Food Safety Manager Certification Virginia: Full Guide
If you manage or supervise a food establishment in Virginia, understanding and earning your Food Safety Manager Certification is more than just a good practice—it’s the law. As of June 24, 2023, the Person in Charge at every food establishment in Virginia must be a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).
Whether you’re overseeing a busy kitchen in Fairfax, a hotel restaurant in Virginia Beach, or a school cafeteria in Richmond, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to get certified, stay compliant, and strengthen your food safety practices.
Is Food Safety Manager Certification in Virginia Required?
Yes. The Virginia Department of Health requires that each food facility have one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) per establishment. In addition, as of June 24, 2023, the Person in Charge (PIC) at any given time must also hold a valid CFPM certification.
This certification proves that the individual has passed a nationally accredited exam and understands how to enforce food safety protocols during daily operations.
Note: A Certified Food Protection Manager must be present on-site and able to demonstrate knowledge of foodborne illness prevention, hygiene standards, temperature control, and cleaning practices during inspections.
How Do I Earn a Food Safety Manager Certification in Virginia?
To become a Certified Food Protection Manager in Virginia, you must:
- Learn food safety principles through optional training
- Pass a Food Protection Manager Certification exam accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)) and accepted by the Conference for Food Protection (CFP)
- Receive your certification, valid for up to five years
AAA Food Handler offers flexible, affordable packages to help you meet the requirements:
- Gold Package – $99.95
Online training, 10 review sections, and an exam - Diamond Package – $119.95
Same as Gold, with 160 sample questions, and one free retest if you complete all review sections before the exam - Exam Only – $69.95
For individuals who already feel confident in their food safety knowledge - Training Only – $49.95
Online review materials and a training certificate without the exam
All certification exams are ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)) accredited, approved across Virginia, and available entirely online.
How Long Is the Food Manager Certification in Virginia valid?
Your Food Safety Manager Certification is valid for five years from the date you pass your exam. To remain certified, you must retake and pass another ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited exam before your certification expires.
AAA Food Handler gives you immediate access to your certificate once you pass, making it easy to stay inspection-ready at all times.
Is the Food Protection Manager Certification Available Online in Virginia?
Yes. The Food Protection Manager Certification can be completed 100% online through AAA Food Handler. This option is fully approved for use across Virginia and meets all legal requirements set by the Virginia Department of Health.
With AAA Food Handler, you get:
- Flexible, self-paced online training
- Access is available 24/7 in English and Spanish
- The ability to start, stop, and resume the course as needed
- A secure, online proctored exam you can take from home
- Instant access to your certificate after passing
This fully online format is ideal for busy professionals, owners, and managers who need a convenient, state-approved way to get certified without visiting a classroom or test center.
What Makes AAA Food Handler’s Program Trusted in Virginia?
AAA Food Handler is trusted by national chains like McDonald’s, Panera Bread, Dunkin’ Donuts, Chick-fil-A, and many others. Their program is:
- Approved in all 50 states
- Accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB))
- Recognized by local health departments across Virginia
- Designed to support both individual and group registrations
- Backed by a satisfaction and price-match guarantee
It’s the preferred choice for food service professionals who want quality training, clear instruction, and regulatory compliance.
What Is the Difference Between a Food Worker and a Food Manager in Virginia?
A food worker performs general food handling tasks and follows established protocols. A food manager, on the other hand, is responsible for:
- Overseeing food safety practices
- Ensuring the team is trained and compliant
- Being the main point of contact during inspections
- Preventing foodborne illnesses through active management
Only the manager is required to hold the Food Safety Manager Certification under Virginia law. This distinction is important, especially when meeting health department requirements.
Why Is the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)) Important?
The ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)) ensures that Food Protection Manager exams meet national quality standards. ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited certifications:
- They are evaluated for fairness, accuracy, and reliability
- Are recognized in all 50 states
- Meet FDA guidelines through the Conference for Food Protection (CFP)
- Are required by state health authorities, including in Virginia
AAA Food Handler’s exam is ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited and accepted by the Virginia Department of Health.
What Role Does the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) Play?
The Conference for Food Protection (CFP) collaborates with regulatory agencies and industry experts to set food safety guidelines used by the FDA. CFP-compliant certifications—like those offered by AAA Food Handler—are accepted by health departments in Virginia and across the U.S.
Being CFP-aligned means your certification is based on current, science-backed food safety practices.
How Do I Become a Certified Dietary Manager in Virginia?
