Penn State Extension will offer several food safety certification courses. To register for any of these courses and for more information, call 877-345-0691 or visit https://extension.psu.edu/food-safety-manager-certificate-training-options.

The ServSafe Food Safety Manager course will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 8, and from 9 to 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Penn State Extension Chester County office, 601 Westtown Road, No. 370, West Chester. The exam will be held at 11 a.m. on Oct. 15.

The in-person trainings will teach participants how to prevent contamination by properly receiving, storing, preparing, cooking, cooling, and serving food and by sanitizing food service facilities. The course will be led by certified ServSafe instructors.

The course fee covers the cost of the most recent edition of the ServSafe Manager book, learning materials, and exam. The deadline to register for the course and exam is Wednesday, Oct. 1.

The TAP Online Food Safety Manager Certification course will also be offered. This course helps food service managers, chefs, caterers, cooks, health officials, and inspectors prepare to take a Food Protection Manager certification exam, such as ServSafe.

The online course is self-paced, can be started anytime throughout the year, and must be completed within 180 days of enrollment. While the online portion can be taken anytime, the exam is conducted in person. There is a fee.

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

A third option, the Food Safety Manager Certification Prep Course, will be available on Mondays, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. as a live online webinar that will prepare participants for the certification exam. Participants will receive live instruction from food safety experts without needing to travel. The registration deadline is Oct. 15.

A textbook will be mailed before the first day's class. After the course, participants can choose from several certification exam options, available in multiple languages. There are separate fees for the course and the exam. Participants are responsible for registering and paying for their chosen exam.

All course and exam options meet the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture requirements for the Food Employee Certification Act.