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
Visit the following website for a list of provincially approved food handler training and certification programs.
In-person food safety training and exam
Southeast Public Health has the following options for in-person food safety training:
Brockville office – 458 Laurier Boulevard, Brockville, Ontario – Tuesdays – 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Home-study learning options
- 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 the food handler training manual, you will then need to contact Southeast Public Health based on your location below, to schedule a date for your exam. The cost associated with writing the exam is $25.
Hastings and Prince Edward Counties
Email ehfax1@SoutheastPH.ca or call at 613-966-5500, extension 677.
Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington
Note: Unfortunately this is currently unavailable in this area.
Leeds, Grenville and Lanark Counties
Email protection@SoutheastPH.ca or call 1-800-660-5853.
A home study guide can also be purchased at the Brockville or Smiths Falls offices for $20.