What all does the RBC Institute do?

We are a minority owned, faith-based nonprofit organization here to assist small and privately owned restaurant businesses with their food service and food safety certifications, particularly in under-served communities and disadvantaged participants. By focusing on these communities, we seek to afford these participants access to business education, problem solving, interviewing skills, math and recipe cost calculating, resume and application development, among other life skills. We will make sure you and your staff have the proper training and documentation to be completely compliant with food safety protocols! We offer our ServSafe certification programs in both English and Spanish, working to include as many participants as possible. We are dedicated to our communities, and typically respond to messages or inquires within 24 hours- so don't wait. Contact us today with any food safety questions you may have!

What is the difference between the ServSafe Food Handler Certificate and the ServSafe Manager Certification? 

The ServSafe Food Handler Certificate is earned upon completion of a 40 question exam that is meant for food handlers in employee level positions. The course verifies basic food safety knowledge, and successful completion of the exam results in the employee receiving a Certificate of Achievement from the National Restaurant Association. 

The ServSafe Manager Certification involves a 90 question exam, verifying that the food safety knowledge of a manager (or the person in charge) is enough to safeguard against the spread of foodborne illness to the public. Successful completion of this multiple-choice exam will gain the manager an accredited certification, and a wallet card.

Is being ServSafe certified a requirement in Virginia?

For the entire state of Virginia, certification for food safety managers is required. Both in-person and online class options for ServSafe training programs are accepted, and certifications expire after 5 years, requiring a retest for renewal.

For Food Handler certifications in the state, requirements are enforced differently depending on the county. However, even if you live or have a business within a county where this certification is voluntary, we highly recommend that you complete the course, to protect yourself and others from any illnesses or risks. 

Alcohol certification for every county in Virginia is voluntary, but with mitigation benefits. Both in-person and online ServSafe classes will satisfy this requirement, and it is also highly recommended that you complete this course if you are serving alcohol at your business. Our ServSafe Alcohol training program is developed by experts and the National Restaurant Association, and will help you mitigate the risks involved in serving alcohol.

What is a passing score for the ServSafe certification exam?

A passing score varies slightly depending on which ServSafe certification you are taking an exam for. Each exam is multiple choice. For the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Examination, a passing score would be correctly answering 60 out of 80 questions, equivalent to scoring a 75% or higher. With the ServSafe Alcohol Primary Exam, a passing score is also 75% (30 out of 40 questions correct). However, the advanced and proctored Alcohol exam requires a correct answer score of 80% (56 out of 70 questions) or higher. 

What happens if I do not pass the ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Exam?

If you did not pass the exam, or if your current certification is about to expire, you are allowed to retest. You are able to take the examination twice within 30 days, but if you do not succeed in passing the exam with the second attempt, you must wait 60 days after that most recent attempt before retaking the test. 

There are no more than 4 attempts at the exam allowed within a 12 month period. In accordance with the National Restaurant Association, all retesting must be proctored by a Registered ServSafe proctor- which is one of the services we are happy to provide here at RBC Institute. With only a $50 fee, we will come to your location to assist you in retaking and completing this certification exam.

If I choose to take my course online, will it ever expire?

Yes. A ServSafe Food Handler course must be completed within 60 days of when it was begun. A ServSafe Manager Certification or ServSafe Alcohol course must be complete within 90 days of their start date. If a course is unused, it is valid for up to one year after the date of purchase. If a course has expired, students will be unable to access it, they are non-refundable and cannot have extended expiration dates.

What is the best way to get in contact with you?

To get in contact with our founder, Chef Ralph Brown Sr, give him a call at (434) 242-9984, or send him an email directly using the address revrbrown@yahoo.com. Ms. Stacey Allen, certified instructor / proctor for the National Restaurant Association, can be reached at (434) 806-4838. If you would prefer to send us a general message, we have a convenient contact form here on our website. Simply fill out your information in the form on the "Contact Us" page or the "Get In Touch!" button to send us a message directly, and we will get back to you as soon as possible!