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Alberta Food Handler Certificate
Food Handlers Certificate Alberta Food Safety Certificate, Online
CERTIFY IN AS LITTLE AS 6 HOURS! Get your Alberta food safety certificate online and download it the same day. On the Government of Alberta recognized course list for Section 31 of the Food Regulation.
- Meets Section 31 of the Alberta Food Regulation, AR 31/2006
- Valid for 5 years, instant digital download after the exam
- Self-paced course, finish in as little as 6 hours
6 hrs
Certify in
as little as
as little as
Free unlimited retakes
Works on any device
Inspector-built
Government of Alberta Recognized
On the official Section 31 course list
EXAM
Free Retakes
Proctored online, unlimited attempts
Same-day certificate
Alberta Food Handlers Certificate Key Facts
Everything you need to know at a glance
- Required by
- Alberta Reg 31/2006Section 31, Food Regulation, under the Public Health Act
- Recognized in
- All 5 AHS ZonesCalgary, Edmonton, Central, North, South
- Validity
- 5 YearsAcross Alberta. BC uses FOODSAFE Level 1
- Course length
- As little as 6 hoursSelf-paced, save progress anytime
- Exam format
- Online, proctored70% to pass, free unlimited retakes
- Certificate
- Instant PDFWall + wallet versions included
- Price (all-in)
- $49.95 CADFree WHMIS certificate included
- Recognized by
- Government of AlbertaRecognized food safety courses list, updated July 2026
Trusted by over 200,000 Canadians
Alberta Bundle
Two certificates, one price
A WHMIS certificate is included with every Alberta food handlers certificate purchase at no extra cost. One payment, two certificates, both ready to print the same day.
+
WHMIS Certificate
FREE
Included with your Alberta purchase. Employers are legally required to review WHMIS training programs at least annually.
Get certified fast
Certified in 3 Easy Steps
Register in 30 seconds. Complete in as little as 6 hours. Certificate the same day.
01
Register in 30 Seconds
Enter your email, complete checkout at $49.95, and log in right away. Start the course the moment you pay.
02
Take the Exam on Any Device
Proctored final exam on your phone, tablet, or laptop, anywhere in Alberta. Available 24/7 with free unlimited retakes. Try the free food handler practice test first.
03
Print Your Certificate
Instant digital download after passing. Print your wall certificate and wallet card. Show it to your Alberta employer and to the AHS Executive Officer at inspection.
Course preview
See Inside the Course
3-minute walkthrough so you know exactly what to expect
Course details
Inside the Alberta food handler course
About the course
The Alberta food handlers certificate course trains food workers with practical, engaging lessons built on modern learning technology, not slides you click through.
- Format: 100% online
- Devices: phone, tablet, laptop (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac)
- Teaching methods: interactive activities, audio, video, full text
- Length: as little as 6 hours, save your progress anytime
Course modules
- Module 1: Introduction to Food Safety
- Module 2: Food Safety Laws
- Module 3: Foodborne Illness
- Module 4: Microbial Foodborne Illnesses
- Module 5: Safe Food Handling
- Module 6: Prevention of Food Contamination
- Module 7: Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
- Module 8: Cleaning and Sanitizing in a Food Premise
- Module 9: Personal Hygiene of Food Handlers
- Module 10: Maintenance of Food Premises
- Module 11: Proctored Exam
Certificate preview
Pass the exam and your certificate is ready the same day. No waiting, no mailing. Reprint anytime from your dashboard.
- 1Log in to your account
- 2Open the Certificates tab on your dashboard
- 3Print or download your wall certificate and wallet card
Contact a health inspector
Call and speak with a Certified Public Health Inspector about the course or about staying compliant in Alberta, whether you run a food truck or a 40 location franchise. Most online courses do not offer this.
Call 1-866-293-6222
Price match guarantee
Found a lower price? We will match it. Email support@probeit.ca or chat with our team before you buy, and we will match any verified competitor price on a comparable Alberta food handlers certificate course in Canada.
Recognized province-wide
Accepted across all 5 Alberta Health Services Zones
Whether you work in Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, or anywhere else in Alberta, your certificate is accepted by your AHS zone. Food handlers certificate, food safety certificate, and food handling certificate all describe the same credential in Alberta.
Who needs it
Alberta food workers we serve
If your business prepares, processes, packages, serves, or sells food in Alberta, Section 31 of AR 31/2006 applies. A food handler is anyone who handles food, utensils, or equipment, including servers, dishwashers, and delivery drivers who load food. This course covers every food service role across the province.
