Understanding Required Competencies for the 2022 Food Code

Please read the information on this page that describes what is covered in this course, the intended audience, and how the course works before you register.

Course Overview

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) publishes the Food Code every four years as a model of best practices for the safe handling of food in a retail setting. Local, state, tribal and federal regulators use the FDA Food Code as a model to develop or update their own food safety rules and to be consistent with national food regulatory policy.

Understanding Required Competencies for the 2022 Food Code course is a self-directed online training designed to provide the foundational knowledge from the newest edition of the Food Code that is necessary to satisfy regulatory requirements while helping to ensure the safety of food sold in retail and food service operations.

Food establishment employees must demonstrate understanding of 18 knowledge-based competencies identified in the Food Code for regulatory compliance, that ultimately contribute to the protection of public health. This course has seven modules, each discussing several related competencies reflecting common Food Code themes. They come together into cohesive lessons discussing best practices in food handling, food safety management in facilities, and preventive control practices to mitigate risks of foodborne illness.

The course provides explanation and context for each knowledge-based competency as well as additional resources to enhance understanding of the material.

Register

Registration for the Understanding Required Competencies for the 2022 Food Code course is coming soon! Join our mailing list to be notified when the course is launched and registration is open.

Course Details

Compliance with Regulations

The Certificate of Completion issued at the end of this online course can be used as a record to document that participants who completed the course received training in the 18 knowledge-based competencies of the 2022 FDA Food Code.

NOTE: All Persons-in-Charge must demonstrate their knowledge of these competencies by passing an exam given by an accredited program and responding correctly to inspector’s questions as they relate to the specific food operation.

Intended Audience

This course was designed for employees of retail and food service establishments. This includes persons-in-charge, management, staff, food handlers, and conditional employees.

Course Cost

The course fee is $200. Group discounts are available for groups with 20 or more participants. Please contact Nancy Long at ifstraining [at] cornell.edu (ifstraining[at]cornell[dot]edu) for details.

Important note: Refunds are not available after payment for the course is received.

How the Course Works

The course consists of 7 different modules with a section of additional resources at the end of the course:

Introduction – 2022 Food Code
Preventing Foodborne Illnesses by Employee Transmission
Time & Temperature Controls
Avoiding Cross-Contamination & Unintended Food Allergen Exposure
Equipment & Utensils
Physical Facilities – Design & Controls
Critical Controls, HACCP Plans & Food Defense

You will have 7 weeks to complete the course. Each module is divided into several sections with each section covering an individual knowledge-based competency. There is a quiz testing your knowledge after each section. Completing each quiz with a passing score of 100% is required to earn the Certificate of Course Completion, as described below.

Course Registration

The registration steps are as follows:

Complete the IFS@CU course registration web form;
Pay for the course; and
Create an account to access the online course.

Instructions to complete step 2 and 3 will be sent to each participant via email after completion of step 1. After completing all 3 steps outlined above each student will be notified that they have been enrolled into the online course. Students will have 7 weeks to complete the course from the date of enrollment. All communications related to this course will be by email, and each student must have a working email address to participate.

Important note: Refunds are not available after payment for the course is received.

System Requirements

The course material is accessed through a browser such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Edge. For best results please make sure you're using the most current version of your browser software by installing any needed updates. The software application for the online delivery of the course requires one of the following operating systems: Windows 7 and newer; Mac OSX 10.10 and newer; or Linux – chromeOS.

Course Completion Certificate

Students will earn a “Certificate of Course Completion” after passing the quizzes in each module with a score of 100%. The certificate will be issued and emailed to the individual person who registered for the course, and will contain the date of completion. The certificate should be kept on file to show that the individual has received training on the knowledge-based competencies of the 2022 FDA Food Code.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

I am having a problem accessing the course. What should I do?

Please contact Nancy Long (ifstraining [at] cornell.edu (ifstraining[at]cornell[dot]edu)) and she will assist you with gaining access to the course.

Is the course offered in Spanish?

Unfortunately at this time, the Understanding Required Competencies for the 2022 Food Code course is not offered in Spanish.

I completed the course. How can I get my Certificate of Completion?

Certificates of Completion are issued weekly on Friday mornings during business operations. For questions, please contact Nancy Long (ifstraining [at] cornell.edu (ifstraining[at]cornell[dot]edu)). Please note, we sometimes adjust the schedule for University or office closures, but will give enrolled participants advanced notice through announcements in Canvas.

May I have an extension to complete the course?

Participants have 7 weeks to complete the course from the time of payment. If you need additional time to complete the course, please email Nancy Long (ifstraining [at] cornell.edu (ifstraining[at]cornell[dot]edu)) to request a one-time extension. Please note that we do not grant participants unlimited access to the course.

I paid for the course, but now I don’t need to take it. How do I get a refund for the course?

Unfortunately, refunds are not available after payment for the course is received.

How do I know if I completed all the quizzes for each module?

You can select “Grades” from the menu bar in Canvas. It will bring up a window that shows your grade for each assignment quiz. If you are missing a grade, then you have not submitted a quiz for that section. You can go back to the course module and submit the assignment quiz.

You must complete and submit all assignment quizzes for each module with a passing score of 100% to complete the course.

How do I download PDFs of the training modules?

Unfortunately, it is not possible to download the training modules as a single PDF. However, you can access alternative formats for each page in Canvas by clicking on the symbol with the letter “A” followed by a downward arrow. This symbol appears after the title on each page. When you select the symbol for alternative formats, you can select the format you want to view and download it. You can also right click on individual pages, select print and save them as a PDF.

How do I access the links/resources provided in the course?

All of the links/resources shared within the course are available on the IFS@CU’s website, under course resources on the Understanding Required Competencies for the 2022 Food Code course web page.

Understanding FDA Food Code Competencies