Instructors of Certified Food Managers
Food Manager Certification
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Minnesota Food Manager Certification Rule requires a Minnesota certified food manager in most food establishments. Food Manager Certification (FMC) is administered by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH).
On this page:
What types of food establishments are required to have a FMC?
How to obtain an initial Minnesota FMC
How to renew a Minnesota FMC
Minnesota Administrative Rules for FMC
What types of food establishments are required to have a certified food manager?
Most food establishments, with some exceptions, are required to have a certified food manager. Establishments that do not have to employ a certified food manager are food establishments where food preparation activities are only one or more of the following:
- Heating or serving precooked hot dogs or sausages, popcorn, nachos, pretzels or frozen pizza.
- Preparing or serving continental breakfast.
- Preparing or serving beverages or ice.
- Grinding coffee beans.
- Packaging non-potentially hazardous foods.
- Serving bulk foods.
- Processing raw meat, poultry, fish or wild game intended for further cooking after sale.
- Heating as the only preparation for a bakery product.
- Providing prepackaged food in its original package.
- Cleaning or sanitizing eating, drinking or cooking utensils.
- Boarding establishments, bed and breakfast facilities, childcare or adult day care facilities that serve 18 or fewer meals per mealtime.
- Food carts, mobile food units, seasonal permanent or temporary food stands, special event food stands, retail food vehicles, portable structures, carts or vending machines.
- An establishment that provides no more than one meal per week and its main purpose is not food service.
- A nursing home, hospital, boarding care home or supervised living facility, if only patients and staff are served.
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How to obtain an initial Minnesota Food Manager Certificate
Training:
Attend a food manager course, available
from some local agencies, community and technical
colleges, University of Minnesota Extension offices
and private companies. Listings are available from
the MDH, the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
and on the MDH website. Obtain proof of having
attended a food manager course.
Testing:
Take one of the State recognized food
manager exams. They are the ServSafe exam, the
Experior Assessment exam, the Professional
Testing exam, and the Certifying Board of Dietary
Manager's exam. The exam must have been taken within the last three years before applying for a
food manager certificate. Obtain proof of having
successfully completed the exam.
Apply for a Minnesota Food Manager
Certificate:
Applications are available from
the Minnesota Department of Agriculture
and from the MDH website:
Include the completed application; proof of having attended a food manager course; proof of having passed one of the recognized exams; and a $28 non-refundable fee payable to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Mail the completed application and the attachments
required to:
Food Manager Certification
Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
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How to renew a Minnesota Food Manager Certificate
When to Renew:
A Minnesota food manager
certificate has to be renewed every three years. The
expiration date is displayed on the certificate.
Renewal Training:
During the three year period,
attend one or more food manager renewal courses
providing a total of at least four hours of training.
Each course must have covered at least one of these
subjects: food sanitation and safety, emerging
trends in food preparation and handling, or the prevention of foodborne illness. Many of the
providers of the initial food manager training will
also be offering renewal training. Attendance at a
full-length food manager course is also acceptable
toward renewal of a Minnesota food manager
certificate, but proof of having passed a new food
manager exam is not required. Lists of training
providers can be obtained from the
Minnesota Department of Agriculture or from the
MDH website:
It is important to keep proof of having attended the training and the course agenda until applying for renewal of the food manager certificate.
Apply for Renewal of the Minnesota Food
Manager Certificate:
Before the Minnesota food
manager certificate expires, obtain a renewal
application from the Minnesota
Department of Agriculture or from the MDH
website:
Applicants for renewal must show proof of having attended at least four complete hours of food safety education to be able to renew the Minnesota food manager certificate.
Include the completed application; proof of the recertification training attended; and a $28 nonrefundable fee payable to the Minnesota Department of Health.
Mail the completed application and the attachments required to:
Food Manager Certification
Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, MN 55164-0975
Minnesota Administrative Rules for FMC
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