Tips for Choosing Your Food Handlers Course

If you work in the food industry, mostly as a chef, caterer, server, or barista, earning your food handler’s card is a professional must as much as it is a formality. Putting in the effort to earn this card proves that you understand safe food handling practices and their importance in protecting your customers.

With countless online and in-person courses available, however, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed about the one you should choose. No need to worry, however, as we’ve researched and created practical tips to help you find the right food handler’s course for your career goals and schedule.

1. Confirm State or Local Approval

This one may sound like generic advice at first until you realise how many aspiring food handlers skip it, often in a rush to get started and complete their course as soon as possible. Don’t make the same mistake. Start the selection process early enough so you will have enough time to compare courses based on their state approval.

A course that’s approved by your state or local health department will have all the topics you should take and will meet all the other training requirements. What’s more, state-approved food handlers card courses like the ones offered by RocketCert are regularly updated to meet the most recent requirements and standards.

2. Get a Course That Matches Your Work Environment

Keep in mind that not all food handler courses are created equal. A general course will cover basic safety, but some are tailored for specific roles or industries, like school cafeteria staff, mobile food workers, or restaurant workers.

If you work in a bakery, for example, you will benefit more from a course that emphasises cross-contamination and temperature control for baked goods as opposed to one that focuses a lot on meat handling. The more closely the course content matches your daily operations, the more useful it will be.

3. Prioritise Interactive Learning

It’s rather easy to zone out during a long online video, especially after a full day at work. That’s why it would be a good idea to go for courses that include interactive elements like drag-and-drop exercises, scenario-based learning, quizzes, and more.

Interactive formats are perfect when it comes to helping you stay engaged and retain information better. So, look for a course that doesn’t just tell you what to do but also lets you test your understanding along the way.

4. Consider Course Duration and Flexibility

Food handler courses vary a lot when it comes to the duration you need to complete them. Some only cover the important basics, thus taking as little as 30 minutes, while others stretch to two or three hours. It may look like shorter is better, but that’s not always the case. The secret lies in finding a balance between comprehensive coverage and time efficiency.

If you’re juggling shifts or family responsibilities, you will want to get a self-paced course or one that’s accessible on mobile devices. That way, you can pause, review, or complete sections when it’s most convenient.

5. Read Reviews and Employer Recommendations

If you ask us, this is one of the best tips to use when choosing your food handler’s course, but it’s also a tricky one, so you’ll have to be extra careful. People who have taken the course will offer the best insight, but you will have to be keen since there are some course providers who use fake reviews.

The good thing is that such reviews are rather easy to catch, as they are overly focused on promoting the provider as opposed to describing genuine experiences. Genuine reviews will, however, give you a clear picture of how the course was, from how clear the lessons were to how responsive customer support is.

Even better, ask your employer which courses they accept or recommend.

Get a Course That Will Train You to Be the Best

Choosing the right food handler’s course is all about building confidence in your skills and showing your dedication to food safety. That’s why you need to take a well-crafted course, and one that doesn’t just offer the basics.

RocketCert is the best choice for such courses. Thanks to their expertly written and highly engaging content, you should have everything you need to secure your professional growth.