Restaurants and Cafes
Bistros, fine dining, casual eateries
Food Trucks
Mobile vendors. A mobile food establishment permit is valid across Alberta
Bakeries and Coffee Shops
Coffee shops, bakeries, prepared foods
Grocery and Delis
Deli counters and prepared food sections
Catering
Catering operations and event venues
Schools and Daycares
Cafeterias and early learning centres
Long Term Care
Senior homes and care facilities serving more than 10 people
Convenience
Convenience stores serving prepared food
Alberta Compliance
Alberta Food Safety Law: What You Need to Know
Food safety in Alberta is governed by the Public Health Act and the Alberta Food Regulation (AR 31/2006). Both apply to every restaurant, cafe, food truck, and food business in the province. No city in Alberta has its own bylaw for food handler training; the rule is provincial and it changes with the size of your team.
Food Regulation, Alberta Regulation 31/2006, Section 31
31(1) A person operating a commercial food establishment must, at any time when there are 5 or fewer food handlers working on the premises, ensure that at least one individual who has care and control of the commercial food establishment holds a certificate issued by the Minister confirming that individual's successful completion of a food sanitation and hygiene training program or a document that the Minister considers equivalent to such a certificate.
(2) A person operating a commercial food establishment must, at any time when there are 6 or more food handlers working on the premises, ensure that at least one member of the management or supervisory staff of the commercial food establishment holds a certificate or equivalent document referred to in subsection (1) and that that individual is present at the commercial food establishment at the time.
Section 31(3) exempts a business that serves only unpackaged low-risk food, or that only sells food in the same pre-packaged form it arrived in. Everyone else is covered. The certificate must come from a course on the Government of Alberta recognized list. The current list, updated July 2026, includes this line:
Recognized food safety courses in Alberta, Government of Alberta, updated July 2026
Probe It Food Safety, Probe It Food Safety (classroom and online), www.probeit.ca
Permit vs certificate. A food handling permit is for the business. It is issued by AHS under Section 3 of the regulation and must be displayed on the premises. A food safety certificate is for the person. A restaurant needs both.
Alberta Health Services runs the inspections through its Environmental Public Health team. Executive Officers visit food premises on a risk-based schedule and after complaints, check food handler certificates, look at equipment, take samples, and can issue orders or close a business. Inspection reports are posted for three years on the AHS Public Health Inspection Reports site, and closure orders are posted as enforcement orders.
Read more: Alberta food safety laws, how to get your certificate in Alberta, food handler vs food safety certificate, the city pages for Calgary and Edmonton, and the Canada-wide food handlers certificate page.
View the Government of Alberta recognized food safety courses list (PDF) and read the Food Regulation AR 31/2006 at the Alberta King's Printer.
Why it matters
Food safety in Canada, by the numbers
Training is not just a rule. It prevents real illness and real cost.
4 million
Canadians, about 1 in 8, get a foodborne illness every year. Most cases are never reported.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada
11,600
hospitalizations and about 238 deaths from foodborne illness in Canada each year.
Source: Public Health Agency of Canada
From the Inspector
Real advice from a Public Health Inspector
This Alberta food safety course is reviewed by Samira Ali, a Certified Public Health Inspector and Food Safety Course Developer.
SA
Why Alberta restaurants should certify the whole team
"Alberta has a two-tier rule. With 5 or fewer food handlers, one certified person in care and control is enough. With 6 or more, a certified manager or supervisor has to be in the building. If that person is on break, off sick, or gone, you are out of compliance for that shift. Once your team grows past five, certify a backup. It costs less than one closure."
Certifying 5 or more people? Register your team in bulk and get a volume discount.
Member Bonus
Free Resource Library Access
Every Alberta food handlers certificate purchase includes full access to our Resource Library, the same toolkit our enterprise clients use to stay inspection-ready.
7 Printable Posters
Handwashing, allergen, temperature danger zone, glove use, and more
12 Daily Operations Logs
Cooking, fridge, freezer, cleaning, receiving, and equipment logs
Inspection Prep Checklists
Pre-inspection self-audits built around Alberta Reg 31/2006
Provincial Compliance Guides
Province-specific food safety rules for every Canadian jurisdiction
Alberta FAQs
Food Handlers Certificate Alberta FAQs
Common questions from Alberta food workers and employers.
Do I need a food handlers certificate in Alberta?
