Care workers
Food hygiene certificate for care workers
For care home staff and home carers who prepare, serve or help with meals for older or vulnerable people.
Level 2, UK version: £12 per person, online 24 hours a day. Module 1 is free before you pay.
What the rules say
For care homes, supported living, home care and domiciliary care, day centres and hospitals. Each point links to the page it comes from.
- UK food law says food handlers must be supervised and instructed and/or trained in food hygiene in line with their work. It does not require a certificate or a particular training provider.[1][2]
- Care homes that make or serve food are food businesses: they must register with their council and train the staff who handle food.[1][3]
- In England, CQC Regulation 14 requires care providers to meet the nutritional and hydration needs of the people they care for.[4]
- Food businesses must give allergen information for the 14 allergens and train staff on allergens.[5]
What the course covers for your work
- Cooking, reheating and keeping food hot at safe temperatures
- The 14 allergens and how to stop cross-contact
- Handwashing, and when to stay off work with sickness or diarrhoea
- Storing food in the fridge and use-by dates
7 modules with a short video and a quiz each, about 2 to 3 hours in total. The final exam has 30 questions in 45 minutes. Pass and download a PDF certificate with a QR code that anyone can check.
Which course and how much
| Course | Price |
|---|---|
| Level 2 food hygiene | £12 (£10 + VAT) |
| Level 2 + allergen awareness | £18 |
Training a team? Team packs cost less per person and come with a dashboard and training records.
Sources
- Regulation (EC) No 852/2004, Annex II, Chapter XII (Training) (legislation.gov.uk, revised version, last amended 31 December 2020)
- Running a food business: Staff training, illness and hygiene (GOV.UK, updated 30 January 2025)
- Food business registration (Food Standards Agency on GOV.UK, no date shown)
- Regulation 14: Meeting nutritional and hydration needs (Care Quality Commission, no date shown)
- Allergen guidance for food businesses (Food Standards Agency on GOV.UK, updated 17 July 2026)
The certificate confirms completion of training. It is not a regulated qualification, and HygieneReady is not approved or endorsed by the FSA or Food Standards Scotland.
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Frequently asked questions
Do care workers need a Level 2 food hygiene certificate?
The law asks for training in food hygiene in line with the work, not a certificate. Many care employers ask staff who prepare food to complete a Level 2 food hygiene course, so check what yours asks for.
I work in home care. Is this course for me?
Yes. It covers the same basics you use when you prepare meals in someone's home: hygiene, safe temperatures, storage and allergens. The examples come from kitchens, cafés and care settings.
Is an online food hygiene course enough?
UK law asks for training in food hygiene in line with the work, and the FSA lists self-study among the ways to train. It does not require a classroom course or a particular provider. Our certificate confirms you completed the training and passed the exam; it is not a regulated qualification, and HygieneReady is not approved by the FSA.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
Level 2 costs £12 per person (£10 + VAT), with the certificate included, or £18 with allergen awareness. The course takes about 2 to 3 hours. The final exam has 30 questions and you pass with 21; retakes are free.