Who needs Utah food manager certification?
Nearly all Utah businesses serving food must have at least one full-time staff member with a food safety manager certification. Utah doesn’t require the certified food manager to be present during all hours of operation.
If you own a restaurant or food service business but do not have any full-time employees, you’ll need to maintain Utah food manager certification yourself.
A few types of food businesses are exempt from this requirement, including:
- Temporary event food services approved by a local health department.
- Vendors that only serve commercially pre-packaged foods or beverages.
- Health care facilities.
- Bed and breakfasts that serve only continental breakfast.
- Child care providers.
- Backcountry food service establishments.
- Special events such as food booths at school sporting events and church functions sponsored by municipal or nonprofit organizations.
How to get Utah food manager certification
To obtain food manager certification, Utah employees must pass an exam approved by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
The Utah State University Food Safety Manager’s Certificate Program offers one option for fulfilling this requirement. This program includes comprehensive food safety training in addition to a proctored exam. Certifications from this program are not recognized outside of Utah.
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services also recognizes certification from the following exam providers:
- 1 AAA Food Manager
- 360 Training (Learn2Serve).com, Inc.
- My Food Service License
- National Registry of Food Safety Professionals
- National Restaurant Association (ServSafe)
- Prometric, Inc.
- The Always Food Safe Company, LLC
Employees must earn a score of 70% or higher to pass the exam for Utah food safety manager certification, which covers topics like:
- Foodborne illness risks
- Personal hygiene
- Cross-contamination and allergens
- Time and temperature
- Cleaning and sanitation
Instruction is available to help prepare employees for the exam, but completing a training course is optional for certification.
The food manager certification exam typically takes up to two hours to complete. If you or your employees opt for a training course, which commonly includes the exam, you can expect the whole process to take eight hours or less.
Depending on the provider, you may receive your certificate instantly, or it will be mailed to you. This efficient system ensures that food managers in Utah can quickly gain their certification and start or continue their work with minimal delay.
Business owners must keep documentation for Certified Food Safety Managers on-site. During inspections by the local health department, authorities may request this information to verify the manager’s credentials.
Insurance for Utah restaurants, caterers, cafes and food service businesses
Utah restaurants face various risks daily, and having the right business insurance can be crucial for protection. Here’s a breakdown of the key insurance types available for your food service establishment in Utah:
General liability insurance
General liability insurance can be helpful if your restaurant is found legally responsible for accidents like customer injuries or property damage.
Look at food service general liability insurance for foodborne illness coverage. It can help cover costs if a customer becomes ill after eating food that is contaminated or prepared incorrectly.
Workers’ compensation insurance
Utah workers’ compensation insurance is a legal requirement for most employers. It helps cover medical expenses and lost wages if an employee is injured at work and it can help protect the business.
Commercial property insurance
Commercial property insurance can help cover damages to the physical assets of your business, such as buildings, equipment, inventory and furniture. Whether it’s damage from a fire or a burst pipe, commercial property insurance could assist with repair or replacement costs.
Commercial auto insurance
If you or an employee is involved in an accident while driving a company vehicle, commercial auto insurance can help cover related costs like property damage and medical bills.
All vehicles in Utah must have minimum auto insurance coverage of $25,000 per person, $65,000 per accident for bodily injury liability and $15,000 for property damage.
How much does Utah food manager certification cost?
In Utah, getting a food manager license is straightforward. You or your employees have the option to take the food protection manager certification exam either online or in person through an approved program. The exam fee ranges from $30 to $50. If you opt for an additional food safety training course, the total cost, including the exam, will be about $70 to $100.
It’s important to note that restaurant owners are not required to pay for their employees’ food manager certification in Utah. The employee owns the certificate, and it can be used at other businesses if they switch jobs.
Utah food manager certificate renewal
Staying up-to-date as a Certified Food Manager involves a renewal process every three years. To get recertified, food managers need to pass a food safety exam administered by an approved provider. This ensures that food managers remain knowledgeable about the latest food safety practices and standards.
Utah food manager certification reciprocity
Food manager certificates issued by an approved program in Utah are recognized statewide.
If an employee has been certified as a food manager outside the state, they may receive reciprocity in Utah. It requires they have a valid certification from one of the programs approved by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services.
Food manager certification vs. food handlers card
All restaurant and food business employees who handle, prepare or serve food must complete an accredited food handler training course within 14 days of employment and receive their license within 30 days.
Most employees working in food service, including chefs, kitchen staff, bartenders, servers, and bussers, must meet the Utah food handler license requirement.
Certified food managers are exempt from the food handler certification requirement. They complete a separate training course, and their duties include overseeing the food handlers and ensuring that staff use proper food preparation and handling techniques.
Food handlers and food managers help to protect your business. The certification process ensures that they understand how to minimize the risk of foodborne illness.
How NEXT helps support Utah restaurant owners
NEXT has Utah restaurant insurance tailored for small businesses and self-employed owners. It’s easy and fast and designed to let you focus more on your business and less on paperwork.
In around 10 minutes, you can get a quote, review coverage options, pick your policies and download your certificate of insurance.
If you have questions, our team of licensed insurance advisors is ready to help.
Start a free quote with NEXT.
