How to get your FOODSAFE certificate
How to get a FOODSAFE certificate in British Columbia: who needs one, the online, classroom, videoconference and distance options, fees, the exam, receiving your certificate and the Refresher. Sources: FOODSAFE and BC Laws.
By the Canada Exam Prep Editorial Team ·
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- Checked October 17, 2026
FOODSAFE is British Columbia's food handler training program, run by the Province. When a job posting asks for a "FOODSAFE certificate", it usually means FOODSAFE Level One, the course for food service operators and front-line staff such as cooks, servers, bussers, dishwashers and deli workers.
This guide explains how to choose between the online, classroom, videoconference and distance versions, what each costs where FOODSAFE publishes a price, how you receive your certificate and how to renew it before it expires. Each fact links to the FOODSAFE page or the BC regulation it comes from. To prepare for the exam, use the practice questions and mock exam linked below.
Step by step
Check whether your job needs it
Under BC's Food Premises Regulation, every operator of a food service establishment must hold a FOODSAFE certificate or an equivalent, and must make sure at least one employee with that certificate is present whenever the operator is away.
Source: Food Premises Regulation, B.C. Reg. 210/99, section 10 (BC Laws)Choose a course format
Level 1 is offered as a one-day classroom course (7 to 8 hours), a 7 to 8 hour videoconference course, an online course through Open School BC that you complete in 1 to 20 days, or a paper-based distance course from go2HR with up to 6 months to finish.
Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1Arrange your language before the course
The online course and exam are in English only. Classroom and videoconference students receive an English workbook; for a workbook or bilingual exam in another supported language, arrange it with your course provider ahead of time (extra fees may apply). The distance exam is offered in 10 languages.
Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1Pass the exam
The passing grade for FOODSAFE Level 1 is 70% for the online, classroom and distance versions. Online, you can write the final exam once you have worked through the course materials and practice quizzes.
Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQsReceive your certificate
FOODSAFE certificates are recorded with BC's Regional Health Authorities. After an in-person course, your health authority issues a paper certificate, which can take 4 to 6 weeks; if you need proof right away, ask your instructor for a temporary certificate before you leave the class.
Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQsRecertify before it expires
A Level 1 certificate expires 5 years after it is issued; the date is on the certificate. You must register for the online Level 1 Refresher before that date; once the certificate has expired, only the full Level 1 course is open to you.
Source: FOODSAFE — Level 1 expiry and recertification FAQ
Who can get it
- Every food service operator must hold FOODSAFE or an equivalent, and at least one certified employee must be present while the operator is absent. Source: Food Premises Regulation, B.C. Reg. 210/99, section 10 (BC Laws)
- Level 1 is designed for food service operators and front-line workers such as cooks, servers, bussers, dishwashers and deli workers. It covers foodborne illness, receiving and storing, preparing and serving food, and cleaning and sanitizing. Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1
- The regulation does not require every server or cook to hold the certificate, but many employers and volunteer organizations require all staff to hold a valid one, so check your employer's policy. Source: FOODSAFE — Level 1 expiry and recertification FAQ
- Training from another province or another course counts only if the BC Centre for Disease Control lists it as equivalent; a course not on that list is not considered equivalent. Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQs
What it costs
| Item | Amount | Official source |
|---|---|---|
| Online course and exam through Open School BC | $69 | Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1 |
| Distance (correspondence) course, including workbook, activity book, video USB, exam materials, certificate and shipping | $115 through go2HR | Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1 |
| Classroom or videoconference course | Not confirmed by an official source; check with the provider | Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1 |
| Online Refresher, to recertify a certificate that is still valid | $55, excluding taxes | Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQs |
Fees change. Check the amount on the official page or with the provider before you pay.
Where to take the test
Classroom and videoconference courses are hosted around the province by colleges, universities, community centres and private training companies; search them on the FOODSAFE course finder. The online course is run by Open School BC and the distance course by go2HR. Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1
What to bring or have ready
- For a classroom or videoconference course: the English workbook is provided on the day of class (before the class for videoconference). If you want a workbook or exam in another language, ask the provider in advance; extra fees may apply. Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1
- For the online course: time to read the course materials and do the practice quizzes before the final exam, within up to 20 days, and English for the exam. Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1
- To register for the Refresher: the personal identifier printed on your certificate or wallet card, or your first name, last name, gender and birth date exactly as they appear in the FOODSAFE Registry. Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQs
After you pass
Your result is recorded with BC's Regional Health Authorities, which issue the paper certificate after an in-person course, usually 4 to 6 weeks later. Contact the health authority that issues your certificate if it does not arrive, and ask your instructor for a temporary certificate if your employer needs proof right away. Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQs
Validity and renewal
FOODSAFE Level 1 certificates issued since July 30, 2013 are valid for 5 years, with the expiry date on the certificate. Recertify with the online Level 1 Refresher (passing grade 80%), which is open only while your certificate is still valid; after it expires you must take the full Level 1 course again. FOODSAFE Level 2 has no expiry date at present. Source: FOODSAFE — Level 1 expiry and recertification FAQ
Common mistakes
- Waiting until the certificate has expired to renew. The cheaper online Refresher is only for valid certificates; after the expiry date you have to take the full course again. Source: FOODSAFE — Level 1 expiry and recertification FAQ
- Assuming a food handler certificate from another province or provider counts in BC. Check the BC Centre for Disease Control equivalency list first. Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQs
- Choosing the online course if you want to write the exam in a language other than English. The online exam is English only; classroom and distance exams come in other languages if arranged. Source: FOODSAFE — FOODSAFE Level 1
- Leaving a classroom course without a temporary certificate when an employer needs proof now: the paper certificate can take weeks to arrive. Source: FOODSAFE — Help/FAQs
- Memorising numbers without the reasons behind them. Practise applying time and temperature control, cross-contamination and cleaning rules to everyday kitchen situations, then check yourself with a full mock exam.
