Who needs a certified food protection manager on site in Illinois?

Issued by Illinois Department of Public Health (exam from an ANSI-accredited provider), at step 4 of 6 in the opening sequence: get the permits for your kind of business.

9 of the 20 kinds of business in Illinois

The Illinois Food Code requires a certified manager in charge; the certification is an accredited course and exam (ServSafe, NRFSP, Prometric, 360training and StateFoodSafety are accepted). Chicago keeps its own certificate on top of the state’s.

Checked Oct 17, 2026 against the agency’s page.

Step 4 of 6: Get the permits for your kind of business

  1. Set up the business
  2. Register for tax
  3. Approve the space
  4. Get the permits for your kind of business
  5. Alcohol permits
  6. Before the first hire

Issued by Illinois Department of Public Health (exam from an ANSI-accredited provider).

Sources and dates

IDPH certified food protection manager page. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.

Questions about opening here.