From tangy barbecue to locally grown sweet potatoes, North Carolina’s food culture is as diverse as it is delicious. However, no matter the dish, one thing remains the same: food safety is non-negotiable. Whether you’re managing a restaurant in Raleigh or operating a café in Asheville, maintaining high safety standards is essential.
If you’re ready to lead a safe kitchen, here’s everything you need to know to get North Carolina food safety certification online and meet state requirements.
Yes. In North Carolina, every food establishment is required to have at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) present during all hours of operation. This certified individual is responsible for ensuring safe food handling practices, staff training, and compliance with health codes.
To become a CFPM, you must pass an exam accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)), and your certification must be renewed every five years.
If you’re ready to meet this requirement, one of the most efficient ways is to get North Carolina food safety certification online, giving you the flexibility to study and test on your schedule.
No, North Carolina does not mandate food handler cards or certificates for general food service employees. However, that doesn’t mean training is unnecessary. Many employers still require basic food safety training as part of their onboarding process, especially in higher-risk environments.
While it’s not a legal requirement, taking the initiative to complete food handler training can enhance job prospects and contribute to a safer workplace. For managers, though, certification is a must.
There is no formal allergen training requirement in North Carolina, but CFPMs must demonstrate knowledge of food allergens during the certification exam. Additionally, the person in charge at a food establishment is responsible for training staff on best practices for allergen management.
So, even if you’re not required to take a separate course, allergen awareness is a key component of your North Carolina food safety certification.
Yes! One of the most convenient ways to meet this requirement is to get North Carolina food safety certification online. Online training enables learners to study at their own pace, review essential safety topics, and take the final exam from the comfort of their own home or a designated testing center, depending on the provider.
Online certification programs often include:
By choosing a flexible, ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB)-accredited program, you can get certified without disrupting your schedule — and meet all North Carolina food safety laws at the same time.
North Carolina has adopted the 2017 edition of the FDA Food Code, which provides a science-based framework for reducing the risk of foodborne illness. While the FDA updates the code periodically, states choose which version to adopt.
By earning your certification through a program aligned with the 2017 FDA Food Code, you’ll gain the knowledge required to stay compliant in North Carolina.
Whether you’re certifying for the first time or renewing after five years, going online is a flexible and efficient way to meet the state requirement. With access to digital tools, real-time support, and self-paced modules, online programs make it easy to:
If you’re a manager ready to lead your team confidently, there’s no better time to obtain your North Carolina food safety certification online.
Do you have questions or need more information about North Carolina’s food safety rules? Contact the state directly:
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
Environmental Health Section
5605 Six Forks Road
Raleigh, North Carolina 27609
In North Carolina, food safety begins with education and leadership. By becoming a Certified Food Protection Manager, you help safeguard public health, enhance your career prospects, and contribute to the success of your establishment.
Take the next step today — get North Carolina food safety certification online and lead your kitchen with confidence.
FOOD
HANDLER
Food Handler Reviews
4.9
One simple word...
Great
It was knowledgeable
No Title
No Title
Understood
Great!
No Title
No Title
Very informative
The course was informative and easy to follow.
No Title
No Title
Good Course
Course was informative and taught me what I needed 🙂
Great website
very educational helped me a lot
Easy
Fast and easy
Thank You
I learned a lot. The course was straightforward. You can finish in 1 day if you want.
No Title
No Title
this food handler training was very informative and the real life videos help make it more enjoyable to listen and it was easy to retain the information
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
Food Handler Reviews
4.9
One simple word...
Great
It was knowledgeable
No Title
No Title
Understood
Great!
No Title
No Title
Very informative
The course was informative and easy to follow.
No Title
No Title
Good Course
Course was informative and taught me what I needed 🙂
Great website
very educational helped me a lot
Easy
Fast and easy
Thank You
I learned a lot. The course was straightforward. You can finish in 1 day if you want.
No Title
No Title
this food handler training was very informative and the real life videos help make it more enjoyable to listen and it was easy to retain the information
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
Starting at $6.95
FOOD MANAGER
Food Manager Reviews
4.9
n/a
n/a
What a great informative course
The course is very thorough and informative. I can go with my own pace with helps me to understand the informations better. Highly recommended
No Title
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.
Food Manager Reviews
4.9
n/a
n/a
What a great informative course
The course is very thorough and informative. I can go with my own pace with helps me to understand the informations better. Highly recommended
No Title
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.
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
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