Extension offers ServSafe training statewide, supports food safety and public health
Feb. 24, 2026
By Rebekah Hall
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- 44 extension agents are certified ServSafe Instructors/Proctors
- Extension offered more than 90 ServSafe classes statewide in 2025
- ServSafe training teaches critical food safety practices at front-line and manager levels
(800 words)
Download photo of extension ServSafe class
LITTLE ROCK — Food safety is a cornerstone of success for the more than 5,500 restaurants in Arkansas.
Across the state, county agents with the Cooperative Extension Service offer ServSafe training to “strengthen public health, support local economies and reduce risk at every level of food service,” said Quad Whitson, extension culinary nutrition and food safety program associate for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
More than 40 extension family and consumer sciences county agents are certified ServSafe ‘Instructors/Proctors,’ facilitating ServSafe certifications in communities across Arkansas.
“In 2025 alone, extension offered more than 90 ServSafe Food Protection Manager and Food Handler classes statewide,” Whitson said. “That volume reflects both our demand and our capacity. Because we have certified instructors embedded across counties, we’re able to respond to local needs, offering training where people live and work, and support everything from front-line food handlers to certified food protection managers.”
Whitson said that these trainings are critical for restaurants, food trucks, catering operations, bars serving food, grocery and convenience stores with food preparation, as well as schools, daycares, hospitals, long-term care facilities and even concession stands.
“Instead of traveling long distances or relying on private providers, people can receive affordable, trusted training in their own county or region,” he said. “This helps businesses stay compliant and operate more confidently.”
More than a test
Shannon Autrey, Conway County extension family and consumer sciences agent, said that as a ServSafe instructor, she has seen firsthand the impact of offering ServSafe training to her community.
“I had a client who was starting up his business, and he had a dream for a small bar with drinks and food, where people could play pool,” Autrey said. “He had his business model and had worked hard to renovate his place. The last piece that he couldn’t get was passing the ServSafe exam. He had attempted to do it online and pass it, but it was just not lining up with his learning style.”
Through taking the two-day ServSafe Food Manager class provided by Conway County extension, Autrey’s client was able to pass his exam, open the business and start serving customers.
“Completing this was a huge barrier for him,” Autrey said. “The content wasn’t the issue; it was how he was able to access it. Connecting with him on a person-to-person level and taking a paper test versus on the computer — that made all the difference for him.”
Providing in-person training is crucial, Autrey said.
“It’s a lot more approachable for our clients when they have a person in front of them who can answer questions with the right background knowledge,” she said. “We’re able to clarify things for them and give them more of the ‘why’ behind a certain rule.”
Autrey said that providing the ServSafe training is about “so much more than just passing the test.”
“It’s the personal touch,” Autrey said. “We build relationships with our clients, and I get lots of calls from people wanting to follow up.”
Front-line and manager certification
Extension offers the Food Protection Manager class and exam for $140 and the Food Handler class and exam for $20. For people who need to become recertified or otherwise don’t need to retake the class, they can take the exam only for $60.
The ServSafe Food Protection Manager credential is accredited by the American National Standards Institute and meets the Arkansas Department of Health requirement for a designated “person in charge” to oversee food safety in permitted food establishments, Whitson said.
“The manager exam is a proctored, multiple-choice test with 90 questions and a required passing score of 70 percent,” Whitson said. “It covers advanced food safety concepts such as foodborne illness prevention, time and temperature control for food safety, personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitation, allergen management and more.”
Extension also offers the ServSafe Food Handler program designed for front-line food employees. This assessment is shorter and non-proctored. Whitson said the training focuses on “foundational food safety practices such as proper handwashing, prevention of cross-contamination and more.”
“Together, these two certifications enable us to support food safety from the manager’s level down to day-to-day operations,” Whitson said.
Whitson said extension often conducts the Food Handler program with high school students, contributing to workforce development in Arkansas.
“By getting young people ready with these industry credentials before they enter the workforce, we can prepare them to have a leg up in their careers,” Whitson said.
Building a culture of food safety
“When both managers and front-line employees are trained, food safety becomes part of daily operations — not just something addressed during an inspection,” Whitson said. “That means fewer foodborne illness outbreaks, stronger consumer trust, and a safer, more resilient local food system.”
For more information about ServSafe and to view upcoming trainings, visit the ServSafe Training page on the Cooperative Extension Service website.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Rebekah Hall
rkhall@uada.edu
501-671-2061