Food Managers Course (2024)

The Food Manager's Course Manual is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. In order to obtain a Food Manager's Course Manual, please send an email to php@suffolkcountyny.gov with the words “Food Manager’s Course Manual” and the desired language(s) in the subject line. If you have a question for which you wish to receive a response, please email the Department at php@suffolkcountyny.gov.

The Department of Health Services provides food safety training in both a traditional classroom setting and in an online format at reasonable cost. The course offered by Suffolk County is available to members of the food service industry and the general public.

Students who successfully complete the course are issued a certificate that must be renewed every three years. Certificate holders who register for renewal within 90 days following expiration of their certificates are eligible for the two half-day renewal course. All food service establishments located in Suffolk County are required to have a current certified individual on their premises during all hours of operation. A valid food protection/food safety certificate issued by an approved entity must be posted in public view in all food establishments regulated by the Department.

What class should I take? The class required depends on the type of establishment you own or work in.

Online Class

The online Food Manager's course is equivalent to the traditional classroom class, and satisfies the Food Manager certificate requirement for all food establishments, allowing you to take the class at your convenience. The course consists of 20 modules that address various food safety topics, with a short quiz that follows each module. Successfully answering the quiz questions allows you to advance to the next module. You must complete all modules within 45 days of registering for the course. After completing all modules, you will be prompted to sign up for a test date. The exam is given at our offices in Yaphank and test dates are scheduled on a regular basis.

Register for the Online Food Manager's Class.

Classroom Class

The traditional classroom-based Food Manager's course is offered monthly and is taught by experienced Department food safety instructors in our Yaphank classroom over 3 half days. An exam is given on the third class day.

Food Manager's Classroom Training Registration

Limited Class

Individuals who operate or are employed by ice cream stores, taverns, hot dog or ice cream trucks, and snack bars with minimal food preparation may take the “Limited” Food Manager class, which is a 3 hour classroom class offered once a month. If you are unsure if you qualify to take the Limited class, please call (631) 852-5997.

Food Manager's Classroom Training Registration.

Online Limited Class

Individuals who operate or are employed by ice cream stores, taverns, hot dog or ice cream trucks, and snack bars with minimal food preparation may take the online “Limited” Food Manager class. If you are unsure if you qualify to take the Limited class, please call (631) 852-5997.The online Limited Food Manager's course is equivalent to our traditional Limited classroom class, and satisfies the Limited Food Manager certificate requirement for all limited food establishments, allowing you to take the class at your convenience. The course consists of 16 modules that address various food safety topics, with a short quiz that follows each module. Successfully answering the quiz questions allows you to advance to the next module. You must complete all modules within 45 days of registering for the course. After completing all modules, you will be prompted to sign up for a test date. The exam is given at our offices in Yaphank and test dates are scheduled on a monthly basis.

Register for the Online Limited Food Manager's Class.

Certificate Renewal Class

Food Manager's certificate holders can renew their certificates in a shortened (2 half day) class by registering for the Renewal course within 90 days following expiration of their current certificate. The Renewal class is offered monthly and taught in our Yaphank offices. An exam is given on the second class day. Individuals needing to renew their certificates may also take the online course.

What if I already have a non-Suffolk County issued certificate?

Suffolk County recognizes food safety certificates issued by entities that offer training equivalent to its own, and accepts valid equivalent certificates issued within the prior 3 years by an approved government agency or private corporation.

Note that certain approved entities offer different levels of food safety training, and only “food safety manager” level training is considered to be equivalent to Suffolk County’s certification course. “Food handler” training courses are not equivalent to Suffolk County’s certification course, and a “Food Handler” certificate is not recognized as equivalent to a Suffolk County Food Manager certificate.

Approved Food Safety Certificate Issuing Entities:

• Always Food Safe (must have certificate #)
• Nassau County Health Department (will no longer accept starting 1/1/24)
• National Registry of Food Safety Professionals
• National Restaurant Association (ServSafe) classroom and the online course (but not their Food Handler certificate)
• New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene
• Nutritional Management Services
• Prometric
• State Food Safety
• The American Food Safety Institute
• *New York State Education Department (Issued 12/31/21 or earlier. Anything issued on, or after, 1/1/22 is UNACCEPTABLE)

How do I register for a class?

Registration for all Food Manager's courses must be completed online or in person at 360 Yaphank Avenue, Suite 2A, Yaphank. Telephone registration is not available. In addition, advance payment is required for all classes and online exams in order to complete the registration process. Payment can be made online when registering using Visa/MC. Checks and money orders are accepted as payment if presented in person, or received by mail at least 7 days in advance of the course or exam start date with an application form.

Payment will not be accepted when checking in for classes or exams. Cash payment is not accepted.