Food Safety

Classes and Workshops

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FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION

The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) food employee regulation states that food establishments regulated by the PDA or a local health agency must employ at least one supervisory employee who has succesfully completed a certified food-safety training course or designate an existing supervisory employee to complete that course.

Certification is good for five years from the date of issue on the certificate. To maintain certification, an individual must participate in a PDA-approved continuing education program prior to the expiration date on the certificate.

To help local food service establishments meet this requirement, Penn State Cooperative Extension in Beaver County offers the National Restaurant Association’s ServSafe® classroom course and the Training Achievement Program Series (TAP) Food Safety Certification and Recertification self-study course, both of which fulfill the PDA requirements for the food employee certification regulation.

Click on an option below for more information:

	ServSafe® Initial Certification (classroom)
	ServSafe® Recertification (classroom)
	TAP Series Certification & Recertification (CD-Rom self-study)

 

Questions?

For questions regarding course content, please contact
Mary Alice Gettings, Nutrition & Health Educator, 724-774-3003

For questions regarding PDA regulations, please contact
George Daniels, PA Dept of Agriculture, Region IV, 724-443-1585

 

 

 

 

ServSafe® Initial Certification
(12-hour classroom format, 4 hours self-study, exam)

This 16-hour course covers basic microbiology, personal hygiene practices, food handling from receiving to serving, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), and regulatory issues. Upon completion of the course, participants will take the ServSafe® certification exam. The National Restaurant Association will certify participants who complete the ervSafe® course and pass the exam in food safety and sanitation. Those who pass the exam may also apply for the PDA certificate required by the Food Employee Certification Act. If you are uncertain as to whether or not you need certification, contact your regional PDA office.

* * * Date Saver * * *

Classes: February 16, 17, 18, 2009 • 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Exam (required): February 25, 2009 • 9:00 a.m.

Please check back for course fee and registration information.
(Fee includes textbook, handouts, exam, and continental breakfast)

Registration must be pre-paid.
Class size is limited to the first 25 paid participants.

Classes will be conducted at
Penn State Cooperative Extension
2020 Beaver Avenue - Suite 200
Monaca PA 15061
Click for directions

 

 

 

 

ServSafe® Recertification
(12-hour classroom format; exam optional)

This 12-hour ServSafe® Recertification course is designed for individuals who possess a Food Employee Certification certificate from the PA Department of Agriculture (PDA). This course will provide a review and update of the food safety principles covered in teh original certification course. This course will run concurrently with the ServSafe® initial certification course above. Participants must provide a copy of their current PDA Food Safety certificate and one form of photo identification on the first day of class. The exam is not required for recertification but is strongly suggested. Participants who choose to take the exam must present one form of photo identification on the day of the exam.

* * * Date Saver * * *

Classes: February 16, 17, 18, 2009 • 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Exam* (optional): February 25, 2009 • 9:00 a.m.

Please check back for course fee and registration information.
(Fee includes textbook, handouts, exam, and continental breakfast)

Registration must be pre-paid.
Class size is limited to the first 25 paid participants.

Classes will be conducted at
Penn State Cooperative Extension
2020 Beaver Avenue - Suite 200
Monaca PA 15061
Click for directions

*While the exam for Recertification is not required, it is strongly suggested in order to obtain a National Restaurant Association ServSafe certificate in food safety.

 

 

 

 

TAP Series Food Safety Certification & Recertification

The TAP Series Food Safety Program is a self-study course using a CD-Rom, a computer, and the Internet. Those who choose this option should be comfortable using a computer and own or have access to a computer with a reliable Internet connection that meets the minimum system requirements below.

The course provides self-paced, interactive learning using a CD-Rom that includes colorful graphics, animations, full-motion video, audio, and interactive learning excercises. Topics include the latest in food safety practices such as foodborne illness, the flow of food, and the HACCP system, to name a few. The CD-Rom also offers a practice exam to help prepare you for the actual proctored exam for initial certification. The participant has up to 6 months from the date of enrollment to complete the course.

Minimum system requirements:

• Windows 2000, XP, or Vista
• Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher
• 512 MB memory
• CD-Rom drive
• Multimedia support (speakers)

TAP Series Food Safety Course
(self-study using a CD-Rom and computer)

The TAP Series Course must be completed within
6 months from the date of enrollment.

Initial Certification: $135.00 per person
(includes CD-Rom and exam; no book)

Recertification: $75.00 per person
(includes CD-Rom and exam; no book)

Printed ServSafe book: $65.00 (optional)

CLICK HERE for a brochure and registration form.

Initial Certification Exam:
The certification exams will be offered once per month at the
Penn State Cooperative Extension Office of Beaver County,
2020 Beaver Avenue - Suite 200, Monaca PA 15061. Learner is responsible for scheduling an exam at least 10 business days prior to the date by calling Mary Alice Gettings at 724-774-3003.

Rercertification:
The learner must print the Certificate provided from the CD-Rom
as proof of completion.

 

 

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SuperSafe Mark

The Food Marketing Institute's SuperSafe Mark program, a certification course similar to the ServSafe® course (see above), is specifically designed for those employed by supermarkets. In Pennsylvania at least one person from each for-profit establishment was required to be certified in food safety by July 2004. This program has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to meet their certification requirement. SuperSafe Mark is conducted on site at a supermarket and can be presented in 8-hour and 16-hour formats.

Safe Food for Schoolchildren

Programs for all school-aged children emphasize the use of safe food handling practices to reduce the risk of experiencing a foodborne illness, which can result in lost days from school and a trip to the hospital. Classroom visits feature hands-on activities to help students understand how bacteria contaminate our food and what we can do to stop it. In addition, students are exposed to the issue of biotechnology and conduct an experiment to extract DNA from a banana. This workshop is conducted through three 1-hour sessions.

Safe Food for You, the Consumer

Every year, seventy-six million people become sick, 325,000 people are hospitalized, and 5,000 people die from the food they eat. Eating should not be a dangerous activity! While there are certain high-risk groups, the recent Hepatitis A and salmonella outbreaks reveal that anyone can become a victim. This session will review basic food handling practices and good personal hygiene that will help you protect yourself, your family, and your friends. This session in conducted in
1 to 2 hours.

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For more information

For more information about any of these Food Safety programs, contact Mary Alice Gettings, Nutrition and Health Educator, at 724-774-3003 or via e-mail to magettings@psu.edu

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