Prior to sitting for the exam, an applicant must complete pre-certification coursework for the chosen primary program area.  An applicant should first submit their completed application, fee, and official unopened transcript for evaluation.  It is recommended that an applicant not begin the pre-certification coursework until they receive notification from the Department of Health that they have satisfied the eligiblity requirements.

The Food Protection Program pre-certification coursework is offered through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Regulatory Affairs’ Virtual University (ORAU). These FDA ORAU courses are free to current government employees, with a verifiable active government e-mail address.  Other persons choosing to complete these courses will incur the associated fees.  To view the list of courses and registration instructions, please review the FDA ORAU Instruction Guide.  Once the Department of Health has received proof of completion of the FDA ORAU courses and has approved the application, the applicant will be notified that they may sit for the Food Protection Certification Exam.

The Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems (OSTDS) pre-certification coursework and exams are provided through a week long Accelerated Certification Training (ACT), provided at the Polk County Training Site for the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association, Inc (FOWA).  Refer to the ACT Training Schedule 2021 for upcoming training dates.  Persons not employed by the Department of Health should contact FOWA to determine the training fee. 

Study Guides

To view  practice questions and study materials prior to the exam date for certificaiton in Food Protection, go to Food Study Guide.

To view  practice questions and study materials prior to the course dates for certification in OSTDS, go to OSTDS Study Guide.