Available locations
- Toa Payoh Central — Blk 190 Toa Payoh Lorong 6, #02-514 Singapore 310190 (Above KFC)
- Tampines Central — 300 Tampines Avenue 5, NTUC Income Tampines Junction, #07-05 Singapore 529653 (Opposite Our Tampines Hub)
- Jurong East Central — 2 Venture Drive, Vision Exchange, #07-23 Singapore 608526 (Jurong East MRT Exit B)
- Adelphi (City Hall) — 1 Coleman Street, #04-35, The Adelphi Singapore 179803
Course Introduction
Course Introduction
Course Overview
The WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1, previously known as the Basic Food Hygiene Course, is a Singapore Food Agency (SFA) accredited program. It is taught by instructors from Aestheticar, an SSG-approved vendor.
The course equips food handlers with essential knowledge and skills to maintain food safety and hygiene standards in food establishments in Singapore. This includes understanding personal hygiene, safe food handling, proper food storage, kitchen sanitation, and maintaining cleanliness of equipment and premises. Course curriculum is designed to align with the latest Safety Assurance for Food Establishment (SAFE) framework established by SFA.
Who Should Attend
Food handlers from both retail and non-retail food businesses are required to pass the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1. This includes:
- Individuals working in retail food establishments licensed by SFA (e.g. hawker stalls, food stalls, cafes, restaurants) who handle and prepare food and beverages.
- Individuals working in non-retail food establishments such as food manufacturing and processing facilities.
Examples of roles that should attend WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1
- Kitchen managers
- Kitchen supervisors
- Chefs
- Sous chefs
- Cooks
- Kitchen assistants and food stall assistants
- Bartenders
- All food and beverage handlers.
Our course is conducted in a classroom setting, providing an interactive and engaging learning experience.
Course Outline
Course Outline
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of our course, participants will be certified as competent food handlers in Singapore. They will be equipped with the necessary skills to work safely and hygienically in retail and non-retail establishments in the Singapore food and beverage industry.
This course was formerly known as the Basic Food Hygiene Course and was revised and renamed by the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) on 30 November 2020.
Course Outline
Modules covered in WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1 include:
- Module 1: Practise Good Personal Hygiene
- Module 2: Use Safe Ingredients
- Module 3: Handling Food Safely
- Module 4: Store Food Safely
- Module 5: Maintain cleanliness of utensils, equipment and service/storage areas
Mode of Assessment
At the end of the course, participants will undergo a 1.5-hour assessment. This assessment comprises a Practical Performance (PP) and a Written Assessment. The Written Assessment includes both Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ) and Short Answer Questions (SAQ).
The assessment is estimated to take 1.5 hours in total. However, time taken to complete both components varies by learner. The assessment may end later than the stipulated time if necessary.
Certification & Validity
Upon successful completion of all assessments, participants will receive a Statement of Attainment (SOA) issued by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG). The SOA certification validates your ability to practice safe food handling and hygiene in accordance with national standards.
Per current certification standards in Singapore, the SOA is valid for up to 5 years. At the 5-year mark, you will have to attend a refresher course to renew your SOA. After attending this first refresher course, you will only need to attend your next refresher course every 10 years.
If you do not renew your SOA in time your food hygiene and safety certificate will be considered expired. This can affect your eligibility to work as a food handler in Singapore or result in fines from SFA during inspections.
Requirement
Requirement
Pre-requisites
Candidate must maintain proper dress code and adhere to all of the following pre-requisites when attending the class:
- Do not wear slippers or open-toed shoes
- Do not wear accessories/jewellery
- Do not wear nail polish or fake fingernails
- Keep fingernails short and clean
- Keep long hair tied back and in a neat and tidy condition
Admission requirements:
- At least 16 years old
- Able to speak, listen, write, and read basic English at WPL (Workplace Literacy) Level 4
- Able to manipulate numbers at WPN (Workplace Numeracy) Level 4
- No prior work experience required
Course participants will learn the foundations of food safety and hygiene while handling, cooking, storing, and serving food, according to the food safety standards of Singapore.
FAQs
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Food Safety Course Level 1 in Singapore
How do I use SkillsFuture Credit for the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1?
To utilise your SkillsFuture Credit for this food hygiene course, you will need to submit your claim before the course start date.
- Visit the mySkillsFuture portal (www.myskillsfuture.gov.sg) and log in with your Singpass.
- Navigate to “Submit SkillsFuture Credit Claims” and search for the course using the TGS Code provided in your invoice.
- Select Food Safety Course Level 1 and enter the amount of SkillsFuture Credit you wish to claim, ensuring it matches the “SkillsFuture Credit” amount on your invoice.
- Upload a copy of your invoice, review the details, agree to the terms, and submit your claim.
- Finally, screenshot the Claim ID page and email it to your Coursemology agent for confirmation.
Who must attain the WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 1 certification?
All food handlers, whether working in retail or non-retail food establishments licensed by SFA, must attain WSQ FSC Level 1. A food handler is anyone who handles and prepares food and beverages within SFA-licensed establishments.
Does WSQ FSC Level 1 certification ever expire?
Yes. WSQ FSC Level 1 certification is valid for 5 years from the date of passing.
What happens when WSQ FSC Level 1 certification expires?
Food handlers whose certification has passed are not allowed to handle or prepare food. They must attend and pass one of the available training options before they can handle food again.
What retraining requirements are there for WSQ FSC Level 1?
First retraining must be completed within 5 years of initial certification. Second and subsequent retrainings must be completed every 10 years after passing the prior retraining.
Is WSQ FSC Level 1 required for both retail and non-retail food businesses?
Yes – the requirement applies to food handlers working in both retail (e.g., restaurants, stalls) and non-retail (e.g., food manufacturing or processing) establishments.
Can anyone take WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1?
Yes – anyone who wants to become a trained food handler can enrol and obtain the certification without needing to be currently employed in food service.
Is the WSQ FSC Level 1 course and certificate recognised for legal food handling in Singapore?
Yes – having a valