Food Managers Training Course

The online course is completed at your own pace. However, it is required that once the course is started it must be completed within 45 days. There are four sections with a quiz at the end of each section.

The online course is free to take but if a student wishes to earn a certificate, they must pay to take an in-person exam or pay for a renewal if eligible. The course is the same online for full course students as well as renewals. Students who need the full course must pay $65. The renewal certificate online as well as the in-person renewal course costs $35.

In-person classes are offered once a month in either Spanish or English. Seats are very limited. The full class which is for new students or students who are not eligible for renewal is generally held over 3 days and totaling 10 hours. The renewal class is just over three hours and is done in one day. Both classes have an exam.

If the establishment is open for more than 12 hours per day, then a second manager must be certified. The more certified managers that an establishment has, the more protected that business is.

The Food Manager's Certificate is valid for 3 years and is renewable through our renewal class or by completing the online course. It is the manager's responsibility to contact the Department and arrange for recertification. If the manager fails to renew the certificate after three years, they are required to take the 10-hour course again.

At present, Nassau County accepts certificates from Suffolk County who have completed the full course (in-person or online) and passed the in-person exam. Please post the Suffolk County certificate in public view in the establishment. We also accept classroom training in a language that we do not offer. Please call our office for further details.

The certificate belongs to the person whose name appears on it. It is the certificate holder’s responsibility to contact the Nassau county Department of Health with notification of employment location changes.

Students who expired within the last 12 months are eligible for the renewal class. We did have an extension for a limited period due to the COVID-19 pandemic but that expired on December 31, 2023. The person taking the renewal class must be the same person the certificate was issued to. The certificate is not transferable to any other person and cannot be duplicated.

If a student wishes to earn a Nassau County Food Managers Certificate they must pay and sign up for an in-person exam. Students must register for the in-person exam within 90 days of online course completion. As of January 1, 2024, students who are eligible for a renewal must also complete the online course or an in-person renewal course and take a renewal exam.

Like the Food Establishment Permit, the Food Managers Certificate must be posted in public view in the establishment.

The Nassau County Food Managers in-person class is offered in English and Spanish. At this time, the online course is only available in English but will soon be available in English and Spanish. Reference and study material are available in other languages upon request. The written test is offered in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Urdu.

The purpose of the Food Manager's Certification Program is to aid the food service establishment operator in improving sanitary practices. The ultimate goal is to safeguard the consumer through the reduction and/or elimination of those practices and equipment that lead to foodborne illness or intoxication (poisoning).

The objective of the Food Manager's Certification Program is to provide the information necessary to meet the above stated purpose of preventing foodborne illness. Therefore, the goals of this program include having the operator:

• Become aware of the magnitude of foodborne illness.
• Become knowledgeable of different types of agents that frequently cause foodborne illness outbreaks.
• Understand the factors that contribute to such outbreaks.
• Learn and use those procedures that will help prevent future foodborne illness.

If your certificate is lost, you must apply for a replacement. Please call or visit in person at the Nassau County Department of Health office during regular business hours to receive an application, Monday through Friday 9:00 am-4:30pm. Replacement or Duplicate certificates could incur a $15 fee.

All fees are non-refundable. With that said, if there is evidence presented documenting a catastrophic event, (e.g. hospitalization, family member death) please contact our office for information (516 227-9717).

Call the office the week prior to the class and the substitution may be made (516 227-9717).

The Food Managers Course is offered online or in-person in our Nassau County Dept. of Health Office at 200 County Seat Drive in Mineola. Additional locations could become available. If you would like to have the course in your facility in-person please email a request to: fmtc@nassaucountyny.gov.