If you’re the designated Food Manager at your food establishment, here’s exactly what you need to do - and how Userve makes the process straightforward from start to finish.
Food Manager Certification is the key credential you need to meet state requirements, demonstrate your food safety competency and protect your business from compliance violations.
Washington State requires food establishments to have at least one employee who is a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM). This applies to restaurants, coffee shops, food service facilities and other establishments operating under a food establishment permit.
Local health jurisdictions across the state enforce compliance, and not having a CFPM on staff can result in violations during routine inspections.
As the designated Food Manager, it’s your responsibility to obtain and maintain valid food safety certification for Washington State - and to renew before your five-year certification expires.
The Food Protection Manager Course is not mandatory in Washington, but completing one before your exam could significantly improve your chances of passing - and sets you up to manage food safety effectively once you’re certified.
Userve’s Food Protection Manager Course delivers structured, online training covering the food safety principles you need for day-to-day management. There are 29 interactive lessons to complete with a multiple-choice quiz at the end of each one:
The course is entirely online, self-paced and accessible from any device, so you can work through the material around your schedule.
Washington State requires you to complete an ANAB-CFP accredited exam. The Userve Food Protection Manager Exam meets this requirement by covering key food safety management topics.
The exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions with a 90-minute time limit. A score of 70% or higher is required to pass, and multiple attempts are available if you need to retake it. The exam is proctored remotely via your device’s camera, so you can complete it from home or your workplace without any disruption to operations.
Key topics include:
Once you pass the exam, the final step is to request your Food Protection Manager Certificate through your Userve account. Your certificate will be delivered to your registered email address within 60 minutes, subject to ID verification. This document serves as proof of your certification and is valid for five years, after which renewal is required to remain compliant.
Earning Food Manager Certification in Washington isn’t just about compliance. The knowledge carries real operational benefits:
Discover 8 Ways a Food Protection Managers Can Make Dining Safer.
Userve’s ANAB-CFP Accredited Food Protection Manager Program meets Washington State’s strict Food Manager Certification requirements. The course and exam are both completed entirely online, giving you the flexibility to certify on your schedule - no classroom, no travel, no loss of earnings.
Start your Food Manager Certification today.
Yes. Washington State requires food establishments to have at least one certified Food Protection Manager on staff, with certification from an ANAB-CFP accredited program. Local health jurisdictions enforce this requirement.
Yes. Userve’s Food Protection Manager Course and Exam are both delivered entirely online. The exam is remotely proctored, so no in-person attendance is required.
Certification is valid for five years. You’ll need to renew before it expires to maintain compliance with Washington State requirements.
The exam is 90 minutes and includes 75 multiple-choice questions. A passing score of 70% or higher is required.
Mulltiple exam attempts are available through Userve. If you don’t pass the first time, you can retake the exam at your convenience.