Oklahoma Food Manager Certification Online

How do I become a Certified Food Protection Manager in Oklahoma? 

If you are looking to get your food manager certification in Tulsa, OKC County, or elsewhere in Oklahoma, you need to study up on food safety and pass an ANSI-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) exam.  

You can easily meet these requirements with Learn2Serve by 360training. We're an ANSI-CFP-accredited provider, accepted by the Tulsa and OKCC Health Departments, as well as the state of Oklahoma, and our course is designed to prepare you to pass our proctored CFPM exam. Begin today!

What are the Oklahoma food safety regulations? 

Oklahoma doesn't mandate food manager certification, but under OAC 310:257-3-2, they do require the person in charge (PIC) to demonstrate knowledge during an inspection in one of three ways: 

1. Complying with all priority items in the Oklahoma Food Code upon inspection 
2. Being a CFPM who has passed a test from an accredited program like ours 
3. Documenting or demonstrating that proper operating procedures are being implemented (ie, that employees are properly trained, that the PIC directs and corrects food prep activities, and conducts daily in-house self-inspections) 

You can see why being able to produce a certificate from an accredited food manager program is the preferred method for many to guarantee passing this part of the inspection. 

Some local jurisdictions do require certification. 

The Tulsa Health Department (THD) requires most food service establishments to have at least one certified food service manager.  First, you have to complete an accredited program, then you have to register with THD. 

The OKC-County Health Department (OCCHD) requires all food establishments under their jurisdiction to have at least one certified food manager on-site and in charge. That includes the municipalities of: 

• Del City 
• Midwest City 
• Nichols Hills 
• Oklahoma City 
• Spencer 
• Harrah 
• The Village 
• Warr Acres 

OCCHD no longer county registration once you've earned certification. 

THD, OCCHD, and the state of Oklahoma all recognize ANSI-CFP-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) programs like the one at Learn2Serve by 360training.  

Other local jurisdictions may have their own rules. We always recommend checking with your local health department for specific certification and training requirements. 

How long is the food manager certification good for? 

Tulsa and the OCCHD specify that certification is valid for five years.  

The Oklahoma Food Code isn't specific, but ANSI-accredited CFPM certification is generally valid for a maximum of five years. 

Can you take the Oklahoma food manager exam online? 

Yes, your exam will be administered through our online proctor service. The Learn2Serve Food Protection Manager Certification Exam is accredited by the American National Standards Institute and the Conference for Food Protection (ANSI-CFP).

Learn more about the policies and procedures required to successfully complete our online proctored exam.

Who should get their food manager certification? 

In most cases, food manager certification is earned by owners, executive chefs, and upper-level management. For jurisdictions where one CFPM must be on duty during all operating hours, many restaurants or other businesses will need shift managers or department managers to be certified, as well.

Beyond what's legally mandatory, many employers will require all of their shift or department managers to earn certification in order to help ensure the business passes inspection. 

What does a food manager do and how can they improve food safety?

Food managers control many areas of the business, from ensuring quality customer service to coordinating operations to handling human resources and team management. 

But their food safety duties are integrated into all parts of the job. That includes:

• Knowing applicable food regulations and keep their business in compliance
• Ensuring all employees earn a food handler card where required; train employees in food safety where food worker cards are not required
• Designing appropriate policies and protocols to minimize food safety hazards
• Monitoring the proper execution of food safety protocols and correct errors as needed
• Confirming that all food sources and deliveries meet safety standards
• And more

Since they're accountable, food managers earn a significantly higher salary than servers and other food employees. According to wage data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, here is the average amount of money you can expect to make in senior management positions in the Oklahoma foodservice industry:  

Job Title	Average Hourly Wage	Average Yearly Wage
Food Service Manager	$24.35	$50,650
Chef	$21.35	$44,410

Oklahoma-approved food safety manager certification is an important qualification for getting one of these jobs. 

Why are food managers in Oklahoma required to get ANSI certification?  

Foodborne illness is a significant concern throughout the United States, including Oklahoma. According to data from the Center for Science in the Public Interest, over a 10-year period (2003-2012), there were a total of 38 foodborne illness outbreaks. And the two most common pathogens found were Norovirus and Staphylococcus —both preventable with the right food safety protocols in place. 

Given a manager's extensive food safety responsibilities, they're best situated to protect customers and employees from foodborne illness. By requiring them to gain certification through a respected certification program, the state can be sure a manager is qualified to tackle the problem.

ANSI-accredited certification programs meet the highest standards in food safety. That's why the ANSI CFPM program has a stamp of approval from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).