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Replace outdated or unsafe practices with clear, proven methods that uphold safety standards across your kitchen.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 training was very thorough. The Modules were very easy to follow and the review questions were a great follow up to each chapter. Look forward to apply the knowledge i have gained in this course.
This training was convenient and completed on my own time schedule. I appreciate that it was online.
Some of the information came and went a little too quickly on the slide show. I did need to pause and repeat a few of the screens to be sure I understood what it was telling me.
Very thorough and detailed version.
This training informed me of things I now am aware of and can move forward with great results in my business
learned a lot of things I didn’t know
its good
learned new things
This was a good review that gave all the relevant information in a easy to follow format.
Sure
All is easy to learn
The training course includes a lot of important information. The course also has a lot of pictures, which is great for visual learners. it goes by pretty fast. I would like the option to skip through the parts that i already reviewed, as some parts does let you skip after you properly went through them. overall i would definitely recommend this to other employers.
This course was great! long but worth it.
This course was informative, and I learned a lot throughout the modules.
Really good and detailed training well explained as well very helpful.
I found the material to be incredibly informative and relevant. I wasn’t fully aware of the importance of food safety until now—thank you for providing such valuable insights.
A straightforward course, easy to follow and complete.
Watching these trainings and videos helped me understand a lot and now to make changes at home as well very thorough and understanding. I would definitely recommend this site for training to anyone I give 10/10
This training provided the information I needed to know for confidence as an aspiring new; first-time food service provider. The only thing I can think of at this time that I would like to see for improvement of food manager training is an area within the training course to ask or submit questions for clarification about information in each section or module of the course. For example, being able to ask questions about the comparison of functions in various states, such as the function of large, garage-door-style openings from indoor dining rooms to outdoor patio seating for customers (witnessed frequently in commercial food service establishments). This is in regard to the portion of training on keeping doors and windows closed, screened, and as recommended, having an air-curtain on doors.
good