Get or Renew Your Philadelphia Food Safety Certification

Yes. Under the Philadelphia Food Code, all food businesses in Philadelphia must have at least one person certified in food safety at all times — whether or not the business is open to the public. This is stricter than the statewide Pennsylvania rule, and it applies to restaurants, food trucks, delis, caterers, corner stores that prepare food, and most other food businesses. The only exemption is businesses that sell only pre-packaged, non-hazardous foods.

Yes. FoodSafePal is on the Philadelphia Department of Public Health’s list of approved providers, so the certificate you earn here qualifies for the City of Philadelphia Food Safety Personnel Certificate. FoodSafePal is also ANAB-CFP accredited — the same national standard as ServSafe, accepted by the same health departments and employers.

Yes — if you work in Philadelphia, you need both documents, but there’s only one exam. First you earn your food safety certification (that’s what FoodSafePal provides, entirely online). Then the city verifies your certificate and issues its own document — the official City of Philadelphia Food Safety Personnel Certificate — which must be posted at the food business where customers can view it. The city certificate is issued based on your certification; you don’t take a second exam.

Per the Health Department’s application instructions, the city charges $30 for a new or renewed Food Safety Personnel Certificate and $50 for a replacement. Fees are non-refundable and are paid to the city, not to your certification provider.

You can apply three ways. Online: submit an image of your certificate through the Health Department’s verification form, then follow the instructions in the acceptance email to apply and pay. By mail or in person: send or bring the city’s application form, a copy of your certificate, and a $30 money order made out to “PHILA. HEALTH DEPT – EHS” to the Office of Food Protection, 7801 Essington Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153. Walk-in hours are Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., except city holidays. The city doesn’t accept personal, business, or cashier’s checks.

One detail that prevents most denials: your name and certificate number on the application must exactly match what’s printed on your certificate and your ID.

The certification part can be done in a day: train at your pace, take your proctored exam online, and your certificate is issued to your account when you pass. The city part takes longer — verification of your certificate can take up to 10 business days, and after your completed application the city can take up to 30 business days to mail your Food Safety Personnel Certificate or notify you it’s ready for pick-up. If you’re getting certified for a new business or an upcoming inspection, start early enough to leave room for the city’s timeline.

Five years, on both sides: your food safety certification is valid for five years from the date you pass, and the city’s Food Safety Personnel Certificate is valid for five years as well. To renew, you earn a new passing result and apply to the city again — the renewal fee is the same $30, including renewals of expired certificates.