Becoming Certified In Illinois ServSafe Online

You must follow this procedure for becoming certified In Illinois using the ServSafe® Manager Online Course as your training program:

1. Contact an Illinois approved instructor to notify the instructor that you wish to take the training online. The instructor will be able to proctor your exam and will be available for questions about the ServSafe program.  Illinois approved instructors can be located by:

   • Going to the Find an Instructor

   • Contacting the Illinois Restaurant Association at 312-787-4000

   • Contacting the Service Center

2. Purchase the ServSafe Manager Online Course.

3. Print and review the differences between the ServSafe materials and the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Code.

4. View the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Code for further information on specific Illinois regulations.

5. Complete every section of the ServSafe online training and take the posttest.

6. Print the Record of Training. You must provide the online course Record of Training Certificate of Completion to the Illinois approved instructor who is proctoring the exam.

7. Re-contact your instructor and make arrangements to take the ServSafe Food Manager Certification Exam within six (6) months of completing the training.

8. Take the ServSafe Exam and fill out the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) scantron form.

9. The instructor will give the ServSafe Exam, send in the IDPH scantron and a copy of the Record of Training to IDPH. The instructor will send in the ServSafe exam to the National Restaurant Association for grading.

10. When you pass the ServSafe Exam, your certificate will be sent to your instructor who will then send the certificate to you.

11. The National Restaurant Association will send results to the Illinois Department of Public Health.

12. The Illinois Department of Public Health will process the Illinois scantron forms and send an Illinois application if you score 75% or higher on the ServSafe Manager Certification Exam.

13. You will then fill out the Illinois application and return it to the Illinois Department of Public Health with the $35 certification fee.

14. The Illinois Department of Public Health will send you your Illinois State certificate.

Please contact the Service Center with questions about this process.