Starting January 1, 2018, under Public Act 100-0194, the Illinois Department of Public Health will no longer issue the Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification (FSSMC), post course listings, or certify instructors/proctors on or after January 1, 2018. Any course that is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) will be accepted as the FSSMC but the final certification document through IDPH will no longer be needed.

Starting January 1, 2019, under the FDA Food Code the term Food Service Sanitation Manager Certification (FSSMC) will be changed to Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM).
If you currently have a food sanitation license issued by the Illinois Department of Public Health it will fulfill the CFPM requirement until the expiration date.

What That Means:

When an individual has passed the course and exam for the Food Sanitation Certification, an additional application and $35 was required to be sent in to the state for the official IDPH Food License Certification. Now the certificate that is received from passing the course will be valid documentation.

ANSI-CFP Accreditation Program

The ANSI CFPM training is still valid for five years.

Under Public Act 098-0566, any food handler working in Illinois, unless that person has a valid CFPM license or is an unpaid volunteer, are required to complete a Food Handler Training Course with ANSI approval.

A Food Handler is any employee that works with unpackaged food, food equipment and utensils or food contact surfaces (this includes bar & wait staff, teachers/school employees that serve food).  If someone working in a facility is not a food handler on a regular basis, but fills in as a food handler when needed must also have food handler training. Non-restaurants who need food handler training are facilities such as nursing homes, licensed daycare homes and facilities, hospitals, schools, long-term care facilities and retail food stores. Cashiers, stockers, temporary food event workers, pre-packaged food retail stores are exempt from taking the food handler training course. 

Those working in non-restaurants are not required to take another food handler training unless they leave to work for another employer.  Food handler training for those working in non-restaurants is not transferable between employers.

Food Handler Training Certificate Program

Under Public Act 100-0367, all employees who have a CFPM license must have an ANSI approved Allergen awareness training. This excludes employees with Food Handler Training, grocery stores, convenience stores, daycares, schools, assisted living/long term care facilities and CFPM employees who work in a Category 2 Facility. This training is transferable between employers.

The following link has a list of ANSI certified food training programs that offer the Food Handler Training and Food Allergen Training:

Food Handler Training Certificate Program

The ANSI food handler training and Allergen training certificates are good for three years 

All certificates must be posted and/or available for the inspector upon request. Failure to not have enough Food protection managers can result in fines, and extra yearly inspections. Questions or concerns can be directed to us at 815-802-9410.