Food Safety Training & Certification

Handling food safely is important to help reduce the risk of becoming sick after eating and drinking. Anyone who prepares food can benefit from food safety training.

As of July 1, 2018, the Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17 requires that every owner or operator of a food service premise and/or commercial kitchen, must ensure that there is at least one certified food handler on site during operating hours. These premises include restaurants, production kitchens, hot deli counters in grocery stores, home-based commercial kitchens, institutional kitchens, special event food vendors, community centres, schools, churches and any other type of commercial kitchen where food is prepared or handled.

WDG Public Health provides food handler exams only. Exams are in person and offered in our Guelph, Fergus and Orangeville offices. See below under Home Study option for upcoming schedule of exams.

WDG Public Health provides food handler training in partnership with Conestoga College. 

Courses (Exam Included)

Live Remote Learning with an Instructor

The Food Safety Training Live Remote Course is administered online through Conestoga College. The course consists of two (2) sessions (4 hours each) scheduled on two different days. Students will have 48 hours after the last class session to challenge the exam online as part of the live remote learning course.

Register to take the Food Safety Training course remotely (choose the Online – Synchronous option)

For clarifications, questions or special requests regarding the course, please contact Conestoga College directly at CE-HLSCS@conestogac.on.ca.

uconestogac.on.ca.​

Online Course (Self-instructed)

Here is the complete list of Food Safety Certification programs approved as equivalent courses by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Exam Only (Home Study Option)

If you prefer to study for food handler certification on your own time and at your own pace, please see the options below for self-study material. Once you have studied the material you can register to complete the exam online. 

Read the Food Handler Manual at Home

Please note:

  • There is no refund of fees.
Food Handler Manual Format Cost

Food Handler Manual (hard copy format) – payment and pick-up at our Guelph, Fergus and Orangeville offices

$25
Take the exam

In order to obtain the Food Safety Training Certification, you must write the exam.

In-person exam

You can write the exam in person at a WDG Public Health office (Fergus, Guelph, Orangeville) by registering online. Exam dates are posted every 6 months.

Translated exams in up to 18 different languages (Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi/Persian, Greek, Gujarati/Indian, Hindi, Korean, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu, Vietnamese, Cantonese) are available upon request.

If you have questions or require accommodation, please contact phi.intake@wdgpublichealth.ca or call 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4753.

Online exam

You can also register through Conestoga College to take the exam online.

Translated exams in up to 18 different languages (Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi/Persian, Greek, Gujarati/Indian, Hindi, Korean, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu, Vietnamese, Cantonese) are available upon request.

If you have questions or require accommodation, please contact Conestoga College directly at CE-HLSCS@conestogac.on.ca.

Advanced Food Safety Training

Recommendation for management and supervisors

As staff who manage food premise operations, you understand the critical importance of maintaining high standards of food safety to protect your customers and uphold your reputation. While basic food safety certification is a requirement for at least one staff member present during operation, it is strongly encouraged and recommended to consider advanced food safety training for managers and/or supervisors to further enhance and support your team’s knowledge and skills. In fact, many leading food service companies already require advanced training for their managers and supervisors.

Advanced food safety training provides managers with comprehensive knowledge and skills to effectively oversee food handling, storage, and preparation. This training covers essential topics such as:

  • In-depth understanding of foodborne illness
  • Proper food handling and hygiene practices
  • Identification and control of food safety hazards
  • Compliance with health and safety regulations

By investing in advanced training for your managers, you can achieve several key benefits:

  • Improved Safety: Reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses and create a safer environment for your customers.
  • Operational Efficiency: Equip your managers with the skills to handle food safety challenges, streamline operations and provide basic training to staff.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure your establishment meets all health and safety standards, minimizing the risk of violations.
  • Enhanced Reputation: Demonstrate your commitment to food safety and gain the trust of your clients.
Please refer to the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care’s Food handler training and certification webpage, for a list of providers offering food handler training. You may find further information on advanced food safety training on each provider’s website, or you can contact the providers directly to inquire about advanced food safety training options for your management team.

Investing in advanced food safety training for your managers and/or supervisors is an investment in the health and safety of your customers and the success of your business. We strongly encourage you to take this step towards excellence in food safety.

Food Handler Course FAQs

Who should take the Food Handler Course?

The Food Handler Course is for:

  • Any food handler who comes into contact with utensils or with food during its preparation, processing, packaging, service, storage, or transportation
  • Owners / Managers / Supervisors of food premises
  • Employees
  • Volunteers
  • Co-op students

Food Premises that Require Certified Food Handler:

  • Restaurants,
  • Production kitchens
  • Hot deli counters in grocery stores,
  • Home-based commercial kitchens,
  • Institutional kitchens,
  • Special event food vendors,
  • Community centres and arenas,
  • Schools,
  • Markets food vendors,
  • Religious organizations, service clubs and fraternal organizations who rent their kitchen to users outside of the organization, and
  • Any other type of commercial kitchen where food is prepared or handled.
Who is exempt from taking the course?
  • Food vendors that operate in farmers markets that have been deemed exempted from the food premises regulations.
  • Food premises where only pre-packed food is handled.
  • Convenience stores where only prepackaged food is handled, stored and offered for sale.
  • Home-based kitchen where only low risk foods are handled, prepared and stored.
  • Religious organizations, service clubs and fraternal organizations.

Please Note:

To determine if your premise is exempt, please call us. Only a Public Health Inspector can determine your exemption status and what requirements you need to comply with. Exempt operations are still strongly encouraged to have a certified food handler on site.

What does the course cover?

The course will provide you with an understanding of the following areas:

  • Public Health Legislation
  • Role of Public Health Inspectors
  • Foodborne Illness
  • Microorganisms
  • Time and Temperature Control
  • Receiving and Storage
  • Microbiological Contamination
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Cleaning and Sanitizing
  • Pest Control
  • Food Safety Management
Can I take the course and /or the exam in a non-English language?
  • Periodically (demand based) Conestoga College will organize food handler courses in Chinese. Unfortunately, currently courses are not available in any other language.
  • Translated Exams in up to 18 different languages are available upon request (Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Farsi/Persian, Greek, Gujarati/Indian, Hindi, Korean, Macedonian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu, Vietnamese, Cantonese).
Can I book a private course and exam?

You can contact Conestoga College directly at: CE-HLSCS@conestogac.on.ca to discuss the availability for private or special designed courses or exams (i.e. courses/exam in other languages, courses for students with special needs).

Can I get food handler training from another provider?

Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health will only accept food handler training certificates from a provider that has been approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and from any other Ontario Public health Unit.

Here is the complete list of Food Safety Certification programs approved as equivalent courses by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Long-Term Care.

If my certificate is expired, do I need to take the full course again?

No. After five years you can re-certify by challenging the exam without retaking the full course. We recommend that you review the self-study materials prior to rewriting the exam as regulations or exam content may have changed.