If you work in healthcare, long-term care, or institutional food service in Virginia, becoming a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) may be part of your career path. A Food Safety Manager Certification is often the first required step.
AAA Food Handler’s program aligns with CFR § 483.60, the federal regulation governing food safety in healthcare food service environments. It prepares you to meet industry expectations in hospitals, senior care centers, and rehabilitation facilities.
Regulatory Contact Information for Virginia Food Managers
If you have questions about Virginia’s food safety laws or certification requirements, contact:
Virginia Department of Health
Food and Environmental Services
109 Governor Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
📞 Phone: (804) 864-7454
For help with certification or bulk registration, contact AAA Food Handler:
📧 Email: support@aaafoodhandler.com
📞 Phone: (714) 592-4100
Lead With Confidence, Certify With Assurance
In Virginia’s food service industry, compliance isn’t optional—it’s foundational. Becoming a Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) not only fulfills a legal requirement but also positions you as a proactive leader in food safety. From managing inspections to protecting public health, your role has a lasting impact.
By choosing a program accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)) and aligned with the Conference for Food Protection (CFP), you’re not just passing a test—you’re gaining national recognition for your knowledge and professionalism.
AAA Food Handler offers the tools, flexibility, and support to help you succeed. Whether you’re aiming to meet state mandates or elevate your career, certification is the next step toward lasting confidence in the kitchen.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
If you’re responsible for food safety in Virginia, now is the time to take action. With AAA Food Handler, you can complete your Food Safety Manager Certification entirely online—on your schedule, in your language, and with full confidence that it meets Virginia’s legal requirements.
Our program is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)) and recognized by the Virginia Department of Health. Whether you’re certifying for the first time or renewing for compliance, you’ll get the training and support you need—plus instant proof of completion.
FOOD
HANDLER
Starting at $6.95
FOOD MANAGER
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Starting at $49.95
ALCOHOL TRAINING
Starting at $7.95
FOOD
HANDLER
Food Handler Reviews
4.9
Food handler
Es una experiencia muy interesante aprender uno de todo lo que tiene que hacer en un negocio de comida
Painless
This was lengthy but it didn’t have to be, I was just extra attentive to the modules. It was really easy!
Great course
This course was very informative and easy to understand
streamline
easy to access and follow
Great course
This course was very informative and easy as long as you were watching all the videos. Very easy to understand
Simple and Straightforward
This course was simple and really got the point across as the same time. I enjoyed how relaxing it was and how most of the questions were just common sense.
LET US SKIP THE VIDEOS
No Title
Excellent and Informative Food Handler Certification Program.
I found this food handler certification program very clear and helpful. The course material was easy to understand and covered all essential topics about food safety, hygiene, and proper handling practices. It gave me confidence and valuable knowledge to work safely in a food establishment. Highly recommended for anyone looking to get certified quickly and effectively!
Straight to the point but easy to understans
Simple but extremely effective way to educate on food safety. Im so glad I purchased this course. I feel fully prepared and educated on safe food handling
No Title
No Title
No Title
Too long
I passed
No Title
excelente contenido
excelente contenido, facil, practico y sencillo
Food Handler
This course was helpful
great
Building confidence in one’s abilities
great
the course was great
Text-to-Speech Drains Me
The training was higher quality than the last training I took, but the robotic text-to-speech really drained me. After the first half of the modules it became harder and harder to pay attention to the important information that was being conveyed.
Besides the robotic voice preaching to me about keeping humans safe, the information was delivered in pretty high quality videos. The training was effective, but it would be more effective with a more human element to it.
Food Handler Reviews
4.9
Food handler
Es una experiencia muy interesante aprender uno de todo lo que tiene que hacer en un negocio de comida
Painless
This was lengthy but it didn’t have to be, I was just extra attentive to the modules. It was really easy!
Great course
This course was very informative and easy to understand
streamline
easy to access and follow
Great course
This course was very informative and easy as long as you were watching all the videos. Very easy to understand
Simple and Straightforward
This course was simple and really got the point across as the same time. I enjoyed how relaxing it was and how most of the questions were just common sense.
LET US SKIP THE VIDEOS
No Title
Excellent and Informative Food Handler Certification Program.
I found this food handler certification program very clear and helpful. The course material was easy to understand and covered all essential topics about food safety, hygiene, and proper handling practices. It gave me confidence and valuable knowledge to work safely in a food establishment. Highly recommended for anyone looking to get certified quickly and effectively!
