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Replace outdated or unsafe practices with clear, proven methods that uphold safety standards across your kitchen.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
I took this course to become educated when it comes to food handling and found it very insighful.
It’s saying we should all change gloves every 4 hours between tasks. After doing dirty jobs with the gloves on or if the glove rips, we all wash our hands first and then put on new gloves. Not only that, I knew that chicken is supposed to be cooked at a higher temperature then beef, steak, and salmon. temperature danger zone, food cools down for more than 4 hours. Reheating is not gonna do ANYTHING. A crumb on the floor brings bugs and when there’s bugs, the foods are being contaminated again and it’s biological hazard. When we wash hands 20, turn off the faucet with your elbow or turn off the faucet with the paper towel and then air dry and use your feet to kick open the push door or use the paper towel to pull the door open. Chicken, beef, fish, and salmon should be WAY WAY below the ready to eat foods. COMPLETELY AT THE BOTTOM. Food should be stored 6 in off the ground. Everything in this world have germs, Your phone has germs, Cash has germs, anything. I can’t describe which thing has the most germs. We can do all to prevent it from spreading. No matter how delicious it looks, if you eat food from the floor, it’s biological hazard. So I learned 65% of it
This class was very helpful in preparing me to open up my business. I would recommend it to anyone who is planning on opening up a business in food or bev. They modules are easy to follow and the course makes it easy to leave and pick up where you left off if you are are busy person!
Very informative
Good course
I thought this training was super informative and well-structured. It covered everything at a good talking pace as well. Most trainings can be super slow so I appreciated that.
good
I liked the way the course is organized. It is easy to follow, and the review questions are a good way to gage my retention of the subject matter.
The course was very informative, great pace, and it was just enough time!
Easy to understand, great practice questions, personable to the extent that it can be while providing necessary information.
The content is thorough and easy to learn
Great information
The course was very interesting! the modules were very informative.
Well explained and very comprehensive, definitely would recommend for anyone new or well experienced.
would take again
I think the way the videos are made and how the information is presented at this curse makes it very easy for you to catch everything very easily. Thank you!