Food handler training

We encourage food workers to take an online basic training course.

About

The Minneapolis Health Department offers three online trainings for food handlers.  

  • We do not require previous food safety training. 
  • Licensed food businesses can request voucher codes for their staff to take a training for free.
  • Others can purchase a training for $20. 

Not Certified Food Protection Manager certification 

The food handler trainings are not Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) classes.  

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:

  1. Visit Food Safety Training for Minneapolis
  2. Turn off your browser's pop-up blocker.
  3. Enter your voucher code in the Redeem Voucher box.
  4. Follow the prompts on your screen.
  5. 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

Visit Food safety training for Minneapolis

Contact us

Health Department

Phone

612-673-2301

Address

Public Service Building
505 Fourth Ave S, Room 520
Minneapolis, MN 55415

Office hours
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Monday – Friday

 

Minneapolis 311

 
 

Office hours

7 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Monday – Friday