Prepare for the test
Free practice written from the official material: full practice tests, a study guide, a printable sheet and a timed mock exam.
- FOODSAFE Level 1 practice tests135 original practice questions with explanations
- FOODSAFE Level 1 practice test (printable PDF)50 FOODSAFE Level 1 practice questions on temperatures, cooling, hand washing, sanitizing and B.C. food safety law, with a separate answer key. Print or save as PDF. Free.
- FOODSAFE Level 1 study guideFree FOODSAFE Level 1 study guide: 137 key points from the Food Premises Regulation (B.C. Reg. 210/99) and B.C. health authority food safety guidance in plain words, organised by topic, each topic linked to its practice questions.
- FOODSAFE Level 1 Mock Exam 1 – 50 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- FOODSAFE Level 1 exam simulator50 new random questions every time, full screen, no hints
We last checked the official pages on October 17, 2026. Rules and fees can change; the official source always wins.
FAQ
How to get a FOODSAFE certificate: common questions
How much does a FOODSAFE certificate cost?
The online Level 1 course through Open School BC is $69 and the distance course through go2HR is $115 including materials and shipping. Classroom and videoconference prices are set by each provider.
Can I get my FOODSAFE certificate online?
Yes. The online Level 1 course from Open School BC takes 1 to 20 days and ends with a final exam written online, in English only.
How long is a FOODSAFE certificate valid?
FOODSAFE Level 1 and the Level 1 Refresher are valid for 5 years after issue, with the date shown on the certificate. Level 2 has no expiry date at present.
I lost my FOODSAFE certificate. How do I replace it?
Ask any Regional Health Authority in BC for a replacement. To check your expiry date or find your personal identifier, you can also use the Ministry of Health's online FOODSAFE lookup, which requires a BCeID.
What is the passing mark for FOODSAFE Level 1?
70% for the online, classroom and distance Level 1 exams, and 80% for the online Level 1 Refresher.
Keep practising
- FOODSAFE Level 1 practice test (printable PDF)50 FOODSAFE Level 1 practice questions on temperatures, cooling, hand washing, sanitizing and B.C. food safety law, with a separate answer key. Print or save as PDF. Free.
- FOODSAFE Level 1 study guide
- FOODSAFE Level 1 Mock Exam 1 – 50 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- FOODSAFE Level 1 Mock Exam 2 – 50 QuestionsUntimed practice · answers explained
- FOODSAFE Level 1 Practice Test 130 questions with explanations
- FOODSAFE Level 1 Practice Test 230 questions with explanations
- FOODSAFE Level 1 Practice Test 330 questions with explanations
Practice by topic
- FOODSAFE and the Food Premises RegulationWho must hold FOODSAFE, operating permits, plan approval, notifying a health officer, approved sources, contaminated food and who the regulation covers.
- Foodborne illnessHow common foodborne illness is, high-risk groups, Salmonella, E. coli, norovirus, botulism, Listeria, shellfish poisoning, allergens and illness complaints.
- Personal hygiene and ill workersHand washing steps and timing, handwashing stations, sanitizer, clean clothing and hair, no smoking, covering cuts and keeping ill workers away from food.
- Time and temperature controlThe danger zone, potentially hazardous food, 4°C and 60°C holding, −18°C freezing, the 2-hour rule, thermometer accuracy, checks and calibration.
- Receiving and storageChecking deliveries, rejecting unsafe food, put-away order, FIFO, labelling, storage height, cooler and freezer temperatures, storage times, chemicals and power failures.
- Cooking, cooling, reheating and thawingSafe internal temperatures, hot holding, two-stage cooling, discard rules, reheating within 2 hours, thawing and microwave heating.
- Cross-contamination and allergensSeparating raw and ready-to-eat food, cutting boards, previously served food, washing produce, covering and storing food, chemicals near food and allergen information.
- Cleaning and sanitizingCleaning versus sanitizing, bleach and quat strengths, test strips, the three-sink method, dishwasher temperatures, surfaces to sanitize and cleaning up after vomiting.
- Food safety and sanitation plansWritten food handling procedures, critical control points and limits, HACCP, monitoring, corrective actions, sanitation plans and approval by a health officer.
- Pests, animals and premisesPests and pesticides, service animals, construction and equipment standards, and what to do during a boil water advisory.