How can you choose the right food safety certification program?

1 Why get certified?

Getting certified in food safety can benefit your food and beverage operations in several ways. First, it can demonstrate your compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, as well as industry standards and best practices. Second, it can enhance your knowledge and skills in preventing and managing foodborne illnesses, hazards, and risks. Third, it can boost your customer confidence and loyalty, as well as your competitive edge and marketability. Fourth, it can reduce your liability and costs associated with food safety incidents and violations.

2 What are the options?

There are various types of food safety certification programs, depending on your role, level, and scope of responsibility in food and beverage operations. For example, food handler certification is necessary for those who work with food, such as servers, bartenders, cooks, and dishwashers. This type of certification covers the basic principles and practices of food safety, like personal hygiene, temperature control, cross-contamination, and cleaning and sanitizing. Food manager certification is for those who supervise or manage food and beverage operations; it covers more advanced topics like food safety plans, hazard analysis, critical control points, monitoring and verification, and corrective actions. Additionally, food safety auditor certification is for those who audit or inspect food and beverage operations; it covers criteria and methods of evaluating food safety systems, processes, and outcomes such as standards, checklists, sampling, testing, and reporting.

3 How to compare?

When selecting a food safety certification program, it is important to compare different factors and features, such as accreditation, curriculum, format, duration, and cost. Accreditation should be from a reputable and independent organization such as ANSI, ASTM, or ISO to ensure the program meets quality and credibility requirements. The curriculum should match your learning needs and goals as well as the relevant regulations and standards. The format should suit your availability, preference, and budget, while the duration should fit your schedule and pace. Lastly, the cost of the program should reflect your investment and return while also considering the quality and reputation of the program.

4 How to prepare?

Before you choose a food safety certification program, it is important to review the program details and requirements, such as eligibility, registration, and exam policies. Additionally, you should study the program materials and resources like textbooks, manuals, guides, and online modules. To ensure that you are prepared for the program, practice the exercises and tests such as quizzes, assignments, and mock exams. Finally, seek the program support and feedback from instructors, mentors, peers, and customer service to answer any questions or concerns.

5 How to succeed?

Finally, to succeed in your food safety certification program, you should plan your time and space, such as the date, location, and duration of your study and exam sessions. It is important to manage your stress and emotions, such as the anxiety, pressure, and confidence of your study and exam performance. Additionally, you should review your results and progress, such as the scores, feedback, and certificates of your study and exam outcomes. This will help you acknowledge and appreciate your strengths and weaknesses, as well as your opportunities and challenges.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?