CPD Standards Office accreditedFood Hygiene Level 2
To get a Level 2 food hygiene certificate online, complete a Level 2 course and pass its test. With Lift College that is 3 hours in 7 short modules for anyone who handles open food, a final multiple choice test at 80% with unlimited free retakes, and a CPD Standards Office accredited certificate the same day you pass.
- £19.99, pay once
- CPD certificate the day you pass
- Free refresher when it is due
- 14-day money back
Accredited CPD activityThe CPD Standards Office, provider 51289. Verify accreditation
14-day money back · Pay once, no subscription
Food Hygiene Level 2
You can do food hygiene Level 2 training online in the UK with Lift College. Food Hygiene Level 2 is 3 hours of learning in 7 short modules, each with a knowledge check, for £19.99, pay once. Your accredited CPD certificate is ready the same day you pass. We recommend a refresh every 3 years, and the refresher is free.
If you prepare, cook or serve food, you are a food handler. The law requires food handlers to be supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene to suit their work. Level 2 is written for people who handle open food every day.
You learn how to stop bacteria, allergens and other hazards reaching your customers. The course covers cleaning, cooking, chilling and cross-contamination, plus temperature control, personal hygiene and the 14 allergens. Your CPD certificate is ready the same day you pass.
- Explain the main food safety hazards and how they cause harm
- Prevent cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat food
- Keep chilled and hot food at safe temperatures
- Clean and disinfect work areas and equipment effectively
- Follow personal hygiene and handwashing rules at all times
- Manage the 14 allergens and answer customer questions accurately
- Report illness and stay off work when you need to
- Spot the signs of pests and report them
7 short modules, 3 hours in total.
Food safety and the law
Your responsibilities as a food handler, how food poisoning happens and how food businesses are inspected.
Knowledge checkFood safety hazards
The four types of hazard: microbiological, chemical, physical and allergenic, and how each one reaches food.
Knowledge checkTemperature control
Safe chilling, cooking, cooling, reheating and hot holding, including the 8°C and 63°C limits in England.
Knowledge checkPreventing cross-contamination
Keeping raw and ready-to-eat food apart in storage and preparation, and using equipment and surfaces safely.
Knowledge checkCleaning and pest control
Cleaning schedules, cleaning versus disinfecting, managing waste and spotting the signs of pests.
Knowledge checkPersonal hygiene
Handwashing, protective clothing, reporting illness at once and the 48-hour rule after diarrhoea or vomiting.
Knowledge checkAllergens
The 14 allergens, Natasha's Law labelling, preventing cross-contact and giving accurate allergy information.
Knowledge checkFinal test and your certificate
Multiple choice, 80% to pass, unlimited attempts. Your CPD Standards Office accredited certificate is issued the day you pass.
Food Hygiene Level 1, 2 or 3: Which Do You Need?
The short answer: the level depends on your role. Level 1 suits front of house staff and low risk roles. Level 2 is for anyone who prepares, cooks or serves food. Level 3 is for supervisors, chefs and managers. Your employer can tell you which level your role needs. Watch the short explainer, then read on for the details.
Prefer to read? See the 7 modules
This course is for you if
- You are a chef, cook or kitchen assistant
- You prepare or serve food in a care home, hospital, nursery or school
- You work in a café, takeaway, pub, restaurant or food van
- You make food at home to sell, such as cakes or ready meals
- You work on a deli, bakery or butcher counter
- Your employer has asked you to complete Level 2 food hygiene
Your CPD accredited certificate, issued the day you pass.
Your certificate records Food Hygiene Level 2, 3 hours of learning, your completion date and a recommended refresh by date 3 years later. It carries a unique certificate number and a verification link, signed for Lift College by Kate Strohm, Managing Director.
- One price, £19.99. One payment, one learner, no subscription.
- Short modules with a knowledge check after each one and a final test. Instant results.
- 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
- A CPD accredited certificate as a PDF the same day you pass, carrying the CPD Standards Office mark, our provider number 51289, a unique number and a verification link.
- Access for as long as Lift College offers the course, and never less than 3 years from the day you buy.
- A free refresher when your recommended refresh date arrives. Changed your mind? Ask within 14 days of paying and we refund you in full.
