[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-340414-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-340414-en":131},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","food-protection-manager-certification-requirements-for-schools-qa","Food Protection Manager Certification – Requirements for Schools Q&A","","Q&A explains Wisconsin’s school-lunch food protection manager certification requirements created by Wisconsin Act 46 (2015) and incorporated into the Wisconsin Food Code. It defines the certification, accepted exam options, and where to find approved courses and exams through DATCP and DPI. It clarifies enforcement by local regulatory authorities, who must hold a certificate within different school food authorities, and how obligations apply to joint or vended meals, FSMCs, and site coverage hours. It also addresses recertification rules and small-operator course eligibility.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/food-protection-manager-certification-requirements-for-schools-qa/340414/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/food-protection-manager-certification-requirements-for-schools-qa/340414.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Taylor Morgan","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-27","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"What is a food protection manager certification and how is it earned?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"It is earned by taking and passing an approved certification exam. Approved exams are listed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). After the exam, the certificate (obtained within the past five years) must be posted for inspection review.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"Which food protection manager certification examinations are accepted in Wisconsin?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Wisconsin accepts certifications listed in the DATCP Food Safety Course Directory, which is updated frequently. ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification is one option, and other accredited certification programs may also satisfy the requirement.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"If a school’s certificate is expiring, can recertification training be used instead of an exam?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Recertification courses are no longer accepted by DATCP if more than five food handlers are involved. For operations with five or fewer food handlers, renewal may be possible using Food Safety Training for Small Operators under the specified conditions; otherwise, an approved exam is required when not renewed within six months.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},340414,1790337656,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":97},1099523885336,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","Food Protection Manager Certification – Requirements for Schools Q&A  \nIn July of 2015, Wisconsin Act 46 was enacted and required certain persons to hold certificates of food protection practices in order to operate certain school lunchrooms participating in the National School Lunch Program. This requirement has since been added to the Wisconsin Food Code in section 12-201.11 (A)(2) and reads:  \n“[A] food protection manager certification is required for…an individual who conducts, maintains, manages, or operates a school lunchroom that is in a school that is participating in the national school lunch program under 42 USC 1751 to 1769j for which food service is directly provided by the school unless the operator or manager of the lunchroom, or his or her designee, is a certificate holder. For purposes of this subsection, the ”operator or manager of the lunchroom” is the individual responsible for the administration of food services for a private school, charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r), or school district. A private school, charter school established under s. 118.40 (2r), or school district complies with the requirements of this subsection if the school or school district has one certificate holder. The individual designated to be the CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER will become certified within the time specified in this subparagraph.”  \nWhat is a food protection manager certification?  \nA food protection manager certification is earned by taking and passing an approved certification exam. There are specific food protection manager certification exams approved by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) that may be obtained to meet the certification requirement. To meet regulatory requirements, post the exam certificate, obtained within the past five years, in public view on the premises of the food service establishment and have it available for review by inspection staff.  \nWhich food protection manager certification examinations are accepted in Wisconsin?  \nFor a list of currently accepted certifications in Wisconsin, please refer to the DATCP Food Safety Course Directory. This list is updated frequently as more companies develop accredited certification programs. As a reminder, the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification is just one available option. There are several other options available to fulfill this requirement that vary in cost and course/examination format.  \nWhere can I find courses and examinations in Wisconsin?  \nDATCP provides a course directory on its webpage that can assist food service professionals with finding an approved course and examination. Additionally, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) School Nutrition Team (SNT) typically offers ServSafe Manager courses and exams throughout the year. The SNT Training webpage provides more information on ServSafe Manager courses and exams offered by DPI SNT.  \nWho is responsible for enforcing this requirement?  \nLocal regulatory authorities enforce this requirement on behalf of DATCP. Required personnel must post the exam certificate, obtained within the past five years, for review by inspection staff.  \nWho is required to have the food protection manager certification?  \nThe person responsible for the administration of the school nutrition program(s) within the school food authority (public school or district, private school, or charter school), or their designee, is required to have this certificate.  \nIf a school food authority (SFA) purchases meals through a joint agreement or vended meals agreement, does somebody in theSFA still need a certificate?  \nYes. Even when meals are prepared off-site by another SFA or avendor, someone within the SFA must hold a food protection manager certificate or proof of Food Safety for Small Operators course completion (if applicable).  \nSome SFAs utilize a food service management company (FSMC). How does this certification requirement impact the other requirements for","cbCaifmht3mqYXMm","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaifmht3mqYXMm","pdf",102961,"English","# Food Protection Manager Certification – Requirements for Schools Q&A\n## What the certification is\n## Accepted certification examinations in Wisconsin\n## Where to find courses and examinations\n## Enforcement and responsibility\n## Who must have the certification\n## Special cases: vended meals and FSMCs\n## Site coverage during operating hours\n## Recertification and small-operator options\n## Conflict between local ordinances and state law","[{\"question\":\"What is a food protection manager certification and how is it earned?\",\"answer\":\"It is earned by taking and passing an approved certification exam. Approved exams are listed by the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). After the exam, the certificate (obtained within the past five years) must be posted for inspection review.\"},{\"question\":\"Which food protection manager certification examinations are accepted in Wisconsin?\",\"answer\":\"Wisconsin accepts certifications listed in the DATCP Food Safety Course Directory, which is updated frequently. ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification is one option, and other accredited certification programs may also satisfy the requirement.\"},{\"question\":\"If a school’s certificate is expiring, can recertification training be used instead of an exam?\",\"answer\":\"Recertification courses are no longer accepted by DATCP if more than five food handlers are involved. For operations with five or fewer food handlers, renewal may be possible using Food Safety Training for Small Operators under the specified conditions; otherwise, an approved exam is required when not renewed within six months.\"}]","Food Protection Manager Certification – Requirements for Schools Q&A | PDF",1790036374]