Food hygiene certificate courses across the UK
Last updated: 21 October 2026
Short answer
Our Level 2 food hygiene course is online, so it works the same in every city and council area of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, for £12 per person. Food handlers do not have to hold a food hygiene certificate.[1] The food business must make sure its food handlers are supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene in line with their work.[2]
Pick your city or region to see which council inspects food businesses there, which hygiene rating scheme applies and how to register a new food business.
Where can you get a food hygiene certificate in England?
England uses the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, which councils run with the FSA and which rates each business from 0 (urgent improvement is required) to 5 (very good).[3][4] Displaying the rating sticker is voluntary in England, though businesses are encouraged to do so.[3]
Where can you get a food hygiene certificate in Scotland?
Scotland uses the Food Hygiene Information Scheme instead of 0 to 5 ratings: a business gets a Pass if it meets the legal requirements for food hygiene, or Improvement Required if it does not.[5][6] Businesses get a certificate or sticker to display, some choose not to display it, and Food Standards Scotland publishes every result online.[6]
Where can you get a food hygiene certificate in Wales?
Wales uses the 0 to 5 Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, run by councils with the FSA.[3][4] In Wales, food businesses must by law display their rating sticker (Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013, section 7).[3][7]
Where can you get a food hygiene certificate in Northern Ireland?
Northern Ireland uses the 0 to 5 Food Hygiene Rating Scheme, run by councils with the FSA.[3][4] In Northern Ireland, food businesses must by law display their rating sticker at or near each entrance (Food Hygiene Rating Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, section 7, and the Food Hygiene Rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016).[3][8][9]
Working in Ireland? See food safety courses in Ireland.
Sources
- Running a food business: Staff training, illness and hygiene (GOV.UK, updated 30 January 2025)
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII (Training) (legislation.gov.uk, revised version, last amended 31 December 2020)
- Food hygiene rating scheme (Food Standards Agency, no date shown)
- Food hygiene rating scheme (GOV.UK, no date shown)
- Food Hygiene Information Scheme: information for businesses (Food Standards Scotland, no date shown)
- About the Food Hygiene Information Scheme (Food Standards Scotland, no date shown)
- Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Act 2013, section 7 (legislation.gov.uk, as enacted)
- Food Hygiene Rating Act (Northern Ireland) 2016, section 7 (legislation.gov.uk, as enacted)
- The Food Hygiene Rating Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016 (legislation.gov.uk, as made)
Train your staff in 2–3 hours
Our Food Safety & Hygiene Level 2 course has seven short modules, a final exam and an instant certificate with QR verification.