Food Handler certification

“Certified food manager” means an individual who operates a retail food establishment or is a manager of a retail food establishment, who has successfully passed an exam from an accredited program or a department approved course as specified under 12−401.11. 

Who Needs a Food Manager License?

Per Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 254.71 and the Wisconsin Food Code any licensed food establishment deemed by the Department to have greater than the minimal risk of causing, or contributing to, foodborne illness based on the nature of the operation and extent of food preparation is required to have at least one certified food manager on staff (preferably the owner or manager to avoid loss of this person due to employment changes).

Each certified food manager license is valid for five years from the date of issuance and may be renewed by the holder if he or she satisfactorily completes a recertification training course approved by the department.

The operator or manager of an establishment that is new or undergoing a change of operator must become certified within 90 days after the business opens. This requirement is applicable with the effective date of the Wisconsin Food Code.

Helpful Links

Wisconsin Restaurant Association

Tavern League of Wisconsin

How to obtain a food managers license

To obtain a certified food manager license, you must first pass a DHS approved examination. Approved courses are:

  • ServSafe (SS) Examination, by the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association.

  • The National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, Food Safety Manager Certification Examination

  • National Assessment Institute's (NAI) Certified Professional Food Manager Examination from Experior Assessment, Clearwater, Florida

  • Dietary Manager's Association (DMA) Food Sanitation and Safety Examination from the Certifying Board of the Dietary Manager's Association.

A complete list of approved courses can be received by contacting the Food Safety and Recreational Licensing Section of the Division of Public Health. They can be reached at 608-266-2835, by mail at: PO Box 2659, Madison, WI 53701-2659.

Some of the courses that are approved are the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA), Tavern League of Wisconsin, and most of the Technical Schools in Wisconsin.