United States
Hong KongIllinois: eight hours of training, then the exam, then on duty at all times
Illinois requires eight hours of approved training followed by an ANAB-accredited Certified Food Protection Manager exam, with a certified manager on duty during all hours of operation. The certificate is valid five years.
- Requirement
- A CFPM on duty during all hours of operation
- Training first
- Yes - eight hours of approved training
- Exam
- ANAB-accredited CFPM exam
- Validity
- Five years
- Authority
- Illinois Department of Public Health, plus local health departments
- Chicago
- Additional city requirements apply
Training is not optional here
This is the point that catches people moving from another state. Illinois requires eight hours of approved training before the exam, so the exam-only route that works in most states does not work here. Training first.
Budget for the bundle rather than the exam alone, and check that the training provider is approved as well as accredited.
On duty during all hours
Not one certified person per establishment - one on duty whenever it is open. A rota problem, not a budget one.
That is a significantly larger obligation, and it is the reason Illinois operations typically certify several people. A rota that leaves an uncertified supervisor in charge on a Sunday leaves the establishment non-compliant on Sunday.
Illinois used to run its own Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification. That was replaced by the ANAB-accredited CFPM route in 2018, and material referring to FSSMC as a current separate certificate is describing the old scheme.
Chicago
The City of Chicago layers its own requirements on top of the state rule, including its own registration of certified managers. Read the city page.
If you work in Chicago, the city page is the one that governs, not the state one. That is the single most common Illinois mistake.
Getting it
- Find an approved eight-hour training course.
- Complete the training.
- Sit an ANAB-accredited CFPM exam.
- Register with your local health department where required.
- Note the five-year expiry, and check how many certified people your rota needs.
State rules change, and counties and cities routinely impose requirements the state does not. Treat this page as a starting point and confirm with the authority named above before booking anything.
Common questions
Does Illinois require training before the food manager exam?
Yes. Eight hours of approved training is required before sitting the ANAB-accredited CFPM exam, so the exam-only route available in most states does not apply.
How many certified managers does an Illinois establishment need?
Enough to have one on duty during all hours of operation, which is a larger obligation than one per establishment. Most operations certify several people to cover a seven-day rota.
What happened to the FSSMC?
Illinois replaced its own Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification with the ANAB-accredited CFPM route in 2018. Material describing FSSMC as a current separate certificate is out of date.
Are Chicago rules different?
Yes. The city layers its own requirements on top of the state rule, including its own registration. In Chicago the city page governs, and assuming the state rule is the most common local mistake.
How long is Illinois certification valid?
Five years from the exam date. Renewal means sitting the exam again, and the training requirement applies to the initial certification.