According to the Minnesota Food Code, food establishments must employ a Certified Food Protection Manager certified through an ANSI-accredited program. ServSafe, developed by the National Restaurant Association, is one of four programs Minnesota recognizes for meeting this requirement.
MN ServSafe Certification
ServSafe offers several food and alcohol safety certifications, and passing the ServSafe Food Manager exam meets the Minnesota Food Code requirement for certified food protection manager training. Minnesota recognizes four exam options to meet this requirement: ServSafe plus three others, including the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals exam, which we regularly use in our courses.
Like most training courses, ServSafe is available through instructor-led sessions and online classes, each with its upsides. Online classes are convenient. You can work through the material whenever your schedule allows, whether that’s between prep and service or after close. Instructor-led classes give you real interaction with fellow food managers, plus a chance to ask questions and talk through food safety procedures with someone who’s actually run a kitchen inspection before
How Long Does Certification Last?
ServSafe and the other three approved exams get you certified in Minnesota for three years. Before that three-year mark hits, you’ll need to renew to stay compliant with the food code. Minnesota’s health department no longer offers a grace period, so timing matters.
Here’s what trips people up: if you take your 4-hour recertification refresher before your current certification expires, you skip the exam completely. Let it lapse even by a few days, though, and you’re back to square one, retaking the full 8-hour initial exam instead of the shorter renewal course.
Which Exam Should You Use?
Is your renewal date coming up?
While Minnesota accepts four exam options, some national chains and organizations require ServSafe specifically as their standard for food managers. Jeff Webster is a Safe Food Training and ServSafe-certified instructor, so if your operation falls into that category, he can walk you through exactly how the requirement applies to your team. Whether you need initial certification, a refresher, or recertification instruction, get in touch, and we’ll set up training that fits how your establishment actually runs.
For over 30 years, Safe Food Training has been Minnesota’s top-rated provider of food protection manager certification. We offer instructor-led and online food safety certification courses, with instructor-led sessions regularly scheduled across the Twin Cities, Central MN, and Duluth. Need something more specific? We can also customize your training for your group.
FAQ
A few questions we hear most often about ServSafe and how it fits into Minnesota’s certification requirements:
Is ServSafe the only certification Minnesota accepts?
No. ServSafe is one of four ANSI-accredited exams Minnesota recognizes for the Certified Food Protection Manager requirement, alongside the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals exam and two others. ServSafe is popular mainly because many national restaurant chains require it specifically as their internal standard.
Do I have to retake the full ServSafe exam every three years?
Not if you time it right. Complete your 4-hour recertification course before your current three-year certification expires, and you skip the exam entirely. Miss that window, and Minnesota requires you to retake the full 8-hour initial exam instead.
Ready to Get Certified?
Whether you need your initial certification or a recertification refresher, Jeff and the team make it straightforward. Call (952) 210-0195 or email info@safefoodtraining.com to get scheduled, or register directly at Safe Food Training.
