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Food Handler Certification Program
Mandatory Food Handler Certification
As of July 2018, the Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17 requires all food service premises to have a certified food handler onsite at all times.
A food service premises is any food premises where meals or meal portions are prepared for immediate consumption or sold or served in a form that will permit immediate consumption on the premises or elsewhere.
Here are few examples that would fall under this category:
- Banquet halls
- Child care centres
- Convenience stores that sell potentially hazardous food items
- Delis
- Food take-out
- Recreational camps
- Restaurants
- Supermarkets
- Special event vendors
Food handler certification obtained through York Region’s YorkSafe Food Handler Certification course, other Ontario health unit programs or external programs deemed equivalent by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will be accepted under the new Regulation. For a full list of Ministry equivalent courses, see the External Resources section below.
Ontario Food Premises Regulation 493/17
Food Handler Certification Program
The YorkSafe Food Handler Certification program teaches you how to safely prepare, store and serve food.
You may participate in a one-day workshop facilitated by a Public Health Inspector or purchase the materials to study on your own.
Use the link below to register for the workshops.
An exam mark of 70 per cent is required to pass and become certified.
Certification is valid for five years and recognized across Ontario.
NOTE: Workshops or exam sessions can be arranged for groups of 10 or more at your place of business. For more information, please contact Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653.
Reasons to use the Service
Benefits of the YorkSafe Food Handler Certification program:
- Become trained and certified in food handling
- Learn how to prevent food-borne illnesses
- Obtain a provincially recognized certificate employers value
NOTE: YorkSafe Proof of Inspection Signs identify if a food establishment had at least one certified food handler onsite at the time of inspection.
Eligibility
The YorkSafe Food Handler Certification program is available to anyone who is interested in food safety or in becoming a certified food handler.
For more information please email Health.Inspectors@york.ca.
Cost
| Food Handler Certification | Cost (HST Included) |
| One-day workshop with manual, lecture, probe thermometer and exam | $60 |
| Exam session | $20 |
| Manual (available at one of the Region’s offices below)
Please note the manual can be downloaded free of charge. |
$10 |
Note:
- Payment can be made by cash or cheque only at the Region’s offices listed below. Cheques must be made payable to The Regional Municipality of York
- Payment by debit can only be made at the Richmond Hill office
- Payment by credit card can only be made during online registration
- Prices are subject to change without notice
- Low cost and no cost options may apply. Please contact Health Connection for more information
Registration and Schedule
- Registration and purchase of manuals can be done at York Region Community and Health Services offices, and Access York, Monday to Friday (except holidays) between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- Telephone registration and support with online registration is available by calling Access York Toll Free: 1-877-464-9675 or TTY: 1-866-512-6228 (for the deaf or hard of hearing)
- Workshops are offered in English
- Course material is available in English, Chinese, Tamil and French
- Exams are available in English, French, Chinese, Korean, Russian and Tamil
- It is highly recommended you review the manual prior to the course in preparation for the exam
- Bring a pencil, eraser and government-issued photo identification for the exam
There is a three to four week turnaround time for exams to be marked and mailed out.
We reserve the right to cancel a course if there are not enough registrants.
Schedule:
Course Material
Food Handler Certification manual - English |
Food Handler Certification manual - Chinese |
Food Handler Certification manual -Tamil |
Food Safety - A Guide for Ontario's Foodhandlers - French |
Registration Locations
York Region Administrative Centre
Access York Counter
17250 Yonge Street, 1st Floor, Room 12000
Newmarket, Ontario
L3Y 4W5
Tel: 1-877-464-9675
Keswick office
Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
24262 Woodbine Avenue
Keswick, Ontario
L4P 3E9
Tel: 1-877-464-9675
Markham office
Shoppes of Unionville Plaza
Health Protection Division
4261 Highway #7 East, Suites B6-9
Unionville, Ontario
L3R 9W6
Tel: 1-877-464-9675
Richmond Hill office
South Service Centre - Health Protection Division
50 High Tech Road, Second Floor
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B 4N7
Tel: 1-877-464-9675
Vaughan office
9060 Jane Street
Vaughan, Ontario
L4K 2M9
Tel: 1-877-464-9675
Workshop and Exam Locations
East Gwillimbury
Waste Management Centre
100 Garfield Wright Boulevard
East Gwillimbury, Ontario
L0G 1V0
Keswick office
24262 Woodbine Avenue
Keswick, Ontario
L4P 3E9
Markham office
Shoppes of Unionville Plaza
Health Protection Division
4261 Highway #7 East, Suites B6-9
Unionville, Ontario
L3R 9W6
Richmond Hill office
South Service Centre
50 High Tech Road, Second Floor
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B 4N7
Vaughan office
9060 Jane Street
Vaughan, Ontario
L4K 2M9
Map
Related Resources
External Resources
- Global Food Safety Resource Centre - information on food safety standards and practices
- Ministry of Health and Long Term Care – full list of equivalent courses
- MOHLTC food handler certification manual - French
