Who needs a certified food employee in Pennsylvania?

Issued by Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (Food Employee Certification Act), 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 Pennsylvania

Every retail food facility needs at least one supervisory employee who holds a certificate from an accredited program; a new facility has 90 days from opening to put one in place, and the certificate is posted.

Checked Oct 21, 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 Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (Food Employee Certification Act).

Sources and dates

Department of Agriculture food employee certification page; Act 2010-106. Checked against the agency’s page on the date shown; cities add their own fees.

Questions about opening here.