The Food Handler Course is for:

• Food handlers at restaurants or food service premises. A food handler is any person who comes into contact with any utensil or with food during its preparation, processing, packaging, service, storage or transportation
• Supervisors of food premises
• Managers of food premises

Food Premises that Require Certified Food Handler

Community Centres and Arenas

Community centres and arenas often have food booths, cafeterias, banquet facilities or special events. Under the Food Premises Regulation 493/17, every food service premises is required to have a minimum of 1 certified food handler on site during each hour of operation.

Child Nutrition Programs

Many schools participate in child nutrition programs where snacks and meals are prepared for children. These food service premises are required to have a minimum of 1 certified food handler on site during each hour of operation. This also applies to before and after school programs.

Special Events

A special event where food is being served falls under the Food Premises Regulation 493/17. Special event organizers and vendors must submit a special event application to public health for approval. Special events are required to have a minimum of 1 certified food handler on site during each hour of operation.

Religious Organizations, Service Clubs and Fraternal Organizations who rent out their kitchen

Religious organizations, service clubs and fraternal organizations who rent their kitchen to users outside of the organization are required to have a minimum of 1 certified food handler during each hour of operation is in effect.

Religious Organizations, Service Clubs and Fraternal Organizations

Religious organizations, service clubs and fraternal organizations may be exempt from parts of the Food Premises Regulation 493/17. These organizations may not be required under the regulation to have a certified food handler at the food premises, however it is strongly recommended.

Special Events for Religious Organizations, Service Clubs and Fraternal Organizations

Religious organizations, service clubs and fraternal organizations may be exempt from the regulation if they are the ones hosting the special event. These organizations are still required to submit a special event application, keep a list of persons donating hazardous food items, and post a notice informing patrons the event is not inspected.

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.

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

You will receive your certificate in the mail within 15-20 days from the date of the exam. You must achieve a grade of 70% or higher to get your certificate. In the mail, you will receive a letter stating your grade, a wallet sized certificate and letter sized certificate.

If you don’t pass your exam, it is recommended you take some time to review the course content again before you book another exam. You don’t have to take the course again. If you need help writing your exam (e.g. reading exam), please let us know.

No, unfortunately the Health Unit does not provide off-site private food handler course or exam to organizations or businesses.

The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit will only accept outside food handling training certificates from a provider that has been approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Check their website for a list of approved food handling training providers that we accept. We also accept food handler training certificates from other Ontario Public Health Units.

Yes, you can get food handler training from another provider if they have been approved by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Check their website for a list of approved food handling training providers that we accept.

We also accept food handler training certificates from other Ontario Public Health Units.

No, you don’t need to take the full food handler course if your certificate expired.

We do recommend that you review the self-study materials before re-writing the exam. The full online course also continues to be available free of charge and can be re-taken multiple times if desired.