Which of the following Food Protection Manager certifications is accepted in California to satisfy the §113947.1 requirement for at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFM/FSM) per food facility?

Explanation

California Health & Safety Code §113947.1 requires every food facility to employ at least one Certified Food Protection Manager (CFM, also called Food Safety Manager / FSM). The statute accepts any certification accredited by ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) under the Conference for Food Protection (CFP) Standards for Accreditation of Food Protection Manager Certification Programs — not just one brand. As of 2026, the ANAB-CFP accredited programs include ServSafe Manager (National Restaurant Association), Prometric Food Protection Manager Certification, National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP), Always Food Safe Food Protection Manager Certification, and Learn2Serve Food Protection Manager Certification (360training). All five carry equal legal weight in California. Option A is the common misconception — ServSafe is the most popular brand but it is not the only accepted certification. Option C is wrong because CDPH does not issue the certification itself; it accepts accredited third-party credentials. Option D is wrong because online-proctored CFM exams from accredited providers are valid statewide. The CFM certificate is valid for 5 years from issue.