New York City Food Protection Certificate: Requirements and How to Get One

NYC requires a Food Protection Certificate — not a basic handler card, but a 15-hour course covering the full food safety supervisor role. Required for every food service establishment in the five boroughs.

New York CityFood Protection Certificate

New York City's food safety certification requirement is unique in the United States. Rather than requiring a basic 30-minute food handler card for all workers, NYC requires a Food Protection Certificate — a more intensive, 15-hour course — for food service workers in a supervisory role. This is administered by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH).

What the NYC Food Protection Certificate Covers

The NYC Food Protection Certificate course is approximately 15 hours and covers the full scope of food safety management: foodborne illness prevention, food temperature control, personal hygiene, cross-contamination prevention, pest control, and NYC-specific food code regulations. It is more rigorous than a standard food handler card but less intensive than the full CFPM manager exam.

NYC Food Protection Certificate Facts

Required
Who Needs It
Food service supervisor in every NYC establishment
Course Length
~15 hours
Cost
~$114 (NYC DOHMH)
Valid For
No expiration (certificate)
Online Available?
Yes (DOHMH eCourses)
DOHMH Phone
(212) 676-2444

Who Is Required to Hold the Certificate in NYC

Every food service establishment in New York City must have at least one person on staff who holds a current NYC Food Protection Certificate. This person must be a supervisor — someone with authority over food handling procedures and kitchen operations. Individual non-supervisory food workers (dishwashers, prep cooks working under supervision) are not individually required to hold the certificate, but at least one supervisor per establishment must.

How to Get the NYC Food Protection Certificate

The NYC DOHMH offers the Food Protection Course online through their eCourses platform at nyc.gov/health. The course costs approximately $114. Upon completing the online course and passing the exam, you receive your certificate. In-person courses are also periodically offered. Contact the NYC DOHMH at (212) 676-2444 or visit nyc.gov/health for the current course schedule and online enrollment.

NYC vs. Other New York State Requirements

The NYC Food Protection Certificate applies only within the five boroughs of New York City. The rest of New York State has no uniform statewide food handler card mandate — counties outside NYC may have their own local requirements. If you operate food establishments both in and outside NYC, each location is governed by its own jurisdiction's rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do all employees in a NYC restaurant need the Food Protection Certificate?▾
No. The NYC requirement is that every food service establishment must have at least one certificate holder on staff in a supervisory role. Non-supervisory workers (line cooks under supervision, dishwashers, servers) are not individually required to hold the certificate. However, many NYC restaurant groups require all management-level employees to be certified.
Does a ServSafe Manager certification satisfy the NYC Food Protection Certificate requirement?▾
The ServSafe Manager certification and the NYC Food Protection Certificate are separate credentials. NYC requires its own DOHMH-issued certificate specifically. Having a ServSafe certification does not automatically satisfy the NYC requirement. Contact the NYC DOHMH at (212) 676-2444 to confirm whether any ANAB-accredited manager certifications are accepted as equivalents.
Does the NYC certificate expire?▾
The NYC Food Protection Certificate does not have a standard expiration date on its face, unlike county food handler cards. However, the NYC Health Code requires that certificates remain current, and there may be re-examination requirements under certain circumstances. Contact the DOHMH at (212) 676-2444 for the most current policy on renewal or reexamination requirements.
Disclaimer: Requirements vary by state and county and change over time. Always verify current requirements with your state or county health department before making compliance decisions.