Food handler training
Not Certified Food Protection Manager certification
The food handler trainings are not Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) classes.
- Learn about Certified Food Protection Manager classes
- Search for Certified Food Protection Manager on the Minnesota Department of Health website
Food handler trainings
You can choose from three trainings:
- Food Handler Level 1
- Food Handler Level 2
- Food Safety Essentials at Special Events and Festivals
The same topics are taught in all three trainings. Food Handler Level 2 is the most in-depth training.
The trainings and tests are available online anytime.
The food safety trainings are valuable for:
- Kitchen workers
- Servers and other front of house staff
- Volunteers serving food at events
We award a food handler certificate and card to every person who successfully completes any training.
Training format
The trainings use short, animated lessons and videos to teach basic food safety.
Topic include:
- Keeping food safe
- Temperature danger zone
- Hot and cold holding
- Avoiding cross-contamination
- Cleaning and sanitizing
- Personal hygiene
Food Handler Level 1
Details:
- Ideal for people:
- Whose native language is not English
- Who have a visual learning style
- Have special learning needs
- Takes 30 to 45 minutes to complete.
- Available in English.
- Divided into five sections, each with a short test. You must answer all the questions correctly to move to the next section. You can take each test an unlimited number of times.
Food Handler Level 2
Details:
- Ideal for staff who would like a more in-depth training.
- Takes 60 to 90 minutes.
- Available in these languages:
- English
- Spanish
- Korean
- Mandarin Chinese
- Vietnamese
- Tagalog
- Serbo-Croatian
- American Sign Language (ASL)
- To receive the course certificate, you must pass a 30-question test with at least 21 correct answers. You can take the test twice.
Food Safety Essentials at Special Events and Festivals
Details:
- Ideal for staff and volunteers working with food or beverages at farmers markets and events.
- Available in English and Spanish.
- Takes 45 to 60.
- To receive the course certificate, you need to pass a 20-question test with at least 14 correct answers. You can take the test twice.
Free voucher codes
Minneapolis licensed food businesses and vendors at Minneapolis events can request free voucher codes for their staff.
To request voucher codes, fill out the voucher code request form.
Include:
- Your contact email and phone number
- Business name and address
- Training course name(s)
- Number(s) of voucher codes requested for each training
- If you are a food vendor at an event or market, include the market(s) or event name where you will be working.
The food safety trainings are valuable for anyone working in a food business:
- Kitchen food handlers
- Servers and other staff
- Volunteers serving food at events
A food handler certificate and card are awarded to every person who successfully completes any of the training courses.
Using a voucher code
To begin a food handler training:
- Visit Food Safety Training for Minneapolis
- Turn off your browser's pop-up blocker.
- Enter your voucher code in the Redeem Voucher box.
- Follow the prompts on your screen.
- You can save the training at any time and return to it later.
Setting up your account
To use your voucher code, set up an account.
When the system requests information, you only need to enter your name. We will print your name on your certificate of completion.
You can put an "x" in the other fields (e.g., birthdate) if you do not want to enter that information.
Food workers outside of Minneapolis
Food workers outside Minneapolis can take food handler training. The cost is $20 per course. We accept the following forms of payment:
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Prepaid debit cards
Contact us
Health Department
Phone
Address
Public Service Building505 Fourth Ave S, Room 520Minneapolis, MN 55415
Office hours
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday