Guides
How to Get a Food Hygiene Certificate in the UK
Choose a course that suits your role, study the lessons and pass the assessment. Here is how it works and what to check first.
By the Food Hygiene Hub team · 2 min read
The short answer
To get a food hygiene certificate, choose a course that suits your role, study the lessons and pass the assessment. Most people do this online and at their own pace. No law requires a specific certificate, so check what your employer expects before you start.
What is a food hygiene certificate?
A food hygiene certificate is a record showing that you have completed a food hygiene training course. Certificates come from many providers. Some are regulated qualifications. Many, including ours, are private certificates of completion.
Which level should you choose?
Level 1 suits people in low-risk roles, Level 2 suits people who handle open food, and Level 3 suits supervisors and managers. These levels describe the depth of the course. They are not levels on the RQF or SCQF qualification frameworks. Your employer decides what your role needs.
The steps to get certified
Most online training follows the same pattern:
- Ask your employer what training your role needs
- Choose a course that suits your work
- Study the lessons at your own pace
- Pass the assessment
- Download your certificate and keep a copy
What happens after you finish?
A certificate is not the end of your training. It should be backed up by practical instruction and supervision at work. Keep a copy of your certificate, and refresh your knowledge when your duties or procedures change.
Our certificates are private training certificates of completion, not regulated qualifications. UK law does not require one specific food hygiene certificate. It requires food handlers to be supervised and instructed or trained appropriately. Employers decide what training each role needs, and a certificate does not replace practical instruction or supervision.
Relevant training
