Last verified: September 2026 against N.D. Admin. Code § 33-33 and the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services. Confirm with your local health unit before paying.
Does North Dakota require a certified food manager?
No — and North Dakota is explicit about it. Rather than simply not adopting a certified-manager mandate, North Dakota adopts the 2017 FDA Model Food Code and then specifically excludes the paragraph that would have created one. This is an active choice, not an oversight — the exclusion is named in the rule itself.
The exclusion
N.D. Admin. Code § 33-33-04.1-01 adopts the Food Code with named modifications. Modification 2 removes the certified-manager mandate entirely:
Paragraph 2-102.12 Certified Food Protection Manager. For the purposes of this chapter, is excluded.
Modification 3 removes the accompanying certification-recognition paragraph:
Paragraph 2-102.20(B) Food Protection Manager Certification. For the purposes of this chapter, is excluded.
In the 2017 Food Code, § 2-102.12 is the paragraph most states rely on to require the person in charge to be a certified food protection manager. North Dakota deletes it outright, leaving no mandatory certification route in its food code at all.
What still applies
North Dakota keeps the rest of Chapter 2 intact. The underlying demonstration-of-knowledge requirement (§ 2-102.11) still applies — a person in charge must be able to demonstrate food safety knowledge. That can be done through:
- A clean inspection record — no priority violations at the time of inspection
- Correctly answering the inspector’s food safety questions
- Voluntarily holding a certified food protection manager credential
What is gone is any requirement that certification specifically be the route taken. An inspector cannot cite an establishment for lacking a CFPM in North Dakota.
Why get certified anyway
Despite the lack of a mandate, many North Dakota food operators pursue ANAB-CFP certification because:
- It permanently satisfies the knowledge requirement — no risk from a bad inspection day
- It is valid across most other states — if staff move, or if you operate in multiple states, the credential travels
- It demonstrates a systematic approach to food safety that goes beyond what inspectors can measure in a single visit
- Insurance carriers and franchise agreements sometimes require it regardless of state law
How to get certified in North Dakota
Because North Dakota does not restrict the voluntary CFPM route to a state-specific approved-provider list, any program accredited under the national ANAB-CFP standard is valid. The process is the same with any provider:
- Choose an accredited provider — see the comparison table below.
- Complete the study course — self-paced online, typically 8–15 hours covering six core exam domains.
- Pass the proctored exam — 80 questions, 2-hour time limit, 75% passing score, closed-book. Remote proctoring via webcam is available from all major providers — no travel to a testing centre required.
- Receive your certificate — valid for 5 years.
Provider and cost comparison
| Provider | Exam only | Course + exam | Remote proctoring | Retake policy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ServSafe (NRA) | ~$36 | ~$150–$180 | Yes | Separate fee per attempt |
| StateFoodSafety | ~$69 | ~$99 | Yes | Free retake with some packages |
| Prometric (NRFSP) | ~$99 | ~$149 | Yes | Separate fee per attempt |
| Learn2Serve (360training) | ~$59 | ~$99 | Yes | Free retake included |
| Always Food Safe | ~$55 | ~$95 | Yes | Varies by package |
What the exam covers
All ANAB-CFP accredited exams test the same six core domains:
- Employee health and hygiene — illness exclusion, handwashing, bare-hand contact rules
- Temperature control — cooking temperatures, cooling parameters, cold and hot holding limits
- Cross-contamination prevention — storage order, allergen management, surface sanitation
- Cleaning and sanitizing — chemical concentrations, contact times, ware-washing procedures
- Pest control and facilities — exclusion, approved materials, plumbing basics
- HACCP principles — hazard analysis, critical control points, corrective actions, record-keeping
The exam is closed-book and proctored. Candidates who complete the provider’s full study course before sitting the exam pass at significantly higher rates than those who go in without preparation.
Practice test and study materials
Before sitting the exam, a timed practice test is the most reliable way to find weak spots. EduClasses includes chapter quizzes and a full-length practice exam in their online prep course — see the food manager certification course.
Renewal
ANAB-CFP certifications are valid for 5 years. Renewal requires passing the full accredited exam again — no shortened pathway exists. Most providers offer a refresher study course for renewal candidates. Because North Dakota does not mandate the credential, there is no state-level compliance consequence if a voluntary certification lapses — but the practical benefits above apply as long as it is current.
Start the renewal process 60–90 days before your expiration date — testing centers book up and a scheduling delay can put your establishment out of compliance. If your certification has already lapsed, you can retake the exam immediately with no waiting period. EduClasses offers a renewal prep course that’s shorter than the initial course and focuses on updated food safety regulations.
Frequently asked questions
Does North Dakota accept certifications earned in other states?
Yes — ANAB-CFP accreditation is national. A certificate from any accredited program is valid in North Dakota regardless of where it was earned, as long as it has not expired.
Can a health inspector require me to get certified?
Not under the current rule. The certified-manager paragraph has been explicitly excluded from North Dakota’s food code. An inspector can require you to demonstrate knowledge — but cannot cite you specifically for lacking a CFPM certificate.
What is the difference between a food handler card and food manager certification?
A food handler card is basic training for entry-level workers (typically $10–$20, no proctored exam). A food manager certification requires passing an accredited proctored exam ($90–$180) and is a management-level credential recognised across most US states. North Dakota requires neither, but the manager certification carries national recognition the handler card does not.
If I get certified in North Dakota, is that valid if I work in Minnesota or South Dakota?
Yes — ANAB-CFP certification is valid in any state that recognises the standard, which includes Minnesota, South Dakota, and most others. The certificate travels with the individual, not the state where it was issued.
Does this apply in Burleigh County or Cass County?
The rule is the same statewide, and as explained above it is not a certification mandate: North Dakota adopts the FDA Food Code’s demonstration-of-knowledge structure without a certified-manager requirement, in Bismarck (Burleigh County), Fargo (Cass County), Grand Forks, Minot and every other jurisdiction. Local public health units administer and inspect, but none issues a separate local food manager certification or imposes one of its own. Where an employer or insurer wants the credential anyway, an ANAB-CFP accredited certificate from any provider is the standard, accepted statewide.
Summary
| Requirement | North Dakota’s rule |
|---|---|
| Certified food protection manager on staff | Not required — mandate paragraph expressly excluded from food code |
| Demonstration of knowledge | Still required — via clean inspection, inspector Q&A, or voluntary CFPM credential |
| Accreditation standard (if CFPM route chosen) | ANAB-CFP (any accredited provider valid) |
| Exam format | 80 questions, 2-hour limit, 75% passing score, closed-book |
| Remote proctoring | Available from all major providers |
| Certification validity | 5 years |
| Exam cost | ~$36–$99 exam only; ~$95–$180 with course |
| Food Code edition | 2017, with named exclusions of §§ 2-102.12 and 2-102.20(B) |
Looking for the worker card instead? See North Dakota Food Handler Card.