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Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS) Credential

busy restaurant kitchen with chefs working in white coats and hats with text overlayCertified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS) Credential - Chefs in commercial kitchen

Who Should Apply?

CP-FS credential holders may be employed in any retail food environment — as a quality assurance or quality control manager, facility manager, food-safe chemical supplier, or in a more traditional food safety position such as a regulatory inspector/investigator. CP-FS holders are able to conduct facility plan reviews, evaluate hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) plans or other risk-based food safety programs, understand the causes and prevention of foodborne illnesses, and analyze and implement sanitation standard operating procedures for safety and effectiveness.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Degree Track
    • Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent
  • Experience Track
    • Associate’s degree and 4 years of experience, and a valid, unexpired Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) certificate, Food Safety Managers Certification Examination (FSMCE) certificate, SuperSafe Mark certificate, OR a ServSafe Food Protection Manager certificate.
    • High School Diploma and 5 years of experience, and a valid, unexpired Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) certificate, Food Safety Managers Certification Examination (FSMCE) certificate, SuperSafe Mark certificate, OR a ServSafe Food Protection Manager certificate.

How to Apply?

Follow steps 1 - 3 below to access the NEHA CP-FS online application

  1. From the MyNEHA home page, click "NEHA Credentials" on the top right of the home page and select "Apply for Certification". This will bring up the login screen to access the application.
  2. Login to your existing MyNEHA account, or create an account if you do not have one. Please use an email address as your Username. You may be asked to enable Cookies to use the site. Once logged in, the CP-FS application home page will appear.
  3. Navigate through the application module until all steps are completed. You may save your progress and return as needed.

Price

Member: US $260

Non-member: US $405

 

 

Candidate Information Brochure (PDF)

 


A Professional Credential From NEHA

NEHA developed the CP-FS credential to meet the growing need for professionals who have specialized knowledge and training in the protection and safety of food. The importance of food safety is recognized along the continuum of training from food handler to food safety manager, and the next step for professionals who want to advance their careers in food safety is obtaining the CP-FS credential.

The CP-FS credential is designed for individuals within the public and private sectors who have prior food safety experience, and it integrates food microbiology, HACCP principles, and regulatory requirements to validate problem solving and knowledge expertise using real-world examples. This prestigious credential is well respected throughout the industry, and is highly valued by employers when hiring food safety professionals.

As an impartial, third-party endorsement of an individual’s professional knowledge and experience, a credential stands in support of a candidate’s resume and professional references. It serves as verification that a professional has achieved a baseline level of competency in his or her subject matter. Food safety professionals must understand local, state, national, and global regulations that affect their facility operations. The benefit of obtaining a nationally recognized credential is the transferability across state lines, and the requirement for continuing education to maintain the credential ensures that the professional is up-to-date on the most recent changes affecting the industry.

EH Topics: 

  • "A CP-FS credential is for individuals within the public and private sectors who have prior food safety experience, and it integrates food microbiology, HACCP principles, and regulatory requirements."
  • "My CP-FS credential has allowed regulatory agencies to look at me as a peer and has opened doors professionally to me. Industry has hired me because I have these credentials under my belt."
    - Cindy R., President of Eastern Food Safety and CP-FS credential holder since 2007
  • "The CP-FS credential has allowed me to be very competitive when applying for senior level Environmental Health positions. "
    - Arthur P., Environmental Health Specialist, Senior
  • "The CP-FS credential has given me a sense of pride to know I possess a credential which demonstrates a subject matter expert level in Food Safety. "
    - Arthur P., Environmental Health Specialist, Senior