United States · Food safety certificationGeorgia's CFSM rule
| Who needs a CFSM | At least one supervisory employee, designated to one establishment |
|---|---|
| Deadline | 60 days from a new permit or losing your CFSM |
| What you need | A DPH-approved course plus a CFP-accredited exam |
| Extra step | Post the original certificate in public view |
| Renewal | Course and exam within 90 days of expiry |
| Food Code | 2022 edition |
Who needs a CFSM in Georgia?
Rule 511-6-1-.03 says at least one employee with supervisory and management responsibility, and the authority to direct food preparation and service, must be a certified food safety manager. Each CFSM can be designated to one food service establishment only.
You have 60 days from a new permit, a change-of-ownership permit or the day your CFSM leaves to employ a new one, and the rule asks you to tell the health authority within 30 days if you're left without one.
Mobile units that don't process food, temporary food service establishments, and places serving only non-TCS food with limited preparation, or TCS food already prepared in a permitted establishment, are exempt.
Is ServSafe certification enough in Georgia?
Rule 511-6-1-.01 defines a CFSM as someone who has completed a training program approved by the Department of Public Health and passed a professionally validated exam accredited by the Conference for Food Protection or another accrediting agency. Ask the course provider whether its course is DPH-approved before you pay.
Post the original certificate where the public can see it and keep a copy on file. An expired certificate can't be posted, and a certificate can't be transferred to someone else.
Renewing in Georgia
A Georgia certificate expires on the date the credentialing organization sets, which is five years for ServSafe Manager. Within 90 days of that date, the rule says the CFSM must take an approved course again, pass an approved exam and get a new certificate.
Staff training and the Food Code
Georgia has no statewide food handler card. Instead, the CFSM must offer a training program for all food service employees. County boards of health act as the health authority. DPH revised the rules on February 12, 2025 to adopt the 2022 FDA Food Code.
Sources: Georgia DPH · Georgia Rules · ServSafe and 2 more. Checked October 2026.
- Georgia DPH: Food Service Rules and Regulations, Chapter 511-6-1 (revised 2/2025) ↗
- Georgia DPH: Food Service ↗
- Georgia Rules: Chapter 511-6-1 ↗
- ServSafe: Does my certificate expire? ↗
- National Registry (NRFSP): Food Safety Manager Certification ↗
Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.