Food Handler Certification

All food premises, including special event vendors, need at least one certified food handler working during all hours of operation. If you work with food, it’s a good idea to get your Food Handler Certification. This helps keep food safe for everyone.

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) offers in-person courses and exam only days. Courses can also be taken online. 

How can you get your Food Handler Certification?

In-person courses are taught by certified Public Health Inspectors. SWPH offers the courses as:

• A one-day course (8 hours), or

• A two-day course (each session is 4 hours)

Where and when are the upcoming in-person courses?

St. Thomas Site
1230 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, ON

February 18, 2025

July 15, 2025

Woodstock Site
410 Buller Street, Woodstock, ON
March 10, 2025

October 6, 2025

What is the cost of in-person courses?

Cost: $62.15 ($55 + HST)
Registration and payment are required in advance.

Click to register and pay for the in-person Food Handler Course

Are there courses for high school students?

Yes! Special courses for high school students are offered on one PD Day a year.

St. Thomas Site - 9 am to 4:30 pm
1230 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, ON
May 30, 2025 - St. Thomas office

Woodstock Site - 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
410 Buller Street, Woodstock, ON
April 11, 2025 - Oxford County Administration Building, 21 Reeve St. Woodstock

Click here to register for High School Student PA Day Course

What online courses are available?

If you want to learn online, you can choose one of these options:

SafeCheck Food Safety Course

• Cost: $24.98 (includes tax and exam fee)

• Available anytime (24/7)

• Offered in many languages

• Take the exam on any device with a webcam and microphone

Register for SafeCheck

In Good Hands Course

• Cost: $34.95 + HST (includes exam fee)

• Learn at your own pace with 15 modules

• Take the certification exam online

Register for In Good Hands

Note: These online courses are not run by Southwestern Public Health

Can you take the exam without taking a course?

Yes! You can take the exam without a course as long as you:

• Have studied the Food Handler Training Manual,
• Have been trained by a third party,
• Have two years of food service experience, and/or
• Had a Food Handler Certification before

Exams are available in English, French, Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, Russian and Punjabi.

How do you sign up for the exam?

You must call to pre-register, as walk-ins are not allowed. Call your preferred location to register today!

St. Thomas Site: 1230 Talbot Street, St. Thomas, ON
Dates: First Wednesday of March, June, September, and December at 9 AM
Call to register: 519-631-9900 x 1387

Woodstock Site: 410 Buller Street, Woodstock, ON
Dates: First Wednesday of March, June, September, and December at 1 PM
Call to register: 519-421-9901 x 3520

Cost: $15.00 ($13.27 + HST)

Note: You must pre-register. Walk-ins are not allowed.

Where can you get the Food Handler Training Manual?

You can download the free Food Handler Training Manual in different languages:

• English

• French

• Chinese

• Arabic

• Spanish

• Russian

• Punjabi

Need another option for recognized Food Handler Certification?

You can also get certified through the London Training Centre:

• In-class training and certification

• Exam-only sessions: $15.00 (pre-registration required), you must call ahead to pay for a time slot.

• Register by calling: 519-685-4331

What will you learn in the Food Handler Certification course?

During the Food Handler Certification course, you will learn:

• What Public Health Inspectors do and the rules they follow to keep food safe

• How bacteria can make people sick and how to keep food free from harmful bacteria

• Ways to prevent foodborne illness, like keeping food at the right temperature and avoiding cross-contamination

• Good personal hygiene (like washing your hands), how to keep your workplace clean, and how to control pests like mice and insects

• How to handle food allergens safely and what to do during food recalls

Need special accommodations for your exam?

If you require accommodation for your in-person course or exam, or if you would like to write the exam in French or Chinese (all in-person courses are taught in English), please contact us at 1-800-922-0096.

Looking for Smart Serve certification?

Southwestern Public Health does not offer Smart Serve certification. To get Smart Serve, visit Smart Serve Ontario.