How ServSafe certification works | Ordo

In any food-serving establishment, including schools, food safety isn’t just important—it’s the number one priority. Preventing foodborne illnesses must come before serving tasty meals. To ensure this, practicing food safety best practices is a must. That’s what the ServSafe Certification is for. Discover how to get your kitchen ServSafe-certified to deliver safe, quality meals to students.

‍

What is ServSafe Certification?

‍

ServSafe is a nationally recognized food safety training and certification program administered by the National Restaurant Association. It sets the industry standard for food safety in school kitchens, restaurants, caterers, and other food-serving establishments.

‍

Whether you need ServSafe certification depends on state and local regulations, but in many areas, it’s mandatory to have at least one ServSafe-certified manager on staff at all times.

‍

Types of ServSafe Certification

‍

ServSafe offers two main types of certification: ServSafe Food Handler and ServSafe Manager, each tailored to different service roles.

‍

ServSafe Food Handler

‍

This basic certification is designed for employee-level roles and covers:

• Basic food safety principles
• Personal hygiene standards
• Cross-contamination and allergen awareness
• Time and temperature control
• Cleaning and sanitizing practices

‍

The course takes about two hours followed by a 40-question non-proctored exam. A 75% score is required to pass. If you fail, you can retake the exam after 60 days.

‍

ServSafe Manager

‍

This advanced certification is for managerial staff and covers:

• Preventing foodborne illnesses
• Managing food allergens and microorganisms
• Proper food purchasing, receiving, and storage
• Facility sanitation, maintenance, and pest control

‍

The certification requires 8 to 10 hours of coursework, followed by a proctored 90-question exam. Exam takers need to score at least 70% to pass. It has no retakes so if you fail, you’ll have to buy and take the exam again.

‍

‍

Why ServSafe Certification Matters to Schools

‍

Having a ServSafe-certified kitchen ensures students are protected from foodborne illnesses. Certified staff are trained to safely prepare, store, and serve meals at the right temperatures, significantly reducing health risks.

‍

In addition, children are more susceptible to foodborne diseases, and poor food handling can lead to serious outbreaks. Certification helps schools prevent food poisoning due to improper handling, and cross-contamination, particularly for students with allergies. At a bigger scope, this minimizes the risk of legal liability and reputational damage.

‍

How to Become ServSafe Certified

‍

Becoming ServSafe certified is the same for either certificate, with a few differences. Let’s get into more detail below:

1. Check Local Regulations

‍

Food safety requirements differ per state or county, so confirm with your local health department that ServSafe meets all the necessary standards before proceeding. You can also check ServSafe’s regulatory requirements before buying the certification.

‍

2. Choose Your Certification

‍

Decide whether you need ServSafe Food Handler or ServSafe Manager certification. Both offer online and in-person coursework options alongside the exam, though you could purchase the exam only. If you purchased the in-person coursework, you’d have to find a local instructor and sit through the class.

‍

3. Complete the Coursework

‍

The food handler course takes about two hours, while the more comprehensive food manager course requires 8 to 10 hours. Once you take the food manager course, you’ll only have 90 days to complete the course before your access is deactivated.

‍

4. Take the Exam

‍

Once you’re ready, take the exam. The Food Handler exam isn’t proctored, but the Manager exam is. Both exams have no time limits, though most participants finish within 90 minutes.

‍

5. Receive your Certification

‍

If you pass, you can download and print your certification through your ServSafe account. The ServSafe Food Handler certification is valid for three years, while the ServSafe Food Manager certification lasts five years.

‍

‍

All of Ordo’s chefs are ServSafe certified

‍

At Ordo, we understand the importance of food safety in handling student meals day in and out. Students’ nutrition and health are at stake with every meal served, which is why we hand-select the best local chefs in the area to serve our school partners. With our team, you can trust that your school receives fresh, homestyle meals prepared with the highest standards of food safety.

‍

Ordo has become the fastest-growing school food program in America, providing fresh meals made from scratch every day in our kitchens. Our chefs focus on cooking homestyle food that’s both nutritious and what students love.

‍

Students and parents can place their orders through their ordering app and choose from seasonal menus with 4 to 6 different options daily like Tex Mex Crunch Salad with Creamy Lime Dressing or Chicken Bacon Wrap with Pretzels, Carrots & Ranch.

‍

Our online platform automates compliance paperwork for reimbursable meals, tracks important metrics like daily participation rate, and handles all payment and order processing. Ordo offers both vended meal service where we deliver the food every day and onsite food service management with our chefs preparing food on campus. We have served all types of schools, from preschools and daycare centers to private and public schools. We’ve worked with some of the top brands in early education and child care, including Guidepost Montessori, Bright Horizons, Primrose, and more.

‍

If you’re interested in providing fresh, healthy food for your school, you can reach out to the school partnerships team here.