To get a food hygiene certificate, you complete a food hygiene course at the level that suits your job and pass its assessment. Level 1 is for people who work around food but do not prepare open food. Level 2 is for anyone who prepares, cooks or serves open food. Level 3 is for supervisors and managers. You can take all three levels online, and Level 2 fits into a day: the Lift College Food Hygiene Level 2 course is 3 hours in 7 short modules, with a CPD Standards Office accredited certificate the same day you pass.
Do you need a food hygiene certificate?
Not by law. GOV.UK says "Food handlers do not have to hold a food hygiene certificate." What the law does require is that food handlers are supervised and instructed or trained in food hygiene to suit their work (Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII).
GOV.UK also says a food business must be able to show its staff "have the right skills and up-to-date training for their role" and keep a record of training to show at an inspection. A certificate is the simplest record of that training.
Which level do you need?
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| Level | Typical roles | Course length at Lift College |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Waiting, bar, cleaning, retail and front of house staff who handle wrapped or low-risk food | 2 hours, 5 modules |
| Level 2 | Chefs, cooks, kitchen assistants, care and school kitchen staff, anyone preparing or serving open food | 3 hours, 7 modules |
| Level 3 | Supervisors, head chefs, kitchen and catering managers, owners | 10 hours, 8 modules |
If you are not sure, ask your employer which level they expect for your role before you start.
Step by step
1. Choose the level that matches your role. 2. Check what your employer accepts. GOV.UK lists courses, on-the-job training, self-study and relevant experience as ways to learn the skills, and the employer decides how you are trained. 3. Complete the course. Online courses let you start straight away and stop and start as you need. 4. Pass the assessment. At Lift College that is a final test of multiple choice questions with 80% or more to pass and unlimited free retakes. 5. Download your certificate and give a copy to your employer. Keep your own copy: it records your hours, your pass date and, at Lift College, a unique number and verification link.
Online or classroom?
Both give you a certificate. GOV.UK suggests asking your local authority if you want information on certificates, and its staff training guidance mentions courses provided or recommended by your local authority. Whichever you choose, the course should cover what the law expects food handlers to know: the main hazards, the 4Cs of cleaning, cooking, chilling and avoiding cross-contamination, allergens, personal hygiene and temperature control.
What a food hygiene certificate costs
Here is what each provider showed on its own course page on 22 October 2026. Rival prices are as a buyer pays them.
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| Provider | Course | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Lift College | Food Hygiene Level 2 (7 modules, 3 hours) | £19.99, pay once |
| CPD Online College | Food Safety and Hygiene for Catering Level 2 course | £28.80 |
| High Speed Training | Level 2 Food Hygiene and Safety for Catering course | £24 |
How long it lasts
A food hygiene certificate has no legal expiry date. Lift College recommends refreshing every 3 years, or sooner if your job or the rules change, and the refresher is free.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get a food hygiene certificate?
Can I get a food hygiene certificate online?
What level food hygiene certificate do I need?
Do I need a food hygiene certificate to sell food from home?
Who gives you a food hygiene certificate?
How do I prove my food hygiene certificate to an employer?
Sources checked
- GOV.UK: Running a food business, staff training (checked 10 November 2026)
- GOV.UK: Running a food business, your responsibilities (checked 10 November 2026)
- legislation.gov.uk: Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII (checked 10 November 2026)
- Lift College: Food Hygiene Level 1 (checked 10 November 2026)
- Lift College: Food Hygiene Level 2 (checked 10 November 2026)
- Lift College: Food Hygiene Level 3 (checked 10 November 2026)