PTLA Now Offering RAMP and ServSafe Training
Food safety training is a commitment, a mindset and a smart business practice for every restaurant and foodservice operation in our industry. Food safety training doesn't end, however, once a manager earns their certification. That's where it begins - by implementing food safety practices on a daily basis. It is also critical that every person in an operation meets today's food safety practice demands. The ServSafe program provides the resources to help keep food safety as an essential ingredient in every meal. ServSafe training is the one commitment to food safety implementation that we should all share every day.
It is our policy that no class materials will be provided until payment is made to the PTLA via check, money order or credit card.
Class size is limited and registration deadlines are two weeks prior to each test date. Dates are subject to change.
Training Options:
PTLA offers a variety of certification options.
One-Day Class with Home Study and In-Class Testing
Total course length is 16 hours which includes home study prior to the class along with 8 hours of classroom instruction & testing. Your ServSafe Essentials textbook and exam answer sheet are mailed to you two weeks prior to the class date. Students should arrive at the class site at least 15 minutes prior to class. Students will be asked to certify they have completed the home study prior to the classroom instruction. The ServSafe® exam consists of 90 questions and is administered at the conclusion of the classroom instruction. Students must receive a 75 percent to pass this test in order to receive their ServSafe Food Safety Certificate. All tests are graded and take approximately 14-21 business days to process.
Text-based home study with in-class testing (For professional foodhandlers):
This course is recommended only for experienced professionals in the food service industry, as there is no guidance or instructor interface. Eight hours of home study is required. You will be provided with the ServSafe Essentials textbook with answer sheet. Testing will begin at 3:30pm at the end of the registered class date. The ServSafe® exam consists of 90 questions. Testers must receive a 75 percent to pass this test and receive their Food Safety Certificate. All tests are graded and take approximately 14-21 business days to process.
Online course with in-class testing:
The online course length is appropriately 8-10 hours. All course applicants will be asked to verify that they have completed the online course by bringing their printed certificate of completion to the testing facility. Online course requires 56K modem and speaker capabilities and is not refundable. The participant will be provided a username/password, answer sheet and testing location. Testing will begin at 3:30pm at the end of the registered class date. The ServSafe® exam consists of 90 questions. Testers must receive a 75 percent to pass this test and receive their Food Safety Certificate. All tests are graded and take approximately 14-21 business days to process.
Online course with proctored online testing:
The online course length is appropriately 8-10 hours. All course applicants will be asked to verify that they have completed the online course by bringing their printed certificate of completion to the testing facility. Online course requires 56K modem and speaker capabilities and is not refundable. The participant will be provided a username/password, online exam seat registration and testing location. Participants will be required to provide their own laptop for testing purposes. The ServSafe® exam consists of 90 questions. Testers must receive a 75 percent to pass this test and receive their Food Safety Certificate. All tests are graded and take approximately 14-21 business days to process.
Retesting:
Retesting fee is $60.00 which includes an answer sheet and testing location. Participants registered to retest may be asked to provide proof of previous class attendance. This option is designed for students who need to retake the exam due to a non-passing score on a previously attended course. Class time is not required. Testing will begin at 3:30pm of the registered class date.
Recertification:
After January 22, 2011, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) will no longer issue food employee certificates. Food Employee certificates will be accepted as meeting the requirements of the law until the PDA certificate expires. At the time of expiration, the food employee will need to complete a nationally recognized program with exam and pass with a score of 75 percent or higher. The new certificate will need to displayed on the wall of the facility for inspectors to review.
Please Note: Requirements for recertification may vary by county.
On-site Group Training:
This class will be conducted at your location at a time that fits your operations schedule. PTLA provides all certification materials and the instructor for the course, as well as follow up paperwork and documentation to satisfy local and state requirements. There is a minimum of 15 participants needed for this class option.
Legislation enacted June 18 of 2001 established a voluntary Responsible Alcohol Management Program certification that provides incentives for licensees who participate. Act 26 of 2006 mandates RAMP for any licensee found guilty of sales to minors or visibly intoxicated persons. Completion of the program provides certification for two years. In order to comply, you must complete all parts of the program, which include: Owner/Manager Training, Server/Seller Training, New Employee Orientation, Signage and Certification Compliance Visit.
Selling alcohol today is a lot more complicated than just knowing how to mix a good kamikaze or remembering which beers are on special. If you or your employee serve alcohol to a minor or visibly intoxicated patron, the results could be serious. Not only could you face administrative and criminal fines and penalties, but you could also be sued in civil court for damages that person might cause after leaving your establishment.
RAMP explains how to:
- Detect signs of impairment and intoxication, and effectively cut off service to a customer who has had too much to drink
- Identify underage individuals, and deter minors from coming into your establishment in the first place
- Detect altered, counterfeit, and borrowed identification
- Avoid unnecessary liability
- Help reduce alcohol-related problems (underage drinking, vehicle crashes, fights, etc) in your community
Benefits to the licensee include:
- Possible reduction in the fines and penalties issued by the Administrative Law Judge to the licensee for serving a minor or a visibly intoxicated patron, so long as the licensee was in compliance with all parts of ACT 141 at the time of the violation and had no citations in the previous four years.
- Possible liquor liability insurance discount.
- Knowledgeable, responsible, well trained alcohol service staff and management.
- Recognition as a responsible licensee in your community.
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