Maryland Food Manager Certification: Which Counties Require It
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Quick answer: Not statewide, at least not yet. Maryland's food service rules don't require a certified manager, but Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Howard County run their own certified food service manager programs: you pass an accredited exam, then get a county card for $30 to $73. Most county cards last 3 years, and Montgomery's lasts up to 5. Frederick and Anne Arundel counties don't require one. The state plans to adopt a rule requiring a certified manager on site at all hours everywhere, but hasn't set a date.
This is general information, not legal advice. When in doubt, check with your county health department.
No Statewide Rule Yet
Maryland's food service regulations (COMAR 10.15.03) require only that "an employee receives training in proper food handling and sanitation as it relates to assigned duties." The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) says facilities in some jurisdictions "may require a certified food manager or similar food safety training and certification," and it marks Baltimore City and Baltimore, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George's, and Worcester counties.
That may change. Maryland's rules are its own and don't follow any edition of the FDA Food Code, but MDH says it "plans to adopt" the 2022 FDA Food Code. That would require every retail food service establishment to have at least one person in charge who's a Certified Food Protection Manager "on-site during all hours of operation," certified through an ANAB-accredited program. MDH "has not established a date," and no formal proposal had appeared in the Maryland Register as of October 2, 2026.
County Rules
| County | Card fee | Valid for |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | $50 | Up to 5 years |
| Prince George's | $73, plus possible county fees | 3 years |
| Baltimore County | $35 | 3 years from the exam |
| Baltimore City | $30 under its 2016 rule | 3 years |
| Howard | $37 | 3 years from issue |
- Montgomery County: a licensed food service facility must be "under the immediate control of a certified food service manager" (County Code §15-8), and inspectors check for the county photo card at high and moderate priority facilities. A national certificate alone doesn't count. Apply in person at 2425 Reedie Drive in Wheaton; the county responds in 10 to 14 business days. The exam "must be taken at a proctored location. Online test certificates will not be accepted." Montgomery also requires an employee who has passed an approved allergen awareness course on the premises whenever food is prepared or served (§15-15B).
- Prince George's County: a certified food service manager must be physically present "during all hours of operation" (County Code §12-114), and the county won't issue a permit until you meet the rule. It accepts a course or test approved under Conference for Food Protection standards. Low priority facilities, such as places that serve only packaged foods or hand-dipped ice cream, are exempt, along with some nonprofit and fire company events.
- Baltimore County: medium and high priority facilities need a Certified Food Manager "on-site during all hours of operation." Its list of accepted programs names ServSafe, NRFSP, StateFoodSafety, Learn2Serve, Always Food Safe, Trust20, and EduClasses. Nonprofits that operate three days a week or less need only a Level II certification, which the county teaches free.
- Baltimore City: high and moderate priority facilities must employ a food service manager certified by the city within 90 days of hire. The city requires training from an ANSI-accredited provider plus a proctored exam. Food must be directly supervised by a certified manager or an employee one has trained.
- Howard County: runs a certified food service manager card program. Apply in person with your original certificate, photo ID, and a passport-style photo, and keep the card at the facility whenever you're on duty.
- No requirement: Frederick County says "a certified food manager is not required," Anne Arundel County's licensing materials don't ask for one, and Annapolis repealed its city rule in 2021. Worcester County offers a free certified operator class for temporary events instead.
Baltimore County's application lets you transfer a card from Baltimore City, Howard County, or Prince George's County, and Baltimore City offers free reciprocal certification for certificates from Maryland counties with approved programs.
How to Get Certified
1. Pick an accredited exam
The counties accept programs accredited by ANAB or approved under Conference for Food Protection standards, which include ServSafe, NRFSP, StateFoodSafety, Learn2Serve (360training), Always Food Safe, Trust20, and EduClasses. In Montgomery County, take the exam at a test center or with an in-person proctor, not online.
2. Check whether you need a course
It depends on the county. Baltimore City requires ANSI-accredited training plus the exam, and Montgomery County asks for an approved course, online or in a classroom, with the exam taken at a proctored location. Prince George's accepts a course or a test, and Baltimore County dates its certificate from the exam.
3. Pass the exam
Each provider sets its own passing score. ServSafe requires 70%, NRFSP a scaled score of 75, StateFoodSafety 750 of 1,000 points, and Learn2Serve 75%. Try our free Food Manager Practice Test first.
