New PDA Food Safety Regulations Affects Certification Training
Effective January 22, 2011 new Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture regulations regarding food employee recertification will go into effect. These regulation changes include:
1. PDA will no longer be issuing state certification or recertification forms. After this time, individuals whose PDA Food Employee Certificate is up for renewal will be required to complete an approved food safety program and successfully pass the certification exam. In other words, everyone will have to retake the food safety certification exam every 5 years in order to meet PDA requirements. Penn State Extension offers the National Restaurant Association ServSafe food safety course, and the certificate you receive for passing the ServSafe exam will meet the PDA requirements for Food Protection Manager Certification.
2. In Pennsylvania, each licensed food establishment must have at least one supervisory employee who has Food Protection Manager Certification.
3. Each establishment must have a certified person who is accessible during all hours of operation.
For those food establishments and organizations who hold a food license in Pennsylvania, and have a PDA Food Employee Certificate with an expiration date sometime in 2011, you have about a 4 to 6 week window of opportunity to complete requirements for recertification without retaking the exam at this time.
Penn State Cooperative Extension in Northumberland County has a 1-day class for recertification on January 13, 2011 from 8:30 am-5:00 pm at the Penn State Extension Office at 443 Plum Creek Road, Sunbury, cost $135. You must present a current PDA Food Employee Certificate to attend the class for recertification. If attending for new certification, you must attend an additional class with the exam will be held January 27 from 8:30 am-1:00 pm, and cost is $175. Class size will be limited to 25 participants and payment must be received at the time of registration. Registration deadline is January 6. Another option is to wait to closer to when your certificate expires, enroll in a class, and then take the exam for certification. Registration information for all 2011 classes can be downloaded from our website at under Food & Nutrition link or contact our office at 570-988-3950.
