Food Protection Manager 3 Great Ways to Learn Enroll Today
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back of house staff

NextShift Backline

Academic Workforce Credentialing Program

Who Should Take this Program?

This program is designed for kitchen and production team members building technical skills, operational discipline, and supervisory readiness.

Back-of-House Team Members

Cooks, prep staff, and kitchen team members seeking structured, credentialed training in food safety, operations, and performance standards.

Culinary Professionals

Individuals working in fast-paced kitchens who want formal credentials aligned with real operational expectations.

Team Members Preparing to Lead

Employees developing skills for station leadership, shift supervision, or kitchen management roles.

Career Builders in Foodservice

People strengthening technical skills and discipline to support long-term employment and advancement in foodservice operations.

Academic Alignment

Industry Credential Alignment

The NextShift Backline program is aligned to the Principles of Restaurant Management academic framework developed by ServSuccess.

Learners who successfully complete required coursework and proctored exams are eligible to earn an industry-recognized credential that validates operational knowledge, kitchen readiness, and supervisory capability in foodservice environments.

What You’ll Learn

Practical skills and operational knowledge designed for real hospitality environments.

Production Standards

Build consistent execution through station standards, prep systems, and quality checks that hold up under pressure.

Food Safety & Risk Control

Understand behaviors and controls that prevent contamination, reduce risk, and protect guests and the operation.

Kitchen Operations & Workflow

Learn how BOH teams function—roles, communication, timing, and workflow that drives speed and consistency.

Cost Control & Waste Reduction

Strengthen fundamentals of food and labor cost awareness, portion control, inventory habits, and waste prevention.

Team Communication on the Line

Practice clear, calm communication for fast-paced environments—handoffs, call-backs, and problem-solving during service.

Leadership & Accountability

Develop the habits of a strong lead: reliability, coaching basics, shift responsibility, and performance expectations.

CURRICULUM STRUCTURE

Credentials & Coursework

NextShift Backline combines credential-aligned coursework with career-path requirements and job-ready self-study modules.
Required coursework aligned to the Certified Restaurant Supervisor (CRS) credential.
ServSafe® Food Protection Manager
Controlling Foodservice Costs
Hospitality & Restaurant Management
Hospitality HR Management & Supervision
Food & Beverage Management
Additional required coursework selected specifically for back-of-house roles and day-to-day service operations.
Nutrition
Purchasing
Customer Service
Online modules integrated into the program schedule to support workplace readiness and local requirements.
Food Allergen Awareness
De-escalation & Active Threat Awareness for Restaurants
Human Trafficking Awareness
Basic First Aid & CPR
State-required Alcohol Server/Seller Training (where applicable)
Built for working professionals with structured class time and guided work between sessions.
In-person instruction
On-site computer-based proctored exams
Evening Classes
Program length 4 - 6 weeks

What This Program Prepares You For

Practical outcomes aligned with back-of-house operations, team leadership, and supervisory readiness.

Credential Earned

Earn the Certified Restaurant Supervisor (CRS) credential, validating operational knowledge, food safety competency, and readiness to lead production teams. Credential issued through ServSuccess.

Operational Leadership

Develop the skills to support consistent execution in kitchen environments, including workflow management, food safety oversight, and team accountability.

Career Progression

Build the experience and recognized credentials employers look for when promoting team members into lead, supervisory, or management-track roles.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility & Prerequisites

To ensure learners are prepared for credentialed coursework and proctored exams, applicants must meet the following requirements.

Work Experience

Applicants must meet one of the following:

Option A: Certified Restaurant Professional (CRP) credential plus 400 hours of industry experience in a supervisory role.
OR
Option B: 800 hours of industry experience in a supervisory role.

Professional Reference

One professional or character reference confirming competencies listed on the NextShift reference form.

These requirements help ensure learners enter the program ready to succeed and complete credentialed coursework with confidence.

NEXT STEPS

Interested in the NextShift Backline Program?

Learn more about program availability, schedules, and enrollment options for your region.

Enrollment availability, schedules, and pricing may vary by location and cohort.