FAQs
For any questions not answered below,
please email us at info@serveitupsafe.com or text/call us at (813) 781-8884
Food Manager FAQs
Florida Statutes Chapter 509.039 requires that managers in a public food service establishments receive their Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) certification and that establishments employing four or more people responsible for the storage, preparation, display, and serving of food to the public must have at least one CPFM on duty at all times.
Any establishment that prepares or serves unpackaged food, including restaurants, grocery stores, convenience markets, delis, hot food trucks, refreshment stands, and commissaries, must have at least one owner, manager, or employee who has successfully completed an approved food manager certification program.
In order to receive your CPFM certification you must pass an CPFM exam accredited by your state regulatory authority. Serve It Up Safe only administers accredited exams and programs. The exam can be taken both online and in-person. Book your online or in-person exam and review class at www.serveitupsafe.com or email us at info@serveitupsafe.com.
You can find current pricing of the CPFM class and exam on our website under the “Manager’s Classes” tab.
Yes. Please contact us at info@serveitupsafe.com or call (813) 781-8884 to discuss a private on-site training class. Terms & conditions may apply as well as minimum participation numbers.
No, anyone is welcome to take the CPFM review class and exam, and there are no age restrictions.
Upon employment, a manager has 30 days to pass the required examination and become a CPFM.
No! While the terms might differ depending on your location, a Food Manager Certification typically refers to a more advanced and in-depth level of training, primarily intended for owners and managers. Generally, it’s required that at least one individual in the business holds a Food Manager Certification and is actively employed at the establishment.
Although this requirement varies by state, Florida establishments employing four or more people responsible for the storage, preparation, display, and serving of food to the public must have at least one CPFM on duty at all times. It’s important to check your state’s regulations or consult your local health department for specific details. Keep in mind that the certification belongs to the individual, not the establishment. If the certified manager leaves your establishment, you’ll need to get another manager certified.
No. The all remote online CPFM option includes self-paced study material and exam registration. There is no guided review session for the all remote online option.
Serve It Up Safe recommends the in-person CPFM option. The in-person review course is very helpful, even for those who have taken the exam before. The pass rate for in-person exams is higher, you can acquire your certification in less than a 1/2 day, and participants find the in-person option is much more enjoyable than the online option, which is subject to technical difficulties.
You may just take the exam only since classroom instruction is not required in Florida. We highly encourage you to take the review class before the exam since questions pertaining to new state laws and FDA Food Code updates are on the exam.
Instantly! We administer computer-based exams (meaning you take the exam on a laptop/tablet), and will receive your exam results instantly.
The review class is approximately 4-hours +/- in length. You will take the exam after the review class and have 1.5 hours to complete the exam, although most examinees complete the exam in less than 45 minutes. There will be several short breaks in between, but no long lunch break. The in-person class includes training, review, and the administration/proctoring of the certification examination.
No– there is not a lunch break. There are several short breaks throughout the review class and you can eat/drink during the class.
Our preferred CPFM exam/certification is provided by ServSafe, although the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals or Always Safe Food is also available by request.
In some instances we do provide next-day review classes and exams/certifications. Email us at info@serveitupsafe.com or call us at (813) 781-8884. Restrictions and/or varying rates may apply.
The CPFM certification is valid for 5 full years.
Yes. If you passed a Food Manager Examination through a nationally accredited organization like ServSafe, National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, or Always Food Safe your certification remains valid across the country as long as it hasn’t expired. However, be aware that some states might have additional training requirements beyond this certification.
The answer may vary. Email us at info@serveitupsafe.com. Please provide your full name, where you work, when you took the exam, and the name of the provider you took the exam with, and we may be able to assist you.
Yes. Every location must each have at least one CPFM. If a manager works across multiple locations, they only need one CPFM certification.
Probably. The requirement for food safety certification varies by state and county. Please email info@serveitupsafe.com for additional information on your state/county requirements.
Yes. If you have completed the training and you were unhappy with the quality of your classroom experience, you may receive a full refund. Please make sure you tell your instructor before you take the exam since we cannot issue refunds once the exam has started.
