Food Safety Health Education

Program Background

Food safety education is a primary component of the food protection program.  We provide food safety classes to the industry and the public.  In addition, food inspectors (sanitarians) use the inspection component as an education opportunity to reinforce correct food handling procedures with food workers.

Education requirements are outlinned in the  Ohio Administrative Code, 3701-21-25. It identifies the operator(s) with food safety knowledge as "the person in charge".  As of March 1, 2010 changes to the food code were added that require all new food shop operators to have at least one "person in charge" present per shift. 

There are two kinds of food safety certification levels that one can achieve; Level I and Level II.   Both meet the requirements of the "Person in Charge".  The Ohio Department of Health is the state agency that approves and maintains a list of classes on their website.

Level I certification

Level One Certification in food protection provides basic safety and food handling training for the student.   It is recommended for the entry level food worker.  The Person In Charge class is offered in a traditional classroom format and takes approximately three hours to complete.  It includes a test that one must pass to receive their certificate.  Classes are scheduled on an annual basis in our offices and throughout satellite locations.

Go to the FEE section below to view fees and current schedule and/or download an application.

Level II certification

The level two certification provides in depth training for food managers and is designed for those making a career in the food industry.  It includes 16 hours of course work with a test. The class offered by us is Servsafe.

This course was created by the National Restaurant Association for the food career professional to become certified. It is a 16 hour course which includes a textbook and test. Class work is provided and the test is given(proctored) by our registered sanitarians.

The class is offered at our office and is scheduled in a variety of time and day format.

The textbook and test are included with the application fee of $175.00/person.

Classes can be scheduled off site if applicant can provide a class of 25 students and location.

The ServSafe course is also offered online through the NRAEF website. For details about how to take the online course follow this link.

• The test must be taken at a proctored site. The fee to take the Servsafe exam at our office is in addtion to the fee charged by the online site.
• Exams are given on the last day of the regular scheduled classes.
• Download and fill out the application completely.

Fee Schedule

• Level I, PIC, Person in Charge class              $30.00
  • Corporate rate ( 20 to 40 students)        $600.00
• Level II, Servesafe class                                 $175.00
  • Test Only                                                $65.00
  • Retest                                                      $65.00

Applications and Schedules

Level I - PIC, Person in Charge class

Level II- Servsafe class

• Servsafe Test Application Only (for web class and retest)

Contact Information

Angela Townsend, RS
Program Manager
Food Protection Unit
216 201-2000 x 1206