Yes, in most cases. Under Section 31 of the Alberta Food Regulation (AR 31/2006), a commercial food establishment with 5 or fewer food handlers on the premises must have at least one person in care and control who holds a recognized certificate. With 6 or more food handlers, a certified manager or supervisor must be present on site. The rule covers restaurants, cafes, food trucks, bakeries, grocery delis, daycares, and care facilities. Alberta Health Services enforces it in all five zones.
Is a food safety certificate the same as a food handling certificate in Alberta?
Yes. Food safety certificate, food handling certificate, and food handlers certificate all describe the same credential in Alberta: proof that you completed a food sanitation and hygiene program on the Government of Alberta recognized list. AHS and employers use the names interchangeably.
How do I get a food safety certificate in Alberta online?
Register in 30 seconds, take the course at your own pace on any phone, tablet, or laptop, and pass the proctored exam with 70% or more. Most people finish in as little as 6 hours. Your certificate is ready to download the same day you pass. Step by step help is in our guide on how to get a food safety certificate in Alberta.
Does AHS accept an online food safety certificate?
Yes. The Government of Alberta recognized list includes both classroom and online courses, and this course is listed for both. An AHS Executive Officer checks that your course is on the list, not whether you took it in a classroom.
Which food safety courses are approved in Alberta?
The Government of Alberta keeps one official list of recognized food safety courses, updated July 2026. A certificate only counts under Section 31 if the course is on that list. This course is on it. Before buying from any provider, check the list yourself; it is linked in the compliance section above.
Is there a free food safety course in Alberta that counts?
Alberta Health Services offers a free online Food Safety Basics course, but it is not on the Government of Alberta recognized list for Section 31. The only AHS course on that list is the classroom Food Sanitation and Hygiene course. If you need a certificate that satisfies the regulation, use a recognized course.
Do I need a food handling permit or a food safety certificate in Alberta?
They are different things. The food handling permit is for the business. It is issued by AHS under Section 3 of the Food Regulation and must be displayed on the premises. The food safety certificate is for the person. A restaurant needs a permit for the premises and a certified person on staff under Section 31.
How much is a food handler certificate in Alberta?
$49.95 CAD, paid once. A WHMIS certificate is included at no extra cost. There is no subscription, no hidden fee, and exam retakes are free.
How long is the food handler certificate valid in Alberta?
Your certificate is valid for 5 years. After that, retake the course to renew. It is accepted in every Alberta city and in the other provinces that use a 5 year food handler certificate. In British Columbia, use FOODSAFE Level 1 instead.
Is this certificate accepted in all 5 AHS zones?
Yes. Calgary Zone, Edmonton Zone, Central Zone, North Zone, and South Zone all follow the same provincial regulation and the same recognized list. If you change jobs or move cities within Alberta, your certificate still counts.
Is the food handler exam hard?
The exam is multiple choice and proctored online. You need 70% to pass. If you do not pass, you can retake it free as many times as you need. Try the free food handler practice test first.
Is the Alberta food safety course the same as FOODSAFE?
FOODSAFE Level 1 is the British Columbia program. This course is the Alberta food handlers certificate. Both cover temperature control, cross contamination, cleaning, allergens, and foodborne illness. If you work in BC, take FOODSAFE Level 1. Our certificates are on the BCCDC equivalency list, but equivalent-course holders are not in the BC FOODSAFE Registry and must keep their own training records. See food handler vs food safety certificate for the full picture.
Can I buy Alberta food handler certificates for my whole team?
Yes. Use the group purchase page to buy seats for 5, 10, 25, or 100 or more staff in Calgary, Edmonton, or anywhere in Alberta. Volume discounts apply. Each staff member gets their own login and their own certificate.
Will I get a physical card?
After you pass, you get a digital certificate right away in two formats: a full wall version and a wallet card, both PDFs. Most Alberta employers and AHS inspectors accept the digital version on your phone. You can also request a mailed wallet card.
How often does AHS inspect food businesses in Alberta?
AHS sets inspection frequency by risk, so a full-service restaurant is inspected more often than a coffee kiosk, and complaints trigger extra visits. Inspectors can ask to see the certificates of the food handlers on shift. Every report is posted on the AHS Public Health Inspection Reports site for three years, and closure orders are posted as enforcement orders.
Ready to get certified in Alberta?
Same-day Alberta food handlers certificate. Free WHMIS included. On the Government of Alberta recognized list for Section 31 of the Food Regulation, accepted in all 5 AHS zones.