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United States · Food safety certification

How long is a ServSafe certification good for, and how do you renew it?

ServSafe recognizes the Food Protection Manager certification for five years. Its Food Handler, Alcohol and Allergens certificates last three years. That's how long a ServSafe certification is good for by ServSafe's own rules, but your state, city or employer can ask you to renew sooner. There's no renewal course or form: you renew by passing the exam again.

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Updated October 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

How long is each ServSafe certification good for?

Your expiry date is on your certificate. You can download or print it as often as you like until it expires.

CertificateHow long ServSafe recognizes it
ServSafe Food Protection Manager5 years
ServSafe Food Handler3 years
ServSafe Alcohol3 years
ServSafe Allergens3 years
Finding and printing your certificate →

How to renew a ServSafe Manager certification

  1. Check your state or local rules first. Some ask for renewal sooner than five years, or for a state certificate as well.
  2. Buy a new exam. ServSafe's retest rule lets you retake the exam when your current certification is expiring, not only after a fail.
  3. Take it the same ways as the first time: online with ProctorU, at a Pearson VUE test center or with a registered proctor.
  4. Pass at 70% and download your new certificate from your ServSafe account.

Taking the course again is optional. If it's been five years, the 2026 Food Code has new rules on food defense, disinfection and employee illness policies, so a refresher may help.

Taking the exam online →What the exam costs →

Other food manager certificates

The National Registry (NRFSP) says its food manager certification is good for up to five years, and that the only way to keep it is to take the exam again. StateFoodSafety says its Food Protection Manager certification is valid for five years.

Some areas set a shorter renewal period or ask for training hours between exams, and NRFSP points this out too. The state pages give the rule where the state publishes one.

Minnesota: a state certificate every 3 years →Georgia: renewing within 90 days →Indiana: a new certificate every 5 years →New York City: a certificate with no expiry →
Sources: ServSafe · FDA · National Registry and 5 more. Checked October 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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