ServSafe® certification cost
The exam itself runs $38.99–$108.99 depending on how you take it. The course is separate.
You can retake twice within 30 days. A 3rd or later attempt needs a 60-day wait, and you get at most 4 attempts in 12 months.
The exam is $38.99 as an access code or printed voucher, $99 online-proctored, or $108.99 at a test center. The course is $125 on its own; course and exam together run $152.95–$188.99, and the book is $52.99.
Those are ServSafe's prices, not ours, and we re-check them quarterly. No retake discount is published — fail and you buy the exam again at the same price.
Questions people ask about the cost
How much does the ServSafe Manager exam cost?
$38.99 for the exam as an access code or printed voucher, $99 online-proctored, or $108.99 at a test center. Those are ServSafe's catalog prices, not ours, and we last read them on 10 October 2026.
Is it cheaper to take the exam online or at a test center?
Online. ServSafe lists the online-proctored exam at $99 and the test-center exam at $108.99. Bundled with the online course, the same gap holds: $179 online-proctored, $188.99 at a test center.
What do I get for $99 that I don't get for $38.99?
ServSafe describes the $99 listing as an online exam with online proctoring included. The $38.99 listing is the exam access code on its own. The exam is proctored either way, so before you buy the cheaper one, find out who is proctoring your session and where. how the exam is delivered and booked
What does a retake cost?
The same price again. ServSafe publishes no retake discount. You may sit the exam twice within 30 days; a third attempt means waiting at least 60 days, and no more than four attempts are allowed in 12 months. One honest timed run before you pay is cheaper than a second fee. take a full 90-question run free
How long does the certificate last, and what does renewing cost?
The certificate is valid for five years, and ServSafe tells you to check your state or local laws and your employer's standards for recertification. ServSafe's Manager catalog lists no separate renewal product or renewal price, so budget for the exam again. what your state or county actually requires
Is the $15 ServSafe test the same thing?
No. $15 is ServSafe Food Handler: 40 questions, not proctored, 75% to pass. It is a different product and it does not satisfy a certified-food-protection-manager requirement.