4. Get your county card
Apply to your county health department with your certificate and the fee from the table above. Montgomery and Howard want you to apply in person, and Montgomery doesn't take cash.
Low-Cost Classes in Maryland
Baltimore County trains nonprofit operators free: its Level II course, for volunteer fire companies and nonprofit groups that run a kitchen three days a week or less, has full sessions online on October 13, November 4, and December 12 and in person in Monkton on November 7, with recertification sessions on October 17, October 29, and December 5. Prince George's County's code lists a $59 county training class and a $33 recertification class, plus county fees; call for dates. Montgomery College runs a 16-hour ServSafe course whose exam leads to county cards.
Where to Take the Exam Online
These providers are accredited, and all offer an online-proctored exam. Prices are from each provider's website, checked September 27 and rechecked October 5, 2026; confirm at checkout.
| Provider | Exam, online proctored | Course + exam |
|---|---|---|
| EduClasses (paid link) | $65 | $120 |
| 360training (Learn2Serve) | $69.99 | $121 |
| StateFoodSafety | $76 | $134 |
| Always Food Safe | $76 | $132 |
| NRFSP | $81.99 | Course sold separately |
| ServSafe | $99 | $179 |
In Montgomery County, choose a test center or an in-person proctor instead of the online option; EduClasses also offers its exam at Prometric test centers. Always Food Safe's package is $84 plus $48 for the online proctor. We may earn a commission if you buy through some of these links, at no extra cost to you; they're marked “(paid link)”. Our How Much Does Food Manager Certification Cost? Exam and Course Prices Compared explains each price, including cheaper in-person options.
Taking it in Spanish? ServSafe, NRFSP, StateFoodSafety, Always Food Safe, and EduClasses offer the manager exam in Spanish; 360training lists its exam in English only.
How Long It Lasts
Your national certificate may say five years, but the county card follows the county's term: three years in Prince George's, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Howard, and up to five in Montgomery. Renewal rules differ:
- Prince George's: renew with a recertification test, approved staff trainings, a monthly self-inspection program, or a challenge exam, no later than six months after the card expires.
- Montgomery: renew with an approved recertification course, 24 hours of staff training you've given, or a program of self-inspections, within a year after expiration.
- Baltimore City: renewal means meeting the training and exam rule again, within a year of expiration.
What Inspectors Check
Montgomery County cites a missing card as item 34, "Certified food manager present, active supervision," for high and moderate priority facilities. Prince George's can fine a facility $500 "on each occasion" it can't show a certified manager in immediate control. Baltimore City can suspend or revoke a manager's card for repeated violations.
Allergen Rules
Every Maryland food establishment has had to display a food allergy awareness poster in the staff area since March 1, 2014 (Health–General §21-330.2). MDH's free poster, updated in 2022 to add sesame, comes in English and Spanish. Montgomery County goes further and requires an employee with approved allergen awareness training, such as ServSafe Allergens, AllerTrain, or StateFoodSafety's course, on site whenever food is prepared or served. Our Food Allergen Policy for Restaurants: What the 2026 Food Code Requires covers training and posting.
Food Handlers on Your Team
A manager certificate is a separate credential from a food handler card, and Maryland has no food handler card requirement, state or local. The state rules require that employees be trained for their assigned duties. Our Food Handler Card Requirements by State: The 2026 Guide compares states that do require cards.
How to Study
The manager exam goes deeper than basic food safety training: HACCP, cooling, employee health, receiving, and pest control. Our Food Manager Certification: How to Pass the Exam walks through each topic, and our free Food Manager Practice Test has manager-level questions with explanations.
Prefer to study by ear? "ServSafe Manager Audio Cram," our own audio review from Kanti Press, covers the manager-level material from the 2022 FDA Food Code so you can study on a commute or between shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maryland require a certified food manager?
Not statewide. Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Howard County have their own certified manager programs, while Frederick and Anne Arundel counties don't require one. The state plans to add a statewide rule but hasn't set a date.
Is ServSafe accepted in Maryland?
Yes, where a certified manager is required. ServSafe is one of several accredited exams the counties accept, along with NRFSP, StateFoodSafety, Learn2Serve, Always Food Safe, EduClasses, and others. You still need the county card.
