Food handler training and certification
Learn about food handler training requirements and how to become certified.
Overview
In Ontario, food premises are required to have at least one certified food handler on site during every hour that the food premises operates. Food safety training is an important part of protecting customers from health risks that occur during the handling, preparing and cooking of food.
How to get certified
In Ontario, food handler training is provided by:
- local public health units
- certain approved commercial providers
To determine what food handler training courses are available in your area contact your local public health unit or review the list of available commercial programs below.
Approved commercial programs
The programs listed below have applied and successfully been recognized by the Ministry of Health as meeting minimum requirements for food handler training and certification. These Food Handler Training programs are deemed to be equivalent to the training and certification offered by local public health units. All public health units in Ontario will accept certifications issued by theses providers after the date that they are listed as equivalent.
Training provider | Date of equivalency | Contact information |
---|---|---|
Above Training /StatefoodSafety Ontario Safe Food Handling Course | May 8, 2019 | Available for select retail food stores and food service operations. |
A Poetic Health Food Handler Certification | November 9, 2017 | 35 Brian Peck Crescent, Unit 1509 East York ON M4G 0A5 info@apoetichealth.com apoetichealth.com |
Academy of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences Food Handling Certificate | October 29, 2013 | 200 Consumers Road, Suite 200 North York ON M2J 4R4 aaps.ca |
Accents Multilingual Workplace Training Fundamentals of Safe Food Handling | April 5, 2019 | |
Acticert Food Handler Certification Course | December 4, 2023 | 7896 Tranmere Drive, Unit 230 Mississauga ON L5S 1V9 Acticert.com |
Aims Health & Safety Training Essential Food Safety Training | February 23, 2015 | 11 Hyslop Avenue Hannon ON L0R 1P0 |
Audmax Inc. The Art and Science of Safe Food | September 10, 2018 | 2426 Padstow Crescent Mississauga ON L5J 2G4 maxcine@audmaxinc.com audmaxinc.com |
BacOff Food Safety & Hygiene Training and Consulting Food Handler Certification Course | May 12, 2017 | Toronto ON bacofffoodsafety@gmail.com bacoff.ca |
Benny & Co Formation hygiène et salubrité alimentaire – Manipulateurs d’aliments | January 7, 2019 | Available to employees of Benny & Co. |
Canadian Food Safety Consulting Group Ltd. SafeCheck™ Advanced Food Safety | July 17, 2015 | 5251 48 Avenue, South East, Unit 70 Calgary AB T2B 3S2 canadianfoodsafety.com |
Canadian Food Safety Training Inc. Canadian Food Safety Training | December 24, 2014 | Long Branch Legion 1013850 Lake Shore Blvd W Etobicoke, ON M8W 1R3 |
Canadian Institute of Food Safety Food Handler Certification Course | May 12, 2017 | Level 3, 500 King Street West Toronto ON M5V 1L9 support@foodsafety.ca foodsafety.ca |
Community and Family Services of Ontario CFSO Food Handler Certification | June 20, 2023 | 4051 Gordon Baker Road, Unit A Scarborough ON M1W 2P3 cfso.care |
Food Consulting and Labeling Solutions Food Safety Handler Certification Program | June 23, 2015 | 682 David Street Welland ON L3B 2B9 ricferrusi@gmail.com |
FoodPrep Inc. Food Handler Certification | April 3, 2017 | 4040 Steeles Avenue West Unit 44, Suite 11 Woodbridge ON L4L 4Y5 training@foodprep.ca foodprep.ca |
FoodSafe4U by Excellent Learning Ontario Food Handlers Training and Certification | May 25, 2022 | 851 Industrial Road, Suite 42 Ottawa ON K1G 4L3 foodsafe4u.com |
FoodSafetyTraining.ca Online Food Handler Certification Course | December 11, 2013 | Chatham ON help@foodsafetytraining.ca foodsafetytraining.ca |
Food VisionInc. Food Handler Certification Course | January 20, 2022 | 4000 Steeles Avenue West, Unit 216 Vaughan ON L4L 4V9 training@foodvisioninc.com foodvisioninc.com |
Freeborn & Associates National Food Safety Training Program | Valid certificates issued between May 16, 2014 to April 30, 2019 | Course is no longer available. |
Freeborn & Associates Inc., Food Safety Market Managing Food Safety | July 3, 2018 | |
Hamilton Wentworth District School Board Food Handler Certification Course | April 29, 2021 | 465 East 16th Street Note: This course is open to individuals who are eligible for Employment Ontario’s Literacy and Basic Skills program. Please visit the website for further details. |