Yes. The instructor examination is an additional $70.00 and you can make that selection when you register.
Yes. You can train and certify hourly BOH/FOH Food Handlers (but you cannot certify other manager as Food Safety Managers).
To comply with the Florida Statutes Section 509.049 mandating that all hourly BOH/FOH Food Handlers be trained, you have 3 options (which vary in cost):
- Serve It Up Safe can perform Food Handler training and certify your staff on-site
- A CPFM on staff can purchase the employee certificates by emailing us at info@serveitupsafe.com and you train/certify your hourly BOH/FOH staff.
Your staff can sign up and complete the Food Handler online training at www.serveitupsafe.com.
Yes. We encourage all participants to review the study material prior to their class, and the time spend doing so is commiserate with one’s work experience. We can provide additional study materials that are purchased upon registration and highly recommend you spend time reviewing before you arrive on your training date. The study material includes: a 21-page Manager’s Review Guide, 80-Question ServSafe Practice Exam (with answer key) and a detailed Vocab list.
We understand that things happen – if you are unable to attend your scheduled course, please let us know by emailing us at info@serveitupsafe.com and we can reschedule you for another date. There may be a $25 charge to reschedule depending on how far in advance you notify us.
No. Notes, review material, or other resources are NOT allowed to be used during the exam.
Examinees must pass the exam with a 70% or higher.
Most people do pass the first time, however if you don’t pass the exam with a 70% or higher, you may come back and retake the review course and exam. The re-testing fee is $70, which includes the review course.
Yes. You will receive the password to access the pre-course study materials that are located in our Learning Library on our website (www.serveitupsafe.com).
- A photo ID is required
- A laptop/tablet is preferred (although not required)
- Lunch/snack is optional
- Your printed review materials, if any
- A pen/highlighter is another good idea
- Dress casually & comfortably
Yes. We have laptops you can use to take the exam, but we prefer you use your own laptop for comfort and familiarity reasons.
Food Handler FAQs
Every food employee in a Florida DBPR-licensed food service establishment who receives, prepares, stores, or serves food, or handles food contact surfaces, must complete Food Handler training specific to their job duties, as required by Florida Statutes Chapter 509.049.
Upon employment in a DBPR licensed food service operation, an employee has 60 days to be Food Handler certified.
In Florida to comply with the Florida Statutes Section 509.049 mandating that all hourly BOH/FOH Food Handlers be trained, you have 3 options (which vary in cost):
- Serve It Up Safe can perform Food Handler training and certify staff on-site.
- A CPFM on staff can purchase the employee certificates by emailing us at info@serveitupsafe.com and you train/certify your hourly BOH/FOH staff.
- Your staff can sign up and complete the Food Handler online training. Sign up at www.serveitupsafe.com.
If you are located in a different state, please reach out to info@serveitupsafe.com for additional details on your local requirements.
Food Handler training and certification requirements vary by state and county. For more information on your state/county requirements, please email info@serveitupsafe.com.
No. While there are Food Handler assessments (“quizzes”) throughout the online course, there is no required “exam”. The Food Manager certification is the only certification that requires an exam to earn the certification.
Serve It Up Safe administers the SafeStaff and Safe Food Systems food handler programs. Please email info@serveitupsafe.com for food handler training/certificates or purchase the online training/certificate on our website.
The Florida Food Handler certificate is valid for 3 years.
Alcohol Training FAQs
Yes. Please contact us at info@serveitupsafe.com or 813-781-8884 to discuss a private on-site training.
We highly recommend the FL RVA training for any establishment serving alcohol (regardless if you just serve beer & wine or operate a full bar), and an establishment’s liquor/alcohol liability insurer often requires it. Certified responsible vendors are protected from liquor license suspension or revocation due to alcohol-related incidents and may receive reduced fines and penalties when applicable. Completing the training and maintaining compliance may also lead to reductions in liability insurance premiums.
While the FL RVA certification is not mandated by the state of Florida, many liquor liability insurers require it. For questions pertaining to other state requirements, please email us at info@serveitupsafe.com.
