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Instant course accessONTARIO MINISTRY OF HEALTH–APPROVED PROVIDER
Get Your Ontario Food Handler Certificate Online
Meets O. Reg. 493/17 requirements. Recognized by Ontario Ministry of Health, accepted by public health units province-wide. Complete online, at your own pace. Certificate valid for five years.
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$25 CAD
100% onlineCourse and exam only
5 yearsCertificate validity
UnlimitedRetake attempts
Government Recognized Certification
Your Ontario Food Handler Certificate in four simple steps
Complete your Ontario Food Handler Certificate online—from enrolment and training to the proctored exam and five-year certification.
Learn at your pace
Work through the online lessons whenever it suits you during your 30-day access period.
Self-paced · 24/7 accessPass the online exam
Complete the proctored 50-question final exam and achieve the required score of 70%.
Photo ID + camera requiredGet certified
After successful completion and verification, receive your certificate valid for five years across Ontario.
Valid for 5 years
Designed for Ontario food-service professionals
Restaurants
Cafés
Food trucks
Catering
Grocery & deli
Institutional kitchens
Official Ontario listing
Recognized food-handler training for Ontario
Indocert Inc. is named on Ontario’s official Food Handler Training and Certification webpage. The listed program is Food Safety Handler Certification.
Ontario recognition
“Recognized providers of Food Handler Training by all boards of health within Ontario.”
Verify Indocert on Ontario.ca
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Who it’s for
Who should take food-handler training in Ontario?
Ontario food-service-premise operators must schedule at least one trained food handler or supervisor for every operating hour. Training also helps responsible staff demonstrate that this coverage requirement is being met.
Premise operators
Operators who must schedule at least one trained food handler or supervisor throughout every operating hour.
Owners & leaders
Owners, managers and supervisors responsible for showing that the required staffing coverage is in place.
Food handlers
Employees whose employer or local public health unit requires or expects certification for their particular role.
People changing roles
Anyone changing jobs or locations who needs to confirm acceptance with the employer and local public health unit.
Important: Employer policies and operation-specific directions may be stricter than the general minimum. Confirm the requirement for the role and premises.
View Ontario regulation ↗- OUR TRENDING COURSES
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Ontario requirements + course curriculum
Know the rules. Learn the essentials.
Ontario law
Food-handler requirements
- Operator responsibility. Section 32 of Ontario Regulation 493/17 places the duty on the operator of a food service premise.
- Coverage for every operating hour. At least one food handler or supervisor who has completed food-handler training must be on the premises whenever the premise operates.
- Not necessarily every employee. Employers may require additional certified staff to cover shifts, absences and multiple work areas.
- Training options. Ontario guidance identifies training offered by local public health units and approved commercial programs.
Official Ontario listing
Indocert Inc. — Food Safety Handler Certification
Listed by Ontario with an equivalency date of December 23, 2024.
This is general information, not legal advice. If there is any difference, the official legislation and guidance control.
11 course chapters
What the course covers
- Foodborne illness
- Food contamination: sources and prevention
- Microorganisms, biological contamination and factors affecting microbial growth
- Food-safety laws and responsibilities
- Time and temperature controls for potentially hazardous foods
- Facility and equipment
- Purchasing, receiving and storage
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Personal hygiene and behaviour: essential practices for preventing foodborne illness
- Food display, serving, dispensing and discarding
- Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP)
- QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about food handler certification in Ontario — requirements, cost, exam format, and validity. Can’t find yours? Contact our team anytime.
Yes, for food service premises covered by section 32 of Ontario Regulation 493/17. The operator must ensure at least one food handler or supervisor who has completed food handler training is on the premises during every operating hour. Certain exemptions apply, including specified low-risk and pre-packaged food operations.
Yes. Ontario lists Indocert Inc.’s Food Safety Handler Certification among recognized training programs, with an equivalency date of December 23, 2024. Programs recognized through this process are recognized by all boards of health in Ontario.
Ontario’s general section 32 rule requires at least one trained food handler or supervisor on site throughout operating hours. It does not itself require every employee to be certified. Municipal licensing rules, employer policies or sector-specific requirements may require more. Check the rules for your workplace and role.
Ontario Food Premises Regulation | Toronto eating and drinking establishment requirements
Yes. INDOCERT provides online training and a proctored online exam. The Ontario course page specifies photo identification and a camera for the exam. Complete the course, pass the assessment and complete verification to receive your certificate.
Yes. INDOCERT’s program is on Ontario’s recognized-provider list, which applies across the province’s boards of health. This includes Toronto, Ottawa, Mississauga and other Ontario communities. Keep your certificate current and check any additional workplace or municipal requirements.
Ontario recognized training providers | Toronto Public Health certification guidance
Allow approximately eight hours for INDOCERT’s self-paced course. You have 30 days from registration to complete the training and final exam, so you can study across several sessions.
The course costs $25 CAD and includes online training, the final exam and your certificate after successful completion and verification. Unlimited exam retakes are included within your 30-day access period.
INDOCERT’s final exam has 50 multiple-choice questions, a 60-minute time limit and a passing score of 70%. If you do not pass, you can retake the exam without an additional exam fee during your 30-day access period. Retakes are unlimited within that period.
Food handler certificates are generally valid for five years in Ontario, and INDOCERT’s certificate follows that period. Arrange recertification before the expiry date on your certificate so your workplace can maintain the required trained-person coverage.
Toronto Public Health certification guidance | INDOCERT course details
It depends on the food and operation. Businesses preparing only qualifying low-risk foods may be exempt from the food handler training requirement. Contact your local public health unit before starting; other food safety and business requirements still apply.
Ontario home-based food business guidance | Ontario recognized training providers
Food trucks and catering operations that fall within the food service premises rules must maintain the trained-person coverage required by section 32 unless an exemption applies. Confirm the requirements for your menu and operation with your local public health unit.
Does my food handler certificate authorize me to open a food business?
No. A food handler certificate confirms training; it is not a business licence or approval of your premises. Contact the local public health unit and municipality about notification, inspections, zoning and any licenses or permits required before opening.
Ontario recognized training providers | Toronto eating and drinking establishment requirements
Questions about enrolment? Contact INDOCERT at info@indocert.ca.
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Understand food-handler rules and eligibility
Use these official Government of Canada and Government of Ontario sources to understand the federal competency standard and Ontario’s province-wide food-handler training requirement.
Federal competency standard
Safe Food for Canadians Regulations — section 75
For food businesses and activities covered by the federal regulations, section 75 requires people involved in manufacturing, preparing, storing, packaging or labelling food to have the competencies and qualifications necessary to carry out their duties.
Read the federal regulation
Provincial legal requirement
Ontario Regulation 493/17 — section 32
The regulation places the duty on the operator to ensure that at least one food handler or supervisor who has completed food-handler training is present during every operating hour.
Read the food-premises regulationHow the rules work together: Section 75 establishes a federal competency standard for businesses and activities covered by the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. Ontario Regulation 493/17 separately establishes the operating-hour food-handler training requirement for Ontario food-service premises. Neither source requires a particular course-entry age, education level or previous food-service experience. Information last reviewed: August 27, 2026.
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