Indigenous Services Canada First Nations and Inuit Health Food Safety Training | April 11, 2014 | 195 Henry Street, Unit 6C Brantford ON N3S 5C9 |
InstaCert Food Handler Certificate Course | February 11, 2020 | info@instacert.ca instacert.ca |
Kenora Chiefs | February 27, 2024 | 240 Veterans Drive, Third Floor P.O. Box 349 Kenora, ON P9N 3X4 |
KnowledgeWare Communications Corp. Food Safety for Food Handlers | September 20, 2018 | 11763 Darby Street Maple Ridge BC V2X 5G1 kccsoft.com |
Lambton College Safe Food Handling | November 14, 2023 | 1457 London Road Sarnia ON N7S 6K4 https://www.lambtoncollege.ca/courses/course?id=SFHMR-0010 |
Matawa First Nations Management Food Handler Training Certification | June 12, 2020 | Matawa First Nations Management 233 Court Street South Thunder Bay ON P7B 2X9 |
Meat and Poultry Ontario Food Handler Training For the Industry | March 24, 2023 | 130 Malcolm Road Note: This course is intended for individuals working in certain meat processing facilities. Please visit the website for further details. |
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Food Safety Training | June 10, 2015 | 300 Water Street, South Tower Peterborough ON K9J 8M5 |
Nokiiwin Tribal Council Food Handler Certification Course | June 20, 2023 | 384 Fort William Road Thunder Bay ON KP7B 2Z3 nokiiwin.com |
Noraxx Inspections Inc. Noraxx Inspections Food Handler Certification Course | July 26, 2021 | 692 Catalina Crescent Burlington ON L7L 5B8 noraxx.ca |
Pharma-Medical Science College of Canada Food Handler | September 20, 2018 | 505 Consumers Road, Suite 100 Toronto ON M2J 4V8 pharmamedical.ca |
Probe It Food Safety Food Handler Certification | October 6, 2015 | Greater Toronto Area probeit.ca |
Retail Council of Canada FoodWise | September 5, 2014 | 1881 Yonge Street, Suite 800 Toronto ON M4S 3C4 retailcouncil.org |
ServSafe Ontario Food Handler Training | December 5, 2016 | National Restaurant Association 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 3600 Chicago IL 60606 ServSafeInternational@restaurant.org ServSafeInternational.com |
ServeWell Food Handler Certificate Course | February 11, 2020 | |
Student Nutrition Ontario Safe Food Handling Training Course for Student Nutrition Programs | November 16, 2023 | 2 Trethewey Drive, 4th Floor Note: This program is only for volunteers of Student Nutrition Programs. |
TrainCan
ADVANCED.fst - Manager Food Safety Training | December 18, 2013 | 1895 Clements Road, Unit 117 Pickering ON L1W 3V5 traincan.com |
TrainCan BASIC.fst - Food Handler Safety Training | December 18, 2013 | 1895 Clements Road, Unit 117 Pickering ON L1W 3V5 traincan.com |
Train Food Safety Food Handler Certification Course | November 14, 2017 | 252 Bloor Street West Toronto ON M5S 1V6 info@trainfoodsafety.ca trainfoodsafety.ca |
Become a recognized Food Handler Training provider
To become a recognized food handler training provider in Ontario, organizations must apply to the Ministry of Health. The ministry will evaluate your application for equivalency with the provincial standard. Successful applications will be granted provincial recognition to offer food handler training in Ontario.
Eligible applicants
Eligible applicants, include non-public health units, such as:
- commercial or private entities
- educational institutions
- non-profit associations
Training programs that meet the requirements set out in the application and evaluation process will become recognized providers of Food Handler Training by all boards of health within Ontario.
We accept applications twice a year in Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.
Application Status: Closed
How to apply
To apply for food handler training and certification program recognition, providers must submit the following for evaluation:
- a completed Food Handler Program Equivalency Application form
- relevant course materials
- requested documentation related to the course development and delivery
Evaluation
We evaluate applications in accordance with standard program requirements and for overall course quality.
After we evaluate your application, additional requirements, modifications or changes to the proposed program may be necessary to get recognition.
Fee
There is no fee to apply or become a recognized provider.
Contact us
Email for more information on the application process and to request the application materials. Use the subject line "Inquiry Regarding the Food Handler Training Program."
Guide to starting a home-based food business
This is a step-by-step guide to starting a home-based food business, along with a brief overview of public health requirements that must be followed as a food operator.