UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Starting in 2020, the Pennsylvania Food Code will require that the person in charge of a food service operation be a certified food protection manager, and such a person must be onsite at all times during operating hours. That means at least one employee on each shift must become certified.
To help the state's businesses comply with the regulation, Penn State Extension is offering the ServSafe Food Safety Manager Course at 38 locations during the first half of 2019. Completing the course and passing the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Examination meets this requirement, according to Sharon McDonald, senior extension educator/food safety specialist for Penn State Extension.
The ServSafe Food Safety Manager Course fully prepares participants for the certification exam, noted McDonald. Completing the course and scoring at least 75 percent on the examination earns certification, which must be renewed by passing an exam every five years.
Penn State Extension's courses are taught by certified ServSafe instructors with a focus on teaching participants the importance of understanding, developing and implementing proper food safety practices, McDonald pointed out.
Why choose to take ServSafe through Penn State Extension? There are more than a few reasons, according to McDonald. Not the least of which is because extension educators all hold advanced degrees, have received extensive training in food safety, and are knowledgeable about food safety regulations.
"By taking a course through Penn State Extension, you have access to our wide system of community educators and science-based educational resources," she said. "Our instructors use a variety of teaching methods to meet the various learning styles of the participants, but most importantly are able to more thoroughly explain food-safety concepts and answer questions that participants may have in real time.”
The course fee of $185 covers the cost of the ServSafe manager book, exam and learning materials. Dates and locations of course offerings can be found online. Registration can be made on the website or by calling 877-345-0691.