Food hygiene certificates explained What all those badges actually mean
Course pages are covered in logos: CPD, RoSPA, City & Guilds Assured, Ofqual. They look impressive, but what do they tell you?
There are two kinds of certificate. A training certificate comes from the company that ran the course. A regulated qualification is checked by an official body, such as Ofqual in England. For most hospitality jobs, a training certificate is perfectly fine. You only need a regulated qualification if a contract, tender or employer specifically asks for one.
The two kinds of certificate
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| Training certificate | Regulated qualification | |
|---|---|---|
| Who gives it to you | The training company | An awarding body, such as Highfield |
| Who checks the standard | The company itself, often with outside quality checks | An official regulator, such as Ofqual in England |
| How you're tested | An online quiz, usually with free resits | An exam watched by an invigilator |
| Typical cost for Level 2 | From about £12 | Around £170, depending on the training centre |
| Good for | Most kitchen and front-of-house staff | Contracts, tenders or jobs that ask for one |
| Examples | High Speed Training, Virtual College, CIEH online courses | Highfield Level 2 Award in Food Safety for Catering |
What do all the badges mean?
Badges are a sign that a course has been checked by someone outside the company, which is a good thing. But none of them turn a training certificate into a regulated qualification. Here's what the common ones mean.
CPD. CPD stands for continuing professional development. A CPD badge means the course has been checked against guidelines for workplace learning. It's a quality mark, not a qualification.
RoSPA. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has reviewed the course content to check it's up to date and good quality.
City & Guilds Assured. City & Guilds experts have reviewed the course. The certificate still comes from the training company, not from City & Guilds.
Institute of Hospitality. The hospitality industry's professional body has endorsed the course as teaching good practice.
Ofqual or RQF. This is the one that means "regulated qualification". RQF stands for Regulated Qualifications Framework. If you see it, the qualification is officially regulated.
Can an employer check a certificate is real?
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| Provider | Can you check it online? |
|---|---|
| High Speed Training | ✓YesOn their certificate checking page |
| Virtual College | ?Ask the provider |
| CIEH | ?Contact CIEH |
| Highfield (regulated) | ✓YesUsing Highfield's Checkcert service |
✓Yes✗No?Not published, worth asking
Do certificates expire?
No. Food hygiene certificates don't have a legal expiry date. Most providers recommend a refresher every three years, so knowledge stays fresh and up to date with any changes. It's a good habit to note the refresher date in your training records.
How to tell if you need a regulated qualification
Read the exact wording of whatever is asking for it. If a contract or job advert says "Level 2 food hygiene certificate", a training certificate usually does the job. If it says "regulated", "RQF", "Ofqual" or "accredited qualification", you'll need the regulated kind. If you're not sure, just ask whoever wrote it. It's a two-minute question that could save you buying the wrong course.
Ready to compare? Our course comparisons show which courses are regulated, and our guide to course costs explains the price difference.