Ohio Food Manager Certification Requirements for Nursing Homes

Whether you’re currently working in a nursing home kitchen or stepping into a food service manager role, it’s important to understand Ohio’s specific food manager certification requirements for nursing homes.

This article breaks down exactly what you need to know to meet Ohio’s requirements and confidently serve as the food service manager or director in a nursing home setting.

Food manager certification requirements for Ohio nursing homes

Ohio’s food safety certification system includes two levels: Person in Charge (Level One) and Food Protection Manager (Level Two).

Nursing homes in Ohio are classified as Risk Level IV food establishments. These facilities are required to have at least one Certified Manager in Food Protection on staff who has completed an Ohio-approved training course and passed an ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited exam under the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) standards.

Risk Level IV facilities have the highest potential to cause foodborne illness because of the complexity of food preparation, including processes like reheating, cooling, and handling time/temperature controlled for safety (TCS) foods.

This risk is even more significant in nursing homes, where residents are considered highly susceptible populations. These individuals are more likely to develop severe illness from foodborne pathogens.

Steps to get food manager certified in Ohio

Here are the steps to get your food manager certification in Ohio for nursing homes:

Step 1: Complete an Ohio-approved training course

The ANAB-CFP accredited exam itself has no prerequisites, meaning there are no minimum education or experience requirements to take it.

However, Ohio requires you to complete a state-approved food manager training course. If the course is not Ohio-approved, it will not be accepted.

FoodSafePal’s Ohio Food Protection Manager Training is Ohio-approved, fully online, and self-paced. Most people complete it in about five hours.

After completing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion. This is not your actual certification, but you will need it when applying with the state.

Step 2: Pass an ANAB-CFP accredited exam

After completing the approved training, you must pass an ANAB-CFP accredited food manager exam. Only a limited number of providers offer this exam, and FoodSafePal is one of them.

The exam is taken online with live remote proctoring from a quiet, private location. It is closed book, meaning no notes, phone, or outside assistance is allowed.

Your purchase includes two attempts. If you don’t pass the first time, you can retake the exam after a 48-hour waiting period at no additional cost.

Once you pass, you’ll receive your official food manager certification certificate.

Step 3: Apply for your Ohio Manager Certification in Food Protection

After earning your national certification, you must apply with the Ohio Department of Health to receive your state-issued credential.

The application is straightforward. You’ll need to submit:

• Your food manager training certificate of completion
• Your food manager certification certificate

You can submit your application by mail or email.

Step 4: Receive your Ohio Certification

After submitting your application, the state will review your materials to confirm all requirements are met.

Once approved, you’ll receive your official Ohio Manager Certification in Food Protection.

This certification is valid for five years. To renew, you must complete an Ohio-approved training course again and pass the exam, which you can do again through FoodSafePal.

The bottom line

To work as a food service manager in an Ohio nursing home, you must complete an Ohio-approved training course and pass an ANAB-CFP accredited exam — both of which you can do through FoodSafePal — and apply with the state to receive your official certification.

Once issued, your certification is valid for five years and must be renewed by repeating both the training and exam.