Question 1
What is the minimum temperature for holding hot TCS food?
The food manager exam passing score
On the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals exam you pass with a scaled score of 75 or higher. That is not a percentage: the number of correct answers needed depends on the exam form you take.
| Pass | Scaled score of 75 or higher |
|---|---|
| Is it 75%? | No; the owner says it is not a percentage |
| Results | Within two weeks; sooner online |
| Certification | Valid for up to five years |
Why a scaled score
The National Registry builds many exam forms from a large bank of questions, and some forms are slightly harder than others. Experts estimate how many correct answers a competent manager would get on each form, and that raw pass mark is converted to a scaled 75. This keeps the standard the same whichever form you sit.
What the score report shows
Every official result includes a diagnostic report that rates you in each blueprint category, so if you need to retake, you know where to focus.
Other accredited exams
Each accredited exam sets its own passing rule. We could not read the ServSafe, Prometric or 360training exam pages, so we do not give their figures here; check the candidate information for your exam.
Try 3 questions
Question 2
A cook drops a few shrimp onto a burger patty, picks them off and plans to cook the patty well. A guest with a shellfish allergy ordered it. What is correct?
Question 3
What is the first principle of a HACCP system?
Next step
Questions people ask
What score do you need to pass the food manager exam?
On the National Registry exam, a scaled score of 75 or higher. Other accredited exams set their own passing rule.
Is 75 the same as 75% correct?
No. The National Registry says a scaled 75 is not a percentage and does not mean 60 of 80 right; the number needed depends on the exam form.
How soon do I get my results?
The National Registry says within two weeks, and sooner if you take the exam online.