ServSafe

Learn the principles of safety and sanitation in the food service industry.

In North Carolina, state regulations require all establishments to have a manager on duty who is ServSafe^® certified. Employees must score 75% or higher on the ServSafe^® Manager exam and fulfill the North Carolina Food Code requirements for certification. A restaurant or food service establishment can receive a 2-point deduction on its health inspection grade unless it meets these requirements. 

The course is paced out in 16 hours over two days, and students are given time to prepare before the exam. Instructors take time to give students the knowledge they need to apply skills in the real world, not just prepare them for the ServSafe Exam:

• Food handling practices
• Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system for assuring food safety
• Personal hygiene habits
• Safety regulations
• Sanitary Facilities and Pest Management

The instructors actually work in the industry in larger companies and have hands-on experience in real-world scenarios. They provide students with examples that they can take back to work and incorporate themselves.

Students can purchase the ServSafe Manager book and answer sheet from the ServSafe website or from the Wake Tech Bookstore (919-772-4204).

Financial assistance available

Workforce Continuing Education offers financial assistance for many workforce training programs through the Propel program and other resources. Email [email protected] for more information.

If your employer is paying for the course, contact Sameer Pawa at [email protected] or 919-866-6158.

Online training

Wake Tech also offers ServSafe^® training online. The one-month online version, which is available in both English and Spanish, is appropriate for those who prefer self-paced learning and flexible scheduling. Course content, testing and certification are the same for both formats.

To register for the online course, visit the Workforce Continuing Education page and type ServSafe in the "Find a Class" search box. Once you’ve signed up, you will be given access to My ServSafe Lab, where you can access course materials.

The final exam for online students is taken on campus. The instructor will provide the exam date. Exams must be ordered, so dates may not be flexible.

Students need to bring an official photo ID and several pencils and erasers to the exam. Cellphones are not allowed in the exam room. Any phones brought to the exam will be collected and held until the exam is over.

The exam is proctored, and the proctor will give each student an exam session number and review National Restaurant Association rules before the exam begins. Exams are evaluated by the National Restaurant Association, and results are available in 10 to 14 business days.

Students who have passed the exam can print their own certificate by creating an account on ServSafe.com and entering their certificate number and exam session number.

If your employer is paying for the course, contact Sameer Pawa at [email protected] or 919-866-6158.

ServSafe offered on site

Contact Sameer Pawa at [email protected] or 919-866-6158 for information about customized classes for your employees in either English or Spanish.