Food safety courses
The Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17 requires all food premises to have at least one food handler or supervisor with a valid food handler certificate on the premises at all times. Food handler certificates are valid in Ontario for five years.
To obtain first time certification or re-certification
In-person food safety training and exam
Southeast Public Health has the following options for in-person food safety training:
Kingston – St. Lawrence College
- All course inquiries should be emailed to St. Lawrence College.
- Register for St. Lawrence College’s safe food handling course.
Brockville Office – 458 Laurier Boulevard, Brockville, Ontario – Tuesdays – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- April 21, 2026
- June 16, 2026
- October 20, 2026
- December 1, 2026
To register, email protection@SoutheastPH.ca or call us at 1-800-660-5853 to book your class now.
Smiths Falls Office – 25 Johnson Street, Smiths Falls, Ontario – Tuesdays – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- May 26, 2026
- September 15, 2026
- November 3, 2026
To register, email protection@SoutheastPH.ca or call us at 1-800-660-5853 to book your class now.
Belleville Office – 179 North Park Street, Belleville, Ontario – Third Thursday – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- May 21, 2026
- September 17, 2026
- October 15, 2026
- November 19, 2026
- December 17, 2026
Belleville – Meta Services – 100 Bell Boulevard, Unit 330 Quinte Mall, Belleville, Ontario (Located in the office tower)
Managing Food Safety Training – In-Person Workshop
- Registration: Call 613-966-9069 or email training@metaservices.ca
Instructor-lead live remote food safety training
This online course is lead by a remote instructor through Conestoga College. The final exam is written online.
Register for Conestoga College’s online safe food handling course.
Food safety training exam for re-certification
In order to obtain food safety training certification or re-certification you must pass the final exam.
Home-study learning options
Once you have completed one of the two (2) options below you will then need to contact the Health Unit at 1-800-660-5853 to schedule a date for your exam. The cost associated with writing the exam is $25.
Home-study manual
- Work at your own pace by downloading the manual free of charge.
- Provincial food handler training manual.
- Food safety certification manual – Chinese version.
- Additional languages including French, Spanish, Russian, Punjabi and Arabic are available upon request by emailing protection@SoutheastPH.ca.
- Once you have completed reviewing the manual you must now complete the food handler training home study review questions prior to writing the exam.
Purchase home-study manual
- You may purchase a manual from Southeast Public Health for $20.
- Included with the manual is a printout of the ‘Food Handler Training Home-Study Review’ questions which must be completed and returned to Southeast Public Health prior to writing the exam. Review questions may be submitted by email at protection@SoutheastPH.ca, fax 613-345-7148, or you may bring them in with you on the day of your exam.
What topics are covered in this course?
The topics that are covered within this course include:
- Introduction to food safety and legislation
- Food-borne illness
- Microorganisms
- Conditions bacteria require for growth (FATTOM)
- Allergens
- Safe food handling
- Understanding cross-contamination
- Receiving and storage
- Safe food service
- Food handler hygiene
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Pest control
- Keeping food safe during emergencies
- HACCP food safety management