Food Safety Certification

Bill text

In September 1998, the the California legislature voted to approve the passage of Assembly Bill 1978.  This bill amends the California Health and Safety Code to establish food handler certification requirements. These requirements are applicable to all food establishments and mobile food prepar- ation units at which unpackaged foods are prepared, handled, or served. 

Food Safety Certification Requirements for Retail Food Facilities

Food safety is everyone's business.  It is especially important for those who prepare and sell food to the public.  A new law effective January 1, 1999 requires that every restaurant, deli, food store, commissary, and hot truck that handles unpackaged food employ workers who have basic knowledge of the causes of food poisoning and ways to prevent it.  At least one person from each business affected by this law will have to become certified by passing any one of five approved examinations in food safety.  Failure to have at least one certified person may result in loss of your health permit.  A person cannot be certified for more than one location.  The certified person must be employed at the business, but need not be present  at all times.  Certification must be renewed by passing an approved examination every three years.

The four approved tests are as follows:

The ServSafe Serving Safe Food Certification Examination
National Restaurant Association
250 South Wacker Dr., Suite 1400
Chicago, IL 60606
800/765-2122
          or
California Restaurant Association
3435 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 2230
Los Angeles, CA  90010
800/765-4842

Experior Assessments, LLC
600 Cleveland Street, Suite 1000
Clearwater, FL  34615
800/200-6241 (updated 7/13/99)

Professional Testing Inc.
National Registry of Food Safety Professionals
1200 E. Hillcrest Street, Suite 300
Orlando, FL  32803-4737

Dietary Manager's Association (offered to association members only)
406 Surrey Woods Drive
St. Charles, IL 60174
630/857-6336

Food Marketing Institute
655 15th St., HW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20005
ph# (202) 220-0661, fax (202) 220-0876

These tests are available in multiple languages and offered at many locations around the state.  Additional tests may be approved in the future.

Information about availability of testing providers is available at...... Food Certification Courses in the Santa Barbara Area

Santa Barbara County will be posting any new developments on this website. If you have questions, please contact our offices:  Santa Barbara - 805/681-4900; Santa Maria - 805/346-8460.

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