The establishment is at a higher risk of suspension or revocation of their liquor license if there were an alcohol-related incident. Establishments without the RVA certification may also pay higher liability insurance premiums and higher fines and penalties.
Email us at info@serveitupsafe.com today and schedule your on-site RVA training to earn your RVA certification.
The cost varies by type of establishment, the number of establishments, and location of the establishment. Please email info@serveitupsafe.com for additional pricing details.
Yes. Please email info@serveitupsafe.com for more information.
Alcohol/liquor liability insurance policies provide essential protection for your business by covering legal costs, damages, and medical expenses resulting from alcohol-related incidents, such as over-serving or serving to minors. It can also safeguard your financial security against potentially significant losses.
In Florida, they are not required by the state, although requirements can vary by state, county, type of establishment, and other factors. Please reach out to info@serveitupsafe.com with any questions.
General FAQs
We offer public and private on-site classes throughout Florida and the Southeast U.S.. You can review our Food Manager class schedule on our website.
Florida does require varying degrees of food safety training for all employees responsible for the storage, preparation, display, and serving of food to the public. Please see the Food Manager FAQs and Food Handler FAQs below for additional detail.
Not all states mandate food safety certification, but many counties within states where certification is voluntary may still require it. If you’re unsure about the requirements in your area, please email info@serveitupsafe.com.
While the terms might differ depending on your location, a Food Manager Certification typically refers to a more advanced and in-depth level of training, primarily intended for owners and managers. Generally, it’s required that at least one individual in the business holds a Food Manager Certification and is actively employed at the establishment.
Most food establishments receive violations due to soiled food contact surfaces, time and temperature abuse, such as leaving food at room temperature or not setting the refrigerator temperature properly. Serve It Up Safe provides training that meets and exceeds food safety standards to help prevent these issues.
Improved food safety, compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, and reduced risk of liability, fines, and legal complications.
Non-compliance with state and county food safety requirements can result in severe penalties including but not limited to fines, suspension or revocation of your business license, and possible closure of your establishment. Repeated or critical violations can lead to more serious consequences, such as legal action. Penalties vary depending on the severity of the violation and the specific regulations in your area.
Serve It Up Safe is the most reliable, thorough, and cost-efficient provider in the F&B compliance industry. We have certified 15,000+ professionals in the F&B industry over the past ~15 years and we offer a complete line of training, compliance, and consulting solutions and are an honest and trustworthy partner to your team and your operation.
Please email us at info@serveitupsafe.com or text/call us at (813) 781-8884.
What We Do
Serve It Up Safe! is the first and only boutique food safety training provider that specializes in efficiently re-certifying Florida’s most experienced food, beverage and hospitality professionals. We award CPFM certificates that satisfy FL. Statute 509.039. And we offer 5- hour food safety training classes.
Foodborne illnesses cost the State of Florida $10 billion a year in medical and other losses. Nationwide those costs are $152 billion per year and this estimate doesn’t account for business-related losses associated with food recalls. To exacerbate these potential burdens, a state mandated shut-down due to the mishandling of food would mean lost revenue for the business and lost wages for employees. What can you do to help prevent one of the 51 million instances of food-borne sickness each year? Or worse, one of the 3,100 deaths that occurs each year?
Serve It Up Safe! exists to answer that question. We help the food industry prevent foodborne illnesses and deaths in the Sunshine State. Furthermore, we mitigate liability, so food providers can run safe, effective businesses. Our mission is to serve as a premium provider of education and training services, specifically certifying Florida Food Managers and Food Handlers. We pride ourselves on excellent food certification, but we’re also in the “assure your doors stay open” business. The costs associated with having your doors closed by the County or State Health Department can prove devastating, from the loss of current revenue, loss of reputation, loss of staff and future income.
Our heightened passion for education and training propels us each and every day, to keep customers safe, businesses profitable and saving Floridians the $10 billion dollars a year they spend because of foodborne illness. Pushing that cost curve down is our mission!
