ServSafe Manager Exam Day Checklist

What the morning of your ServSafe exam looks like

ServSafe offers several ways to take the ServSafe Manager exam: print or online with a Registered ServSafe Proctor, a testing center (ServSafe's listing names a Pearson VUE testing center option), or an online-proctored exam. Which options are available near you, and what each costs, is set by ServSafe and your proctor, so check servsafe.com and ask your proctor.

ServSafe states that the exam has 90 questions, 10 of which are pilot questions for research only, and lists the exam at 2 hours. Plan to arrive early so check-in does not eat into your start time.

What to bring and what to leave at home

Rules differ between proctors and testing centers, so ask yours before exam day. Common expectations at proctored exams include:

Government-issued photo identification (confirm exactly which IDs your proctor accepts)
Your exam registration or access information
No phones, smart watches, headphones, or study notes in the exam room

For an online-proctored exam, ServSafe lists a computer (PC or Mac), a working webcam and microphone, and a suitable location, and says mobile, tablet, and Chromebook devices are not supported.

The ServSafe Manager exam format

ServSafe states: "The exam has 90 questions; however there are 10 pilot questions that are for research purposes only." All exams are multiple choice. That leaves 80 scored questions.

ServSafe states: "A passing score is 70% or higher. This is obtained by answering at least 56 out of 80 questions correctly." Check the current ServSafe Manager exam information on servsafe.com before you test, because policies can change.

ServSafe does not publish domain weights in the sources we reviewed, so we do not list percentages here. The topics our practice questions cover include foodborne illness and microbiology, contamination and allergens, personal hygiene, sanitation and pest management, cleaning and sanitizing, receiving and storage, and HACCP and flow of food.

What to expect during the exam

Ask your proctor how the exam is delivered and whether you can flag questions to revisit. If you can, use that feature sparingly and keep an eye on the clock.

Watch Out For: The temperature-control trap

Exam questions on the temperature danger zone (41°F-135°F) often use answer choices that are close together (40°F vs 41°F vs 45°F). Memorize the boundaries exactly: cold food must be held at 41°F or below, hot food at 135°F or above.

After the exam

ServSafe states that online exam results are available almost immediately after the proctor submits the exam for grading, and that print exam results are posted to ServSafe.com within 3 to 4 business days after the answer sheets are received.

The National Restaurant Association recognizes the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification for five years. Your state or employer may set different requirements.

If you do not pass, ServSafe states that you can take the exam twice within 30 days. After a second failed attempt you must wait 60 days from your most recent attempt, and no more than four attempts are allowed in 12 months. You must purchase a new exam each time, and retests must be proctored by a Registered ServSafe Proctor.

The 48 hours before exam day

The day before the exam should be light review only. Re-read your notes on the big-6 pathogens, the temperature danger zone, and the FDA Food Code's HACCP requirements. Do not start any new content, and stop studying by 6 PM. Sleep 8 hours. Eat breakfast on exam day.