LC-CPD-SAMPLECertificate numberAccredited continuing professional developmentCertificate of CompletionThis is to certify thatAlex Johnsonhas successfully completed the CPD course
Dr Kate StrohmManaging Director, Lift CollegeSample certificateAn example only. It has no numberand cannot be verified.LC-CPD-SAMPLELift College Limited is a CPD Standards Office accredited provider (number 51289). This course is an accredited CPD activity.This certificate confirms completion of a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course. It is not an Ofqual-regulated qualification.Lift College Ltd · Registered in England and Wales, Company No. 17337303 · Unit 3 E/F Suffolk House Business Park, Ashwells Road, Brentwood, Essex, CM15 9SG · liftcollege.co.ukA sample. Yours carries your name, the date you pass and a unique certificate number with a QR code anyone can scan to check it, or check a certificate at liftcollege.co.uk/verify.
Which online food hygiene Level 2 certificate do UK employers accept?
Your employer decides the food hygiene training your role needs, based on its own risk assessment and the work you do. A good certificate records the course, the hours of learning, the completion date and a refresh date, and it can be verified. The content should follow Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs, the Food Safety Act 1990 and the food hygiene regulations for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, plus Natasha's Law for allergen labelling. Training should also be refreshed on schedule. Lift College's course and certificate do each of these. The certificate records 3 hours of learning, your completion date and a recommended refresh-by date, with a unique certificate number and a verification link, and the refresher every 3 years is free. Comparing providers? See our guide to food hygiene Level 2 certificates online in the UK.
What this certificate meets
- The law: food handlers must be supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene matters to suit their work (Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, assimilated law, Annex II, Chapter XII). This course covers that training for people who prepare, cook or serve open food, including allergens and Natasha's Law.
- Food Standards Agency guidance: food handlers don't have to hold a food hygiene certificate to prepare or sell food, and training can be on the job, self-study or prior experience. Your certificate gives you and your employer a dated record of the training that can be checked.
What it does not replace
- Instruction in your own kitchen's procedures, such as temperature checks, cleaning schedules and allergen controls.
- Your business's food safety procedures based on HACCP principles, which the food business operator must put in place. Supervisors who run them need Level 3.
- A regulated qualification. This is a CPD Standards Office accredited certificate.
Free or paid? Read our guide to food hygiene certificates online, free vs paid.
The law this course supports
Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs (assimilated law), Annex II, Chapter XII
Food business operators must make sure food handlers are supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene matters to suit their work.
Read the legislation →Food Safety Act 1990
Makes it an offence to sell food that does not meet food safety requirements. It is also an offence to sell food that is not what the customer asked for.
Read the legislation →Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013
Enforce the food hygiene rules in England. They also set temperature rules, such as keeping chilled food at 8°C or below and hot-held food at 63°C or above.
Read the legislation →Food Hygiene (Wales) Regulations 2006
Enforce the same food hygiene rules for food businesses in Wales.
Read the legislation →Food Hygiene (Scotland) Regulations 2006
Enforce the food hygiene rules for food businesses in Scotland, including Scotland's own temperature control rules.
Read the legislation →Food Hygiene Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006
Enforce the food hygiene rules for food businesses in Northern Ireland.
Read the legislation →Food Information (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2019 (Natasha's Law)
Since 1 October 2021, food prepacked for direct sale in England must show its name and a full ingredients list. Allergens must be emphasised.
Read the legislation →How the cost compares
CPD Online College and High Speed Training charge £24 to £28.80 for the course. Lift College is £19.99, pay once.
| Provider | Course fee | How you pay |
|---|---|---|
| Lift College Lowest cost to start | £19.99pay once | Pay once, no subscription. Training a team? £16.99 a course on a free organisation account |
| CPD Online College | £28.80 | £28.80 |
| High Speed Training | £24 | £24 |
Prices as shown on each provider's own website.
Buying Food Hygiene Level 2 for a team?
Open a free organisation account, buy places and give each person their own login. The price falls the more places you buy.
Multiple enrolment discounts
The price of a place is set by the places in one order, on this course or any mix of our CPD courses. Saving against the £19.99 single place.
| Places in one order | Price a place | Saving |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 9 places | £16.99 | 15% off |
| 10 to 49 | £14.99 | 25% off |
| 50 to 99 | £12.99 | 35% off |
| 100 to 249 | £10.99 | 45% off |
| 250 or more | £9.99 | 50% off |
What would your team cost?
Training each person on several courses? A sector pack or the annual plan can cost less. Your quote compares all three for you.
Prefer to talk first? Request a call back
Team speaks Polish or Romanian? Food Hygiene Level 2 is also available in Polish and Romanian for orders of 10 or more places.
- 1
Your own training portal in 2 minutes
Open a free account with your work email. No sales call, and no minimum order.
