Safe Food Handling Courses
According to Ontario Food Premise Reg. 493, all food premises, such as restaurants, food trucks, cafeterias etc., are required to have a certified safe food handler on-site while food is being served.
How do I become a certified food handler?
There are several courses and options available online. The Ministry of Health provides a list of accredited courses available to food handlers. Once you complete the course and pass a test, you will get a Food Handler Training Certification that will be valid for 5 years.
During the course, you will learn:
- Role of the Board of Health
- Public health legislation and regulations
- Causes of foodborne illness and outbreaks (microbiological, physical, and chemical)
- Outline of food safety management principles (including Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) based principles)
- Safe food handling, preparation, and storage (including basic microbiology, safe food supplies, and adverse reactions to food)
- Food handler hygiene
- Food premises sanitation, design, and maintenance
- Prevention of food allergies, incidents and response
Course options
Please see the list of certification course options below, or contact us at 1-888-221-2133 or email us for more information.
| Approved external providers |
| The Ministry of Health has a list of approved external providers who meet the requirements of certified safe food handler training. Costs vary. |
| In-Good Hands Online Course and exam |
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| Self-study Option |
| Certification can be obtained through a self-study method using the Ministry of Health Approved manual, Food Safety: A Guide for Ontario's Food Handlers [PDF]. Currently walk-in exams are not available. Registration is required. For more information on the self-study option, or to complete your exam, email us or call 1-888-221-2133. |