National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS)

Credential: Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS)
Credentialing Agency: National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

Renewal Period: 2 years

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) credential is an intermediate-level certification for experienced food safety professionals. CCFSs manage and evaluate food safety plans, food facilities, and food production processes throughout the food supply chain; these professionals work in retail, manufacturing, food service distribution companies, and other food industry settings within the private sector. CCFSs conduct risk assessments, observe and train staff, assess physical facilities, and assure that corrective measures are implemented to control hazards and prevent foodborne illness. CCFSs demonstrate expertise in manufacturing and processing areas; serve in regulatory and oversight roles including, food safety management and compliance positions. Candidates must take and pass a written exam.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:    medium

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite: optional depending on education – NEHA Registered Environmental Health Sanitarian (REHS) or Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) or equivalent credential
  • Experience: 2 years recommended
  • Education
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

  • In-person exam
  • Remote proctored on-line exam
  • Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 2 years

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

National Environmental Health Association (NEHA)

720 South Colorado Blvd.
Suite 1000-N
Denver, CO  80246-1925

Phone: (303) 756-9090

Fax: (303) 691-9490
Email: credentialing@neha.org

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Track 1:

Bachelor’s Degree Track

  • Have a bachelor’s degree in food science or environmental health from a degree program accredited by the National Environmental Health Science and Protection Accreditation Council, and one year of full-time work experience in food safety management, instruction, compliance, or enforcement, or;
  • Have bachelor’s degree with 30-semester hours core science, and at least two years of full-time work experience in food safety management, instruction, compliance, or enforcement. Degree must be from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent if a foreign institution, or;
  • Have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent if a foreign institution, and at least five years of full-time work experience in food safety management, instruction, compliance, or enforcement.

Track 2:

Associates Degree Track

  • Have an associate’s degree in science from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent of a foreign institution, and at least five years of full-time work experience in food safety management, instruction, compliance or enforcement.

Track 3:

Experience Track

  • Have a Registered Environmental Health Sanitarian (REHS) or equivalent credential in good standing, and one year of full-time work experience in food safety management, instruction, compliance, or enforcement, or;
  • Have a Certified Professional Food Safety (CP-FS) or equivalent credential in good standing, and two years of full-time work experience in food safety management, instruction, compliance, or enforcement.

The Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) credential has the following other requirements:

  • Candidates and those who earn the CCFS are required to uphold and abide by the NEHA Code of Ethics.

Written Exam

  • Evaluating Food Facilities and Equipment (18.3%)
    • Perform a Plan Review
    • Monitor Potable Water
    • Assess the Physical Facility
    • Evaluate Food Contact Equipment
    • Monitor Equipment Calibrations
    • Monitor Sewer and Waste Disposal
  • Managing the Food Flow (21.7%)
    • Conduct a Risk Assessment
    • Evaluate Risks Associated with Special Processes
    • Manage the Procurement Process
    • Evaluate Products at Delivery
    • Evaluate Storage Practices
    • Observe Food Preparation/Processing
    • Monitor Handling of Finished Products
    • Evaluate the Transport of Finished Products
  • Preventing Contamination and Adulteration (23.3%)
    • Monitor Employee Health and Hygiene
    • Evaluate Contact with RTE Foods
    • Monitor Cleaning and Sanitizing Procedures
    • Monitor Pest Control Activities
    • Monitor Allergen Control
    • Prevent Chemical Contamination
    • Assess the Management of Training
  • Ensuring Regulatory Compliance (12.5%)
    • Verify Required Licenses/Permits/Certificates
    • Conduct Pre and Post Debrief Interview
    • Evaluate PICs Knowledge
    • Conduct Menu/Labeling Review
    • Complete Required Documentation
  • Managing Adverse Events (9.2%)
    • Create a Response Plan
    • Respond to Adverse Events
    • Evaluate Effectiveness of Response
  • Managing Food Defense (9.2%)
    • Create a Food Defense Plan
    • Implement Food Defense Plan
    • Evaluate Food Defense Plan
  • Managing the Sample Collection Program (5.8%)
    • Conduct Sample Collection Activities
    • Perform Sample Collection Follow Up Activities

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) examination:

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

  • Exam Administration

    Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) credential where checked:

    • In-person exam
    • Remote proctored on-line exam
    • Third-party test vendor

  • For more information on the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS)

Renewal Period: 2 years

The Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) credential has the following recertification information:

NEHA certifications are awarded for 2-year periods. To remain certified, certification holders must:
  • Earn and submit a minimum of 24 hours of continuing education every two years; and
  • Submit renewal fees for the CCFS credential every two years; and
  • Agree to continue to abide by and uphold the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Policy and the policies of the credential program.
  • Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current year, no arrears will be paid. Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored CareerOneStop's analysis indicates the certification is frequently mentioned in online job postings.

Click for external link to CareerOneStop's Credentials Center.

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

Click to go to the COOL Summary page for this MOC.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

CA Eligible

This certification is eligible for CA.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click Menu at the top of any page, then click "2 Complete Voucher and Apply" under Credentialing Steps.

CG Bucks

Current Coast Guard policy states all credentials listed on CG COOL may be reimbursed assuming the enlisted service member meets the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program Policy (COMDTINST 1540.1(series))

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 through E9

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 through E9

Early Career

1-6 years experience; Officer O1 through O2

Mid Career

6-12 years experience; Officer O3 through O5

Late Career

12+ years experience; Officer O6 and Above

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click to go to the external link for GI Bill licensing and certification information.

ANAB (ANSI)

This credential has been accredited by ANAB (ANSI).

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ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC.

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ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC.

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NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA.

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IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS.

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Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: minimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Registered Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Go to the Apprenticeship Finder and enter career path or location to find apprenticeship opportunities.

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Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for Food Service Managers

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Updated: February 26, 2021
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