Straight to the point but easy to understans
Simple but extremely effective way to educate on food safety. Im so glad I purchased this course. I feel fully prepared and educated on safe food handling
No Title
No Title
No Title
Too long
I passed
No Title
excelente contenido
excelente contenido, facil, practico y sencillo
Food Handler
This course was helpful
great
Building confidence in one’s abilities
great
the course was great
Text-to-Speech Drains Me
The training was higher quality than the last training I took, but the robotic text-to-speech really drained me. After the first half of the modules it became harder and harder to pay attention to the important information that was being conveyed.
Besides the robotic voice preaching to me about keeping humans safe, the information was delivered in pretty high quality videos. The training was effective, but it would be more effective with a more human element to it.
Starting at $6.95
FOOD MANAGER
Food Manager Reviews
4.9
Easy and Informative
Watch each section and answer a few questions and then there is your final test. You will definitely learn a lot.
Excellent course
I highly recommend this course to anyone needing to get their food handler manager certification. This was an easy to follow course and you can always replay to completely understand the information. Very satisfied, thank you.
Great information for food managers
Well structured, easy to follow.
Work at your own pace.
All subjects covered clearly.
Great Training
great training before taking practice exams and final test
Course was engaging
The course was engaging and kept me interested.
Very Informative
Very Informative and straight forward.
Buen programa
Facil de comprender
Muy buen programa para aprender
Great Course to take
Was informative and easy self guided
length
it felt a bit long but very thorough.
Easy to Follow
The online food handling course was clear, informative, and easy to follow. It covered all the essential topics with practical examples, making it easy to understand even for beginners. I appreciated the flexibility to complete it at my own pace. Highly recommended for anyone needing certification or a refresher!
Job requirement
Very detailed for my needs at this time. Information is good
Good training
This training was done well. It was easy to follow and understand.
Simple & Clear teaching
AAA FoodHandler provides a simple and clear training.
Food Manager Course Review
I found the course went more quickly than expected. The modules are short and informative. Periodic quiz are very helpful in remembering the material.
Easy to navigate
Easy and fast renewal
AAA Food Manager Course
This course was easy to follow and I liked that there were review questions after each section. I was able to complete the course study easily in one day. It was engaging enough to keep my attention. I learned a lot and it was taught in away that explained why things are done a certain way instead of just stating the rules for you to memorize.
Perfect Training
It was really knowledgeable and was a good training experience.
Food Manager
It was very informative and interesting.
Informational
This training was very informational on how to properly be a manager at a restaurant.
Food Manager Reviews
4.9
Easy and Informative
Watch each section and answer a few questions and then there is your final test. You will definitely learn a lot.
Excellent course
I highly recommend this course to anyone needing to get their food handler manager certification. This was an easy to follow course and you can always replay to completely understand the information. Very satisfied, thank you.
Great information for food managers
Well structured, easy to follow.
Work at your own pace.
All subjects covered clearly.
Great Training
great training before taking practice exams and final test
Course was engaging
The course was engaging and kept me interested.
Very Informative
Very Informative and straight forward.
Buen programa
Facil de comprender
Muy buen programa para aprender
Great Course to take
Was informative and easy self guided
length
it felt a bit long but very thorough.
Easy to Follow
The online food handling course was clear, informative, and easy to follow. It covered all the essential topics with practical examples, making it easy to understand even for beginners. I appreciated the flexibility to complete it at my own pace. Highly recommended for anyone needing certification or a refresher!
Job requirement
Very detailed for my needs at this time. Information is good
Good training
This training was done well. It was easy to follow and understand.
Simple & Clear teaching
AAA FoodHandler provides a simple and clear training.
Food Manager Course Review
I found the course went more quickly than expected. The modules are short and informative. Periodic quiz are very helpful in remembering the material.
Easy to navigate
Easy and fast renewal
AAA Food Manager Course
This course was easy to follow and I liked that there were review questions after each section. I was able to complete the course study easily in one day. It was engaging enough to keep my attention. I learned a lot and it was taught in away that explained why things are done a certain way instead of just stating the rules for you to memorize.
Perfect Training
It was really knowledgeable and was a good training experience.
Food Manager
It was very informative and interesting.
Informational
This training was very informational on how to properly be a manager at a restaurant.
Starting at $49.95
ALCOHOL TRAINING
Alcohol Training Reviews
4.8
Thorough and Easy to navigate
Overall great way to get a course done. The on screen prompt was well read and paced well.
Responsible Beverage Service
This course was informative.
very good
No Title
simple to follow
great
good
good
Clear and concise education
I’d recommend this training course to any one wanting the certificate. The price is certainly right!
