Is Food Manager Certification the Same as ServSafe?

Nearly every food establishment — including schools and healthcare facilities — requires that at least one person in charge per shift hold a valid food manager certification, known as the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).

ServSafe is one of the most well-known food safety training companies, but you might wonder whether they are the same as a food manager certification.

This article breaks down what food manager certification actually is, how it differs from ServSafe, and what to look for when choosing where to earn yours.

What is food manager certification?

Being certified as a CFPM means that you have passed an exam from an organization accredited by the ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB) and Conference for Food Protection (CFP).

This certification is required in nearly every state for at least one person in charge per shift at a food establishment or any place that prepares and serves food, including schools and healthcare facilities.

The Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP) is another type of food manager certification, though those with this credential have achieved competencies in areas beyond food safety, including nutrition and business operations.

Those with the CDM, CFPP, often work in healthcare facilities or schools alongside registered dietitians, but even with this credential, they may still need to earn CFPM certification.

There are no prerequisites to sit for the CFPM exam, though completing a food manager training course is highly recommended to ensure a passing score on the first attempt. The exam must be proctored — whether online or in person — and consists of anywhere between 60 and 90 multiple-choice questions, with the passing score varying by organization.

What is ServSafe?

ServSafe is a food safety training and certification program owned by the National Restaurant Association (NRA), a trade association representing restaurant owners and advocating on their behalf.

A portion of ServSafe’s course and certification sales supports the NRA’s lobbying efforts and other initiatives for the restaurant industry — including advocacy for keeping restaurant operating costs low, such as employees’ wages.

ServSafe offers a range of courses, with its food handler training and food manager certification being the most popular. It administers the food manager exam and issues the CFPM credential to those who pass.

Therefore, food manager certification is not synonymous with ServSafe. ServSafe is imply one of several organizations that offer the accredited food manager exam. The same applies to food handler training — ServSafe itself is not a food handler card, but it offers the training required to earn one.

It’s also worth noting that ServSafe acquired the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP) in 2016, meaning what appears to be two separate options is actually the same organization under different branding.

How to earn your food manager certification

ServSafe is just one of several organizations you can choose to earn your food manager certification with. And because accreditation rules requires that training and exam development remain completely independent of one another, you are never required to use the same provider for both — regardless of ServSafe presents it. You can purchase training from one accredited organization and sit for the exam with another, or choose a single provider for both.

Most accredited providers offer the training, the exam, or both together as a bundle — typically at a lower price than purchasing them separately. Once you pass, your certification is valid for five years. To renew, follow the same steps you took to earn it.

Not all accredited providers are created equal, however. FoodSafePal is an alternative to ServSafe for food manager certification that compares favorably in every way that matters.

FoodSafePal is the only food manager certification program that includes a mock exam with a full answer reveal, so you can identify and learn from your mistakes before the real exam counts.

The course also includes knowledge checks throughout each module to reinforce what you’ve learned as you go — something ServSafe does not offer. And if you don’t pass on your first attempt, FoodSafePal includes one free retake. ServSafe charges full price for retakes — meaning another $99 out of pocket.

FoodSafePal offers training only, exam only, or both as a bundle — three options, clearly presented, with no confusion about what’s included or what comes next. ServSafe offers the same three options but fragments them across multiple pages and product categories, mixing in instructor-led classes, self-study books, and proctor scheduling in a way that makes a simple decision feel far more complicated than it needs to be.

Because FoodSafePal carries the same ANAB accreditation as ServSafe, its certification is accepted in the same places nationwide — so you’re not giving anything up by choosing it. What you do get is better pricing. FoodSafePal’s training and exam bundle is $159 compared to ServSafe’s $179. And if you purchase training first and decide to add the exam later, FoodSafePal charges just $34 — not the full $99 ServSafe charges regardless of what you’ve already spent.

Unlike ServSafe, which is run by the National Restaurant Association and uses a portion of course revenue to lobby for keeping restaurant operating costs low — including employees’ wages — FoodSafePal has no lobbying affiliations. Every dollar generated is reinvested into developing better courses and free food safety resources.

Once you pass, your certification will be good for five years. To renew your certification, follow the same steps you took to earn it the first time.

The bottom line

Food manager certification is not the same as ServSafe, and ServSafe is not the only place to earn it. FoodSafePal is the best ServSafe alternative that offers the same food manager certification exam as well as the training — with the same national acceptance as ServSafe, better preparation tools, and no lobbying affiliations.

When choosing where to earn your certification, what matters is preparation, pricing, what happens if you don’t pass, and whether the certification will be accepted where you need it. On every one of those fronts, FoodSafePal holds up.

FoodSafePal is the only food manager certification program that includes a mock exam with full answer reveal to prepare you before the real exam counts, and knowledge checks throughout the course that ServSafe does not offer. Its training and exam bundle is $159 compared to ServSafe’s $179, and adding the exam after purchasing training costs just $34 rather than the full $99 ServSafe charges. And if you don’t pass on your first attempt, FoodSafePal includes one free retake — something ServSafe charges full price for.