How to Pass the Food Manager Test on Your First Try

The food manager certification exam — officially called the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) exam — is the only thing standing between you and earning the certification you need for your job, or the one that could open doors to a new position or promotion.

Taking the test can feel overwhelming, especially when the stakes are high. But there’s one proven way to boost your confidence and master the knowledge needed to pass on the first try — and this article breaks it all down for you.

What is food manager certification?

Food manager certification is what you earn after passing an accredited food manager exam, like the one offered by FoodSafePal.

While many organizations offer variations of food manager certification, only the CFPM is widely accepted by health departments and employers.

Nearly every type of food establishment — including places that prepare and serve food like schools and healthcare facilities — require that at least one person in charge per shift hold this certification.

Some states also require the certification to make and sell homemade or cottage foods like baked goods, popcorn, jams and jellies, and other foods that don’t require time or temperature controls to keep them safe.

Holding CFPM certification means that you can demonstrate to the health department knowledge of foodborne illness prevention, application of the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) principles, and the requirements of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Food Code.

How to pass your food manager exam

Anyone can take the food manager exam since there are no minimum education or experience level requirements.

However, the odds of passing the exam without prior training is low — very, very low.

That said, the best way to ensure you’re prepared for — and can pass — the food manager exam is by completing a comprehensive food manager training course.

But, like the certification itself, not every training course is the same. Some training courses are developed from an older version of the FDA Food Code. This is a problem since organizations offering the food manager exam must examine the quality of their questions annually and introduce new ones based on the most recent code.

Some training courses may also leave out important information that you need to know for the exam. But, keep in mind that longer training courses don’t always mean they’re better since they may include unnecessary fluff that adds time without contributing value.

Food manager training courses are available online, as well as in-person with instructor-led sessions in many locations. Many people prefer online courses since they are self-paced, can be completed from anywhere, and tend to be cheaper. Additionally, with online training, you can revisit and review any content you’re not confident about, whenever you need.

Still, you should choose the format that best suites your learning preference as this will give you the best opportunity to retain information and pass the exam.

FoodSafePal’s food manager training is completely online and takes around five hours to complete. It also also includes a 75-question practice test at the end to see how well you’re prepared for the real deal.

Here’s a step-by-step process of earning your food manager certification online with FoodSafePal.

How to get your food manager certification

To become food manager certified, you must pass an ANSI-National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-Conference for Food Protection (CFP)-accredited exam.

Only a handful of organizations offer the test — with FoodSafePal being one of them.

Before taking the exam, make sure you give yourself the best opportunity to pass by completing a food manager training course from a reputable organization, like FoodSafePal.

After completing the training, you can purchase the test and take it when you’re ready. You can take FoodSafePal’s accredited food manager exam online, but some organizations offer in-person proctored testing.

You can expect a time limit of around two hours to complete the test, which usually consists of 60 to 90 multiple-choice questions. The passing score varies by organization.

FoodSafePal’s exam consists of 70 multiple-choice questions, and depending on which test form you receive, you must earn at least an 68%. You have 90 minutes to complete it.

After you pass, your certification will be good for five years.

The bottom line

Food manager or CFPM certification requires passing an accredited exam from an organization like FoodSafePal.

Most places require this certification to serve as the manager or person-in-charge of a restaurant or establishment that prepares and serves food.

There are no prerequisites to take the test, but completing a food manager training course is the best thing you can do to prepare.