- 2
See where everyone stands
A progress dashboard, a training matrix and an Excel progress report for your records.
- 3
Reminders sent for you
Welcome emails, nudges for anyone who stalls, and refresher dates so nobody goes out of date.
- 4
Pay by card or invoice
Card, or invoice on 30-day terms with your PO. Places stay valid for 3 years.
- 5
A human tutor with every course
Real tutor support for your staff, unlimited free retakes and a certificate the day they pass.
- 6
Accredited by the CPD Standards Office
Provider 51289. Every CPD course is an accredited CPD activity.
Check any learner's certificate in our register →
What our learners say
Stories from Lift College learners on our qualifications, in their own words.
“I had been a care assistant for four years without a formal qualification. Lift College made the whole process straightforward, my assessor visited regularly and I completed my Level 3 Diploma in Adult Care in just over a year. I was promoted to senior care worker the month after I qualified.”
“My employer was clear, I needed GCSE English to move into a supervisory role. Lift College helped me find the right exam board and an exam centre five minutes from home. Passed grade 4. Got the promotion.”
“My employer needed me to have Level 2 maths before they could register me on the Level 3 apprenticeship programme. Lift College was fast, the tutor was brilliant, and I resit my maths once after a near-miss and passed the second time. The whole thing took twelve weeks.”
Questions about Food Hygiene Level 2
How long does a food hygiene certificate last?
A food hygiene certificate has no legal expiry date. GOV.UK guidance says food businesses must be able to show staff have the right skills and up-to-date training for their role. Lift College recommends refreshing Level 2 every 3 years, or sooner if your job or the rules change. Your certificate shows a recommended refresh by date, and the refresher is free.
Is this course CPD accredited?
Yes. Food Hygiene Level 2 is an accredited CPD activity with the CPD Standards Office, the UK's research-led CPD accreditation body. Lift College Limited is a CPD Standards Office accredited provider (provider number 51289), and your certificate carries the CPD Standards Office mark and our provider number so an employer or professional body can check it.
Do I need a Level 2 food hygiene certificate to work with food?
The law requires food handlers to be supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene, to suit the work they do. Your employer decides how you are trained. A Level 2 certificate gives you and your employer a clear record of what you learned and when.
Is an online Level 2 food hygiene certificate valid?
Your employer decides what training you need for your role. GOV.UK guidance for food businesses says training can come from courses, on-the-job instruction, self-study or relevant past experience. This course covers what the law expects food handlers to know, and your certificate records your hours and completion date. It is a CPD Standards Office accredited certificate (provider number 51289).
What is the difference between Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 food hygiene?
Level 1 covers the basics for front-of-house and low-risk roles. Level 2 is for food handlers who prepare, cook or serve open food. Level 3 is for supervisors and managers, and adds HACCP principles and leading a team.
How quickly can I get a Level 2 food hygiene certificate online?
The same day. You can start the moment you pay £19.99, the course is 3 hours of learning in 7 short modules, and your accredited CPD certificate is ready as a PDF the same day you pass the final test. You need 80% to pass, with unlimited free retakes.
How much does the Level 2 food hygiene course cost?
Lift College's Food Hygiene Level 2 course costs £19.99, pay once, with nothing added at checkout and no subscription. That covers 3 hours of learning in 7 modules, unlimited free retakes of the final test, your CPD Standards Office accredited certificate the same day you pass and a free refresher every 3 years. Buying for a team? Every course is £16.99 on a free organisation account. CPD Online College charges £28.80 for its Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering Level 2 course and High Speed Training £24 for its Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering course, from their own websites on 22 October 2026.
How do I get a level 2 food hygiene certificate?
You get a level 2 food hygiene certificate by completing a Level 2 food hygiene course and passing its assessment. With Lift College you pay £19.99, work through 7 short modules (3 hours of learning) online, then pass a final test of multiple choice questions with 80% or more, with unlimited free retakes. Your digital accredited CPD certificate is ready as a PDF the same day you pass, with a unique certificate number and a verification link your employer can check.
Food Hygiene Level 1
Food hygiene basics for front-of-house, kitchen porters and low-risk roles: handwashing, cleaning, allergens and illness.
Food Hygiene Level 3
For supervisors and managers: HACCP principles, supervising food handlers, allergen control, records and inspections.
Anaphylaxis Training
Recognise anaphylaxis, use an adrenaline auto-injector and manage the 14 allergens. For schools, food businesses and carers.