Penn State Extension will hold the ServSafe Food Safety Manager course and the TAP Online Food Safety Manager Certification. For more information and to register for either course, visit http://extension.psu.edu/food-safety-2024 or call 877-345-0691.

The ServSafe Food Safety Manager course will take place at the Penn State Extension Chester County office, 601 Westtown Road, No. 370, West Chester. The course will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 21. The exam will begin at 11 a.m. on Oct. 21.

These in-person trainings will help participants learn how to prevent contamination of food by properly receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, cooling, and serving the food, as well as proper methods of sanitizing food service facilities. The course will be taught by certified ServSafe instructors.

Participants who complete the course and pass the multiple-choice exam with a score of 70% or higher will receive a ServSafe Food Protection Manager certificate. This certificate is good for five years.

The course fee covers the cost of the most recent edition of the "ServSafe Manager" book, exam, answer sheet, and learning materials. Registration is required by Monday, Oct. 7.

The TAP Online Food Safety Manager Certification course helps food service managers, chefs, caterers, cooks, health officials, and inspectors prepare to take a food protection manager exam, such as ServSafe, that meets regulatory guidelines for a certified food protection manager. The online portion can be taken anytime, but the exam must be completed in person.

Participants who complete the online course and pass the multiple-choice, proctored exam with a score of 70% or higher will receive a Food Protection Manager Certificate, which meets the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirement for food safety certification. This certification is valid for five years. For more details on who needs this certification, contact the regional Department of Agriculture office.

The online course is self-paced, it can be started anytime throughout the year, and it must be completed within 180 days of enrollment. There is a fee.