No Title
Way too lengthy, thought it would never end
Informative course
This course was easy to moderate as far as content and delivery. I’m glad I took this class also because it was very affordable.
Great Videos
As someone who can have a hard time reading, I very much appreciate that the entirety of this training was videos. They went into just enough detail to get you the information and didn’t force you to sit through unnecessary information. Great training program would defiantly recommend
gr8
gr8
RBS Training Review
The RBS Training was very impactful. there was a plethora of information.
The training was informative and thorough , offering a strong reiteration of key information. The course effectively reinforced laws, polices. and best practices by presenting questions in multiple formats, ensuring comprehension and retention.
No Title
No Title
Ok
No Title
Excellent course
The course was genuinely very helpful.
nice work
easy to use, and did what i needed it to do
Nice
Good course
No Title
Alcohol Training Reviews
4.8
Thorough and Easy to navigate
Overall great way to get a course done. The on screen prompt was well read and paced well.
Responsible Beverage Service
This course was informative.
very good
No Title
simple to follow
great
good
good
Clear and concise education
I’d recommend this training course to any one wanting the certificate. The price is certainly right!
No Title
Way too lengthy, thought it would never end
Informative course
This course was easy to moderate as far as content and delivery. I’m glad I took this class also because it was very affordable.
Great Videos
As someone who can have a hard time reading, I very much appreciate that the entirety of this training was videos. They went into just enough detail to get you the information and didn’t force you to sit through unnecessary information. Great training program would defiantly recommend
gr8
gr8
RBS Training Review
The RBS Training was very impactful. there was a plethora of information.
The training was informative and thorough , offering a strong reiteration of key information. The course effectively reinforced laws, polices. and best practices by presenting questions in multiple formats, ensuring comprehension and retention.
No Title
No Title
Ok
No Title
Excellent course
The course was genuinely very helpful.
nice work
easy to use, and did what i needed it to do
Nice
Good course
No Title
Starting at $7.95
ALLERGEN TRAINING
Alcohol Training Reviews
4.8
Thorough and Easy to navigate
Overall great way to get a course done. The on screen prompt was well read and paced well.
Responsible Beverage Service
This course was informative.
very good
No Title
simple to follow
great
good
good
Clear and concise education
I’d recommend this training course to any one wanting the certificate. The price is certainly right!
No Title
Way too lengthy, thought it would never end
Informative course
This course was easy to moderate as far as content and delivery. I’m glad I took this class also because it was very affordable.
Great Videos
As someone who can have a hard time reading, I very much appreciate that the entirety of this training was videos. They went into just enough detail to get you the information and didn’t force you to sit through unnecessary information. Great training program would defiantly recommend
gr8
gr8
RBS Training Review
The RBS Training was very impactful. there was a plethora of information.
The training was informative and thorough , offering a strong reiteration of key information. The course effectively reinforced laws, polices. and best practices by presenting questions in multiple formats, ensuring comprehension and retention.
No Title
No Title
Ok
No Title
Excellent course
The course was genuinely very helpful.
nice work
easy to use, and did what i needed it to do
Nice
Good course
No Title
Allergen Training Review
4.9
great learning tool
this course was well put together and helped me retain what i have learned. the guide for the test at the end helped. learn some new things as well that i will let my team know about.
Great Review for people working in the Food Industry
It started with good statistics of how poor communication & food service can create an emergency for someone with food allergens.
Easy to understand, confident training
This module was communicated very well. I felt confident in the material at the end and passed the exam easily.
food allergies
it was good
Efficient and Informative: AAA Food Handler Training Experience
I recently completed the training and test with AAA Food Handler and found the experience smooth and professional. The course material was clear, up-to-date, and easy to follow, even for first-timers. The training covered essential food safety practices, and the test was straightforward, reflecting what was taught. I appreciated the quick certification process and would definitely recommend AAA Food Handler to anyone in the food service industry.
No Title
Easy to understand!
This is my second time taking this exam. Very easy to understand. I enjoyed the refresher.
allergen course
very informative
No Title
i highly recommend these courses to be taken for either knowledge or advance your career! worth every penny and easy to use.
No Title
Great and fun learning experience
Great and fun learning experience! Easy to learn and loved the different segments.
food allergy
i really like this course class its helpful in the kitchen
In Depth & Informitive
worth gaining the knowledge on how to remain safe and hold regard to public health
Great
Very informative. Thank you
No Title
Great
Thanks
No Title
Learned a lot
very good and intuitive course!
awesome test
its a very good course, clear and very direct studying.
No Title
Starting at $12.95
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