Can I take the food manager exam online in Maryland?
Montgomery County doesn't accept online test certificates, so take the exam there at a test center or with an in-person proctor. The other counties we checked accept accredited exams without saying where you take them, but confirm with your county before you buy.
How long is Maryland food manager certification good for?
It depends on the county: three years in Prince George's, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Howard, and up to five years in Montgomery.
Do food handlers in Maryland need a card?
No. Maryland has no state or local food handler card requirement; employees must be trained for their duties.
How much does Maryland food manager certification cost?
An accredited exam with an online proctor costs about $65 to $99, plus the county card: $35 in Baltimore County, $37 in Howard, $50 in Montgomery, $73 in Prince George's, and $30 in Baltimore City under its 2016 rule. Baltimore County trains small nonprofits free.
Running the shift as person in charge? Certification is the start. The person in charge also makes sure the kitchen's food safety procedures are followed, and the FDA's 2026 Food Code, which states adopt over time, asks for more of them in writing. Our free guides cover each one:
- Employee illness policy: what has to be written down, with a sample policy
- Vomit and diarrhea clean-up procedure: the steps and what goes in the clean-up kit
- Food safety management system: the written procedures, training plans, and records
- Free food safety log templates: fridge, holding, cooling, receiving, sanitizer, and calibration logs
- Restaurant health inspection checklist: walk the kitchen the way an inspector does
Want it done for you? The Food Safety Plan Kit ($29) has editable versions of all of these.
Bottom Line
Check your county first. In Montgomery, Prince George's, Baltimore County, Baltimore City, and Howard, pass an accredited exam, then get the county card and keep it current. Elsewhere, a certified manager is a good idea before the state's planned rule arrives. Start with our free Food Manager Practice Test.
Sources
- COMAR 10.15.03, Food Service Facilities: .14 (person in charge duties and training) — regs.maryland.gov; .33 (high, moderate, and low priority facilities) — regs.maryland.gov; .32 (required postings) — regs.maryland.gov; .03 (incorporation by reference) — regs.maryland.gov.
- Maryland Department of Health, local health department food contacts — health.maryland.gov; FDA Food Code adoption fact sheet (October 2025) — health.maryland.gov; Office of Food Protection — health.maryland.gov; food allergies and posters — health.maryland.gov.
- Health–General §21-330.2 (food allergy awareness poster) — mgaleg.maryland.gov.
- Montgomery County Code §15-8 (certified food service manager) — codelibrary.amlegal.com; §15-15B (allergen awareness training) — codelibrary.amlegal.com; food service facility licensing and manager cards — montgomerycountymd.gov; food manager fact sheet (April 2026) — montgomerycountymd.gov; manager card application (April 2026) — montgomerycountymd.gov; inspection violations (April 2026) — montgomerycountymd.gov; approved allergen awareness courses — montgomerycountymd.gov.
- Prince George's County Code, Subtitle 12, Division 2 (food service facilities, §§12-104, 12-114, 12-114.01) — library.municode.com; county fee schedule — library.municode.com.
- Baltimore City Health Code §6-301 — codes.baltimorecity.gov; §6-302 — codes.baltimorecity.gov; §6-305 — codes.baltimorecity.gov; Food Service Manager Certification regulation (2016) — codes.baltimorecity.gov.
- Baltimore County, certified food managers — baltimorecountymd.gov; Howard County, food service manager card application — howardcountymd.gov; Frederick County Health Department FAQ — health.frederickcountymd.gov; Anne Arundel County, food service professionals — aahealth.org; Annapolis City Code, Chapter 10.12 — library.municode.com; Worcester County temporary food program — worcesterhealth.org; Montgomery College food safety courses — montgomerycollege.edu.
- ANAB directory of accredited food protection manager programs — anabpd.ansi.org; Conference for Food Protection, list of accredited food protection manager certification organizations (February 24, 2026) — foodprotect.org.
- Exam providers' passing scores and languages: ServSafe FAQs — servsafe.com; NRFSP FAQs — nrfsp.com; StateFoodSafety — statefoodsafety.com; Learn2Serve — 360training.com.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026. ServSafe is a trademark of the National Restaurant Association; FoodHandlerGear is not affiliated with or endorsed by it. This is general information, not legal advice.
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