Safe Food Handling Courses

Ontario Regulation (O. Reg) 493/17: Food Premises requires all food premises, such as restaurants, food trucks, and cafeterias, to have at least one certified safe food handler on-site during operation of the food premises.

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 five 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

Huron Perth Public Health is offering two in-person food safety courses in spring 2025 and two more in the fall 2025. Courses will take place at the Stratford and Clinton HPPH office locations. See below for more details.

In-person courses

Schedule of in-person courses

Safe food handling courses
Date	Time	Location	Cost
Wednesday, April 16, 2025	9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	HPPH 77722B London Rd, Clinton, ON	$45 per person
Thursday, April 24, 2025	9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	HPPH 653 West Gore St., Stratford, ON	$45 per person
Wednesday, September 24, 2025	9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	HPPH 77722B London Rd., Clinton, ON	$45 per person
Thursday, October 30, 2025	9 a.m. - 4 p.m.	HPPH 653 West Gore St., Stratford, ON	$45 per person

Call 1-888-221-2133 ext 3280 or email inspections@hpph.ca to register for one of the above course offerings.

Approved external providers

The Ministry of Health maintains a list of approved commercial programs that meet the minimum requirements for food handler training and certification. Costs vary.

Set7 Skills and Technology is a skills and development training program run by the Municipality of North Perth who host courses such as Safe Food Handling to bring local training opportunities to the residents of North Perth and surrounding regions.

The in-person Safe Food Handling courses offered through Set7 Skills and Technology is a provincially recognized course and is accepted by local health units across the province of Ontario. This program is not offered through Huron Perth Public Health. For more information or to register, please contact the Set7 team directly, by email: set7@northperth.ca or by phone at (519)444-4098.

In Good Hands online course and exam

The In Good Hands online course allows you to learn at your own pace at a time and location that is convenient for you. The exam is also taken online.

Cost varies.
Upon successful completion, receive a Ministry recognized Food Handling Certificate, which is valid for five years

Challenging the test - for individuals previously certified

If you previously have been certified or received approved food handler education through an external provider and your certification has expired, you can challenge the Food Handler Training Test. You must be able to provide proof of previous certification. If proof cannot be presented, you will be required to complete a full certification course.

Prior to challenging the test you can review the Ministry of Health approved manual, Food Safety: A Guide for Ontario's Food Handlers. Please contact HPPH to request a copy.

Registration is required to complete the test; walk-in exams are not available.

For more information or to complete your exam, email us or call 1-888-221-2133 ext. 3670.

Huron Perth Public Health

Huron Office
77722B London Road, RR #5, Clinton, ON
N0M 1L0

Perth Office
653 West Gore St., Stratford ON N5A 1L4
Toll-free 1-888-221-2133
askhpph@hpph.ca