Why is ServSafe certification necessary in Iowa?
Legislative change in the Iowa Code began on January 1, 2014. Food establishments are required to have a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM). Food safety education is a priority to reduce foodborne illness outbreaks, which can lead to severe illness and even death.
Does this course meet the Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) requirement of the 2009 FDA Food Code (with the 2011 supplement) that Iowa implemented beginning on January 1, 2014?
Yes, upon passing the ServSafe exam, one is considered a CFPM.
How do I know if I need to take this course?
Visit with your local health inspector. Contact theDepartment of Inspections and Appealsfor contact information.
Who teaches the course?
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has offered this program for over 20 years. Human sciences specialists in nutrition and wellness are registered instructors and proctors.
Where and when are classes offered?
Classes are regularly offered across the state of Iowa. View thelist of upcoming ServSafe courses.
What are the class cancellation policies?
ALL payments are final and nonrefundable. If unable to attend on the course date for which you registered, you will have six months from the original course date to transfer your registration and payment to another course date. Beyond six months, payments will not be refunded and you will not be allowed to transfer the payment to another class date.
Classes are subject to space availability and may be cancelled if a minimum number of registrations are not received by the deadline. You will have six months from the original course date to transfer your registration and payment to another course date. Beyond six months, payments will not be refunded and you will not be allowed to transfer the payment to another class date. Extenuating circ*mstances will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
What is the average class size?
Class size depends on space available at the class location as well as proctor to student ratios established by ServSafe. Most classes range from 10-30 students.
How much does it cost?
$160, which includes the course book, class, and exam administration. There is a discount for members of our partner program, the Iowa Restaurant Association. Upon verification of membership, the discount will be credited to your account.
Re-take exam: Those who did not pass the exam and need to re-take will be assessed $60.
What language(s) is the ServSafe book available in?
English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean
What languages is the class/exam available in?
All classes, unless otherwise noted, are taught in English.
Exams can be ordered in the languages/versions listed below. If registering online, you will indicate on the registration page which language/version you would like. All exams other than English are bilingual (questions are written in both English and the selected foreign language).
English Chinese/English French Canadian/English Japanese/English Korean/English Spanish/English Large print (in English only) Instructor (in English only)
How do I check my exam score and print my certificate if I passed the exam?
Review the exam section for detail about accessing ServSafe score and certificate.
There are two options to re-take the exam. You need to re-register to take the exam again at this website.
Option 1:(Recommended) You are encouraged and welcome to attend and sit through another scheduled class before re-testing. There would be no charge to listen to the information in the course again since you have already taken the full course. However, there is a charge of $60 to cover the exam cost. Contact the class instructor regarding the time to arrive. Option 2:If you want to come and only re-test toward the end of the day when there’s a scheduled class, it will cost $60.
What if I don’t pass my exam?
The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (ServSafe) has explicit guidelines on their retest policy:
An examinee may take the exam twice within a 30-day period, if necessary. If three or more attempts are required, the examinee must wait at least 60 days from their last attempt. No more than four attempts are allowed in a 12-month period. Not passing the exam is the only legitimate reason to retest.
If I take a ServSafe course/exam in Iowa, will my certificate be valid in other states?
Visit theServSafe websiteto learn about various state requirements.
How long is my certificate valid?
Once you successfully pass the exam, your certificate is valid for 5 years.
What is the format of the exam?
The exam is composed of 90 multiple choice questions.
What score is needed to pass the exam?
A score of 70% or higher must be achieved.
How much time is given to complete the exam?
Two hours
Can I take the class online?
ServSafe handles the management of online courses. Check theServSafe websitefor more information.
I took the class online and need a proctor for my test. What do I do?
You can select the re-take test option ($60)associated with each courseon the online registration form. You will come on an afternoon when a regularly scheduled class is occurring and take the exam with the rest of the class participants.
Results will be available within 10 business days of taking the exam.
To check your results,you will need yourexam session number(7 digit number provided),e-mail address, and access to adevice with internet access. Contact the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundationvia live chat, phone, or emailwith questions about accessing your exam score or certificate.
Create a profile to check exam score:
Go toServSafe homepageSelect "Create New Profile" Enter your name, email address(you must use the same address as what was entered on your exam answer sheet), contact information, user name, password, and exam session. Once your profile is created, hover over the "Score" tab at top of page > select "Check My Scores" Select the exam format > select "Next" Enter your last name and the exam session number (7 digits) to access your score.
If you passed the exam, hover over the "Certificates" tab at top of the homepage > select "View/Print Certificate" to access a copy of your certificate.
If you did not pass the exam, there are two options to re-take the exam. You need to re-register to take the exam again.
Option 1 (recommended):You are encouraged and welcome to attend another scheduled class before re-testing. There would be no charge to listen to the information in the course again since you have already taken the full course. However, there is a $60 charge to cover the exam cost. Option 2:If you want to come and only re-test toward the end of the day when there’s a scheduled class, it will cost $60.