Food Manager Certification

If you run a food service business in Boston, you must have at least one certified food protection manager (CFPM) on staff. The CFPM makes sure your business follows food safety rules. They also know how to spot and fix safety problems.

Your certified food manager must be at least 18 years old. You also need a backup person in charge for times when your certified manager isn’t there. Your backup doesn’t need to be certified. But they must understand basic food safety and how to prevent foodborne illness.

You don’t need a certified food manager if your business is:

• A temporary food vendor.
• A daycare that only serves snacks.
• A business that only sells prepackaged food.
• A business that serves shelf-stable food that needs little preparation and doesn’t pose a health risk.
• A business that only serves pre-cooked, commercially packaged meats that just need reheating, like hot dogs.

Boston food service businesses require a Food Manager Certification, not a Food Handler Certification. They are different credentials, and we don’t accept the Food Handler credential for this requirement. Double-check which one you or your staff member holds.

You’ll need proof of certification when you apply for your Food Service Permit. You don’t submit paperwork to the City for this certification itself.

Your exam provider sets their own requirements for signing up. This might include a photo ID or a registration form. Check with the provider you choose to confirm what they need.

 

Exam and training costs are set by each private provider. Costs vary from around $30 to over $150, depending on whether you choose an online-only exam, self-paced digital training, or an in-person classroom instruction course. Compare a few providers before you sign up. 

There’s no City fee for food manager certification. 

 

To get certified, choose an exam provider from Massachusetts’s list of approved providers. You don’t need to complete training before you take the exam, but we recommend it. Many providers offer both training and testing.

Some providers teach in other languages. Options include Spanish, Portuguese, and Chinese. Check the state’s provider directory for each trainer's instructional languages.

Contact Boston’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) if you have questions about this requirement. ISD doesn’t administer your exam or issue your certificate.

Once you pass your exam, keep a copy of your certificate. You’ll submit it with your Food Service Permit application.

Your food manager certification is valid for five years. You’ll need to retake an approved exam before it expires. This keeps your certification current.