Guide (coming soon) |
| Iowa | Yes, at least one person — usually the director — with supervisory responsibility. | Get Iowa CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Iowa Guide |
| Kansas | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Kansas CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Kansas Guide (coming soon) |
| Kentucky | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Kentucky CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Kentucky Guide (coming soon) |
| Louisiana | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Louisiana CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Louisiana Guide (coming soon) |
| Maine | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Maine CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Maine Guide (coming soon) |
| Maryland | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Maryland CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Maryland Guide (coming soon) |
| Massachusetts | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Massachusetts CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Massachusetts Guide (coming soon) |
| Michigan | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Michigan CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Michigan Guide (coming soon) |
| Minnesota | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Minnesota CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Minnesota Guide (coming soon) |
| Mississippi | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Mississippi CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Mississippi Guide (coming soon) |
| Missouri | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Missouri CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Missouri Guide |
| Montana | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Montana CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Montana Guide (coming soon) |
| Nebraska | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Nebraska CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Nebraska Guide (coming soon) |
| Nevada | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Nevada CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Nevada Guide (coming soon) |
| New Hampshire | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get New Hampshire CFPM Certified or read our Detailed New Hampshire Guide (coming soon) |
| New Jersey | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get New Jersey CFPM Certified or read our Detailed New Jersey Guide (coming soon) |
| New Mexico | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get New Mexico CFPM Certified or read our Detailed New Mexico Guide (coming soon) |
| New York | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get New York CFPM Certified or read our Detailed New York Guide (coming soon) |
| North Carolina | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get North Carolina CFPM Certified or read our Detailed North Carolina Guide (coming soon) |
| North Dakota | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get North Dakota CFPM Certified or read our Detailed North Dakota Guide (coming soon) |
| Ohio | Yes, Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) certification is required to serve as director. | Get Ohio CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Ohio Guide |
| Oklahoma | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Oklahoma CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Oklahoma Guide (coming soon) |
| Oregon | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Oregon CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Oregon Guide (coming soon) |
| Pennsylvania | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Pennsylvania CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Pennsylvania Guide |
| Rhode Island | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Rhode Island CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Rhode Island Guide (coming soon) |
| South Carolina | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get South Carolina CFPM Certified or read our Detailed South Carolina Guide (coming soon) |
| South Dakota | Yes, certification is required to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get South Dakota CFPM Certified or read our Detailed South Dakota Guide |
| Tennessee | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Tennessee CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Tennessee Guide (coming soon) |
| Texas | Yes, certification is required to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Texas CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Texas Guide |
| Utah | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Utah CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Utah Guide (coming soon) |
| Vermont | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Vermont CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Vermont Guide (coming soon) |
| Virginia | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Virginia CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Virginia Guide (coming soon) |
| Washington | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Washington CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Washington Guide (coming soon) |
| Washington DC | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Washington DC CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Washington DC Guide (coming soon) |
| West Virginia | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get West Virginia CFPM Certified or read our Detailed West Virginia Guide (coming soon) |
| Wisconsin | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Wisconsin CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Wisconsin Guide (coming soon) |
| Wyoming | No, but is one qualifying pathway to serve as the food and nutrition services director. | Get Wyoming CFPM Certified or read our Detailed Wyoming Guide (coming soon) |
How to get food manager certified
Here are the steps to get your for nursing homes:
Step 1: Choose your certification path
With FoodSafePal, you have three clear paths towards earning your CFPM credential online.
Training only
Comprehensive, video-based training to prepare you for the certification exam, complete with a 75-question mock exam and answer explanations so you can pinpoint exactly where to focus before test day.
Best for: Those who want structured, comprehensive training before taking the exam.
Exam only
Take the ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB) accredited exam under the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) standards with a live remote proctor. FoodSafePal’s exam only option comes with two exam attempts.
Best for: Experienced managers who feel confident testing without formal training.
Training + exam bundle
Complete the comprehensive training to prepare, then take the accredited exam online with a remote proctor.
Best for: First-time test takers or those who want the highest level of preparation.
ANAB-CFP ACCREDITED · 5-YEAR CREDENTIAL
Ready to get food manager certified?
Train, test, and certify entirely online — no testing center required.
Step 2: Complete the training (if selected)
If you opt for the training path — either alone or bundled with the exam — you’ll complete FoodSafePal’s online food manager training.
The training is video-based and includes built-in knowledge checks throughout to reinforce your understanding before moving on.
Most people complete the training in five to six hours, though you can progress at your own pace.
At the end of the training, you’ll take a 75-question mock exam designed to mirror the format, difficulty, and structure of the accredited certification exam.
Unlike other food manager training courses, FoodSafePal shows you which questions you answered correctly and incorrectly, so you can better target your weak areas.
After you pass the mock exam, you’ll receive a certificate of completion, but this is not the same as food manager certification.
Step 3: Take the accredited exam and earn your food manager certification
When you’re ready, you can schedule and take the exam online from any quiet, private location without interruption.
The exam is administered with live remote proctoring to ensure exam security and integrity. This means you cannot have additional browser tabs open, access your phone, notes, or other outside materials, or receive assistance from another person.
If prohibited activity is detected, the proctor will start a live chat with you and issue a warning. Continued violations will result in the termination of your session and forfeiture of the exam attempt.
FoodSafePal’s food manager certification exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions, ten of which are used for future exam development and are not scored.
Depending on the form you receive, a passing score ranges from 68% to 72%. You have 90 minutes to complete the exam.
If you don’t pass the first attempt or your session is terminated due to violations, you must wait 48 hours before retesting.
After you pass and your exam session is verified, your food manager certification is issued and valid for five years. To renew, you must retake and pass the certification exam, which you can do through FoodSafePal.
CDM vs. CFPM
The Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) credential is widely considered the gold standard for serving as the director of food and nutrition services in long-term care centers such as nursing homes.
This is because it covers a broad range of competencies, including nutrition, foodservice operations, personnel management, business operations, sanitation, and food safety. As a result, it provides comprehensive preparation for the responsibilities that come with serving in the director role.
However, candidates must meet one of five eligibility pathways before they can sit for the exam. The exam itself costs $425, not including any required coursework or study materials. CDMs must also complete 45 hours of continuing education every three years to maintain the credential, making it a significant investment of both time and money.
The Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) credential, on the other hand, is much more accessible. It has no prerequisites, is valid for five years, and focuses specifically on food safety and foodservice management. Costs vary by provider, though the exam typically costs around $99, while bundled training and exam packages may cost up to $179.
The CFPM is also one of the most widely recognized food safety credentials in the foodservice industry. While the CDM is primarily designed for healthcare and institutional foodservice settings, the CFPM is accepted — and usually required — across restaurants, schools, healthcare facilities, convenience stores, and many other foodservice operations.
In this way, the CFPM credential that follows a foodservice professional into virtually any setting they might work in throughout their career.
The bottom line
Every nursing home must have a qualified director of food and nutrition services, and federal regulations provide several pathways to meet this requirement.
While the CDM credential is widely considered the gold standard for long-term care, some states still require a CFPM credential even if a person qualifies through another pathway, such as being a registered dietitian or CDM. Because the CFPM is more affordable, widely recognized, and accepted across many foodservice settings, it is often the most practical credential to obtain.
Use the state-by-state guide above to determine your state’s specific requirements.
ANAB-CFP ACCREDITED · 5-YEAR CREDENTIAL
Ready to get food manager certified?
Train, test, and certify entirely online — no testing center required.
