Recognition of prior learning, acquired skills and equivalents

Food establishments must comply with food hygiene and safety training requirements and ensure that all relevant employees have the necessary certifications.

In some situations, individuals may apply to skip the food hygiene and safety training and immediately take the exam. To be granted this exemption, the applicant must have work experience deemed sufficient or have relevant prior learning.

Trainings in food hygiene and safety is also offered by a number of recognized organizations. These trainings are considered equivalent to the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation (MAPAQ) certification trainings. If you have successfully taken one of the training courses listed on this page, your certification is recognized in Québec.

Qualified individuals may have their work experience or learning recognized in order to be exempted from the obligation to take the food hygiene and safety training. Exempted individuals still need to pay for the cost of and pass the exam.

Work experience must be:

• At least two years for the “Food Handler” certification
• At least three years for the “Food Establishment Manager” certification

Prior learning is eligible if it allowed the employee to acquire knowledge equivalent to that learned in the food hygiene and safety training for the relevant certification.

Application for recognition of prior work experience or learning

To apply for recognition of prior work experience or learning, you must follow the procedure set out (French only) by the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire du Québec (ITAQ). ITAQ will review your application and, if approved, send you the information you need to sign up for the exam.

The training courses listed below are recognized as equivalent to the MAPAQ food hygiene and safety certification trainings. These courses cover the topics specified in applicable Québec regulation.

Certification for any of these training courses is automatically valid in Québec, and you do not need to take any additional steps.

Organizations are responsible for updating information regarding their training. Some of the courses below may no longer be offered, but they are still valid as long as they appear on the list.

Equivalent training to the “Food Establishment Manager” MAPAQ certification course

• ADVANCED.fst from TrainCan
• FOODSAFE Level 2 from FOODSAFE
• Food Wise 2 from the Retail Council of Canada
• SafeCheck – Food Establishment Manager from 360training Canada / SafeCheck Learning (or from Canadian Food Safety Group)
• Hygiene and Food Safety for Managers from Freeborn & Associates
• National Food Service Training Program from Restaurants Canada
• ServSafe – Manager from the National Restaurant Association
• Techniques de diététique from Cégep de Trois-Rivières

Equivalent training to the “Food Handler” course for certification from MAPAQ

• BASICS.fst from TrainCan
• Food Handler Certification Course from Canadian Institute of Food Safety
• SafeCheck – Food Handler from 360training Canada / SafeCheck Learning (or from Canadian Food Safety Group)
• FoodPrep – Food Handler Certification from JobTrain
• Food Handler Certification from Userve (formerly ServeWell)
• Food Handler Training and Certificate from FoodSafe4U
• Certified Food Handler Training Program from the Manitoba Government (Manitoba Health)
• FOODSAFE Level 1 from FOODSAFE
• Foodwise Food Safety Certification Program from the Retail Council of Canada
• Certified Food Handler Training from Ottawa Public Health
• Food Handler Certificate from InstaCert
• Food Handlers from Probe It
• Food Handler Certification from FoodSafetyTraining.ca
• Provincial Food Sanitation and Hygiene Course from Alberta Health Services
• ServSafe Food Handler from the National Restaurant Association