California Food Manager Certification – Health Department Approved
The Alameda County Food Manager Certification, offered through AAA Food Handler, provides a nationally accredited food manager certification through the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). Our training and exams are fully online and flexible, making it easy for food managers in Alameda County to meet compliance requirements without disrupting busy schedules.
This ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) Accredited program fulfills the standards required to earn the Food Manager Certification, as recognized by local and state health authorities. Courses are available in both English and Spanish, giving every participant an equal opportunity to complete their Food Safety Certification.



















With our Conference for Food Protection (ANAB-CFP) aligned program, managers and staff can complete training and exams entirely online. Lessons are self-paced, accessible 24/7, and built to match the unique food safety expectations set by Alameda County and the State of California.
Learn how to anticipate problems before they escalate, protecting both customers and business operations from foodborne illness.
Strengthen your ability to identify risks quickly and make sound decisions during daily food safety oversight.
Replace outdated or unsafe practices with clear, proven methods that uphold safety standards across your kitchen.
Reduce the likelihood of violations and avoid setbacks by staying proactive with compliance and monitoring.
A well-trained leadership team ensures smoother workflows, consistent service, and fewer interruptions.
Staff and managers perform better when food safety protocols are second nature, leading to stronger teamwork and a safer work culture.
From neighborhood eateries in Oakland to large dining establishments in Berkeley and Fremont, AAA Food Handler’s Food Protection Manager Certification is valid across Alameda County. Employers and employees alike can count on streamlined compliance, ensuring their certification is accepted by every health jurisdiction in the county.
Numerous professionals nationwide have already earned and renewed their card with AAA Food Handler — a trusted name in food safety training.
Know Before You Train
The Alameda County Food Manager Certification shows that a food service manager has successfully passed a state-approved food safety exam and is qualified to oversee safe food handling in any establishment. California law requires every food business in Alameda County to have at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) on staff. This ensures operations meet county health and safety regulations.
Any person in charge of a food facility—such as a restaurant, café, catering company, food truck, or school cafeteria—must hold a valid Food Manager Certification. If your role involves managing employees who handle unpackaged or perishable food, you are required by law to be certified.
You can earn your Alameda County Food Manager Certification by passing an ANAB-accredited Food Protection Manager Exam. With AAA Food Handler, the process is straightforward—our training materials prepare you for the exam, which you can complete online with an approved proctor. Once you pass, your certificate is valid for five years.
In Alameda County, Food Manager Certification is valid for five years. After that, managers must retake and pass the approved exam to renew their certification and remain compliant.
Yes. AAA Food Handler offers the Alameda County Food Manager exam online through secure remote proctoring. This means you can take the test from anywhere with internet access, without needing to travel to a testing center.
According to the California Health & Safety Code, every food facility in Alameda County that prepares, handles, or serves unpackaged food must employ at least one Certified Food Protection Manager. Temporary food facilities are generally exempt. The certification must be issued by an ANAB-accredited program and be kept on file at the establishment for inspection purposes.
While the law allows either the owner or an employee to be certified, in practice, it is typically the general manager, head chef, or kitchen manager. Many employers in Alameda County require multiple managers or chefs to hold certification, even if only one is legally required.
Food managers play a critical role in protecting public health. They are responsible for:
By maintaining proper certification, food managers help prevent foodborne illnesses and keep their establishments inspection-ready.
Operating without a certified food manager in Alameda County can lead to health code violations, fines, or even the temporary closure of the establishment. Certification ensures compliance and builds trust with both customers and inspectors.
AAA Food Handler provides a county-approved pathway to certification with convenient online training and exams. Our program is accepted across Alameda County, making it simple for managers and staff to meet legal requirements without delays.
Food Manager Reviews
4.9
This course was overall helpful and quite well structured
i thought the program was very educational and gave alot of information.
I like that I can repeat any trainings as needed
While in a time crunch to get our doors open, I found AAA Food Handler by quick Google search, somehow I was so excited to get started I ordered the Hawaii Diamond Package, immediately saw my error, Called the number on the screen, an instant answer, a rapid response by Customer Service, changed my course to Florida (Be sure to Check out Stay Salty Dog/Formerly Relly’s Hot Dog Station when and if anyone is visiting beautiful Cocoa Bch, FL) and they even helped me enroll… Highly recommend…
This training was beneficial for me in learning how to perform the job of a food manager.
Great course, easy to navigate and the course material was detailed and easy to digest.
(sorry for poor spelling) the course was long but informative it, i was able to retain some info but could be improved more simplified expiations but overall a very good course
The course was very informative and helped me learn a ton about food handling. Videos where compact and to the point which I liked.
NA
Easy to follow and listen, the course is very interactive as well.
The course provided relevant information to complete successful testing for your certificate.
IT WAS EXTREMELY INFORMATIVE, BUT I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS A LOT OF INFORMATION THROWN AT YOU AT ONCE. AND IT IS VERY HARD TO DIGEST ALL THE THAT WAS GIVEN AND THEN TAKE A TEST
It is a long training but worth it. The only thing I personally still struggle with is the mins and temperatures. Everything else was explained perfectly.
easy to understand, focused on whats important
Este curso es muy completo y aprendi mucho a como debe ser el funcionamiento en una cocina de cualquier restaurante.! Excelente!!! es muy dinamico, entretenido y super educativo…. Gracias!
AAA+++
long but informative