Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DIFFERENCE between a Food Manager and Food Handler? How long are they valid for?

  • Food Manager is the higher level of training. In Florida, the Administrative Code requires that a Food Manager be present whenever food is being prepared or served, while everyone else working on staff must be certified at the Food Handler level. Food Manager Certifications are valid throughout the United States for 5 years. The Food Handler certification is a Florida Approved Certification and is valid for 3 years.

I’m already certified as a Food Manager and it will be expiring soon. Can’t I just RENEW my certification?

  • There is no renewal process for an expired (or soon expiring) Food Manager certification. You will need to pass a Food Manager Exam to continue to be a Certified Professional Food Manager.

    Please get yourself scheduled as soon as possible to avoid any lapses in certification.

Where are your classes and exams held?

  • FLORIDA: Class & Exam Dates and Location Addresses This page has the most up-to-date information for class and/or exam dates and actual locations. If using this page to attempt to "walk-in" and attend a class/exam, please keep in mind same day registration prices are higher, seating is limited and locations may change.

    USA: FSC offers an immediately downloadable Study Guide to prepare you for a Food Manager Exam AND an Exam Voucher to take your exam at an approved Exam Testing Center. The Exam Voucher will be emailed to you directly from Food Safety Certifications. The Exam Voucher is valid throughout the USA at a proctored testing center near you. Most students will have at least one testing center within a 20 mile radius of your address. If you would like to confirm the distance to your closest testing center please CONTACT US with your ZIP CODE. At this time, we do not offer Open Class Training outside of Florida.

What should I expect on the day of a Food MANAGER Open Class? What is the schedule?

  • Food Manager Instructor-Led Open Class Training sessions are held throughout the state of Florida at predetermined times and locations.
    Class check-in is 8:30 AM. Class begins immediately following check-in, approx. 8:35 AM. Class is followed by a prep test and a question and answer period. A short break is given. Upon return from the break, paperwork will begin for the exam with exam packets being opened at approximately 11 AM. The majority of students find they are finished between Noon and 1 PM.
    Please note; if you have purchased a Food Manager Exam without the Open Class Training, your check in time will be 10:30 AM.

Do you have the Food Manager Exam in any other language than English?

  • Yes! The Food Manager Examination at the Florida Open Classes is available in many languages. (Exams using the Exam Voucher are in English ONLY.) All alternate language exams are written in both the alternate language and English so each question is asked twice; once in each language. When ordering, you will choose the language you would like to take the examination in. Any orders placed less than 2 full weeks prior to the class date is NOT guaranteed to have the alternate language exam available. The Alternate Language Exams are available in:

    • Spanish
    • Modern Chinese
    • Korean

Can you exlain the “2nd Exam Free (if needed)” option available with some of the Food Manager Packages?

  • The “2nd Exam Free (if needed)” is available for purchase with select Food Manager Packages. If purchased and the student fails their exam on the first attempt, that same student may attend another class and exam within the next 60 days completely free of charge. If that option is NOT purchased, the cost to retake the exam is $79. This is NOT a BOGO offer! It is only available for a single student to retake the exam if they fail on the first attempt. Also, there is no refund if the student passes on their first attempt.

Do you have the Food Manager EXAM ONLINE?

  • No! The Food Manager Examination is a proctored exam and must be monitored by an Approved Exam Administrator. There is NO way to monitor a person at home taking this exam over the internet without the Exam Administrator present. You MUST take the exam in the presence of an Approved Exam Administrator. Any other method is NOT approved, and will result in a REVOCATION of your Food Manager certification. TEXAS is the only EXCEPTION, as people in Texas are allowed to take an online exam for a Food Manager Certification that is valid in TEXAS ONLY. FSC only offers the NATIONWIDE Exam and NOT the Texas only exam.

How do I receive the Food Manager Study Guide and is it available in any other language than English?

  • The Food Manager Study Guide is available for download immediately upon purchase.The Food Manager Study Guide is an electronic book (PDF) that may be downloaded and then viewed and/or printed.

    The Food Manager Study Guide is available in Spanish as well as English. When ordering the Study Guide, you will be asked what language you would like to receive the Study Guide in.

Will I have my exam results when I leave the exam?

  • If you are taking a paper and pencil exam in Florida at one of our Open Class/Exam locations, no. You will not leave with the results that day. However your instructor will provide you with a letter stating you took the exam and are awaiting results. This notification is designed to give any Regulatory Authority the information they need to verify that you sat for the exam.

    Email results will be available within 7 – 10 business days. Upon passing, the Certificate and Wallet Card will be mailed to you within 14 – 20 business days.

    If using an Exam Voucher at an Approved Exam Testing Center, you will have temporary exam results when you leave the facility and will receive your actual results with certificate and wallet card (upon passing) through the US Mail.

What should I expect on the day of a Food HANDLER Open Class? What is the schedule?

  • Food Handler classes are held throughout Florida at predetermined times and locations.
    The Food Handler Open Class occurs at the same time as the Food Manager Training Session. Class check-in is 8:30 AM. Class begins immediately following check-in, approx. 8:35 AM. Class is followed by a prep test and a question and answer period. Food Handlers are dismissed with their Training Record, Certificate and Wallet Card, at approximately 10:30 AM.

How do I receive the Food Handler Training Manual and Certificates and are they available in any other language than English?

  • The Food Handler Training Manual and Certificates will be shipped USPS Priority Mail to the shipping address given during checkout. You do not need to be present to receive the shipment. USPS will ship to Post Office Boxes. The Training Manual is also available for immediate download upon purchase. Even when downloading the manual, the certs will still be shipped to you.

    The Food Handler Training Manual is available in both English and Spanish. When ordering, you will be asked what language you would like to receive the Training Manual in.

What time does class and/or exam begin? How long is the class/exam?

  • Class check-in is 8:30 AM. Class begins immediately following check-in, approx. 8:35 AM. Class is followed by a prep test and a question and answer period. A short break is given. Upon return from the break, paperwork will begin for the exam with exam packets being opened at approximately 11 AM. The majority of students find they are finished between Noon and 1 PM.

    The Food Handler Open Class occurs at the same time as the Food Manager Training Session. Food Handlers are dismissed with their Training Record, Certificate and Wallet Card, at approximately 10:30 AM.

    Please note; if you have purchased a Food Manager Exam without the Open Class Training, your check in time will be 10:30 AM.

I am having trouble ordering through the website. Can you help?

  • Of course we can help!! Please call our office anytime Monday – Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM (EST) and we will be more than happy to assist you. All pricing is the same and the friendly voice at the other end is no additional fee. Give us a call at 1-800-874-1009.

How can I send in a check or money order as payment instead of using a credit card?

  • Please download and print a copy of the FSC Order Form?. You may mail it to FSC with your Business Check, Cashier's Check or Money Order. Sorry, personal checks are not accepted. Detailed instructions are included with the FSC Order Form.

What are your shipping and handling charges?

  • FSC charges a flat shipping and handling rate of $10 per order for any items that require shipping. If no shipping is required, there will be no shipping or handling fees charged. Everything is shipped USPS Priority Mail to the shipping address given during checkout. You do not need to be present to receive the shipment. USPS will ship to Post Office Boxes.

What is your Return, Refund and/or Cancellation Policy?

  • All Sales are Final. FSC does NOT offer refunds, returns or exchanges. You may make changes to your account (i.e. - name change, date change, etc.) for a small fee. Please contact FSC at 1-800-874-1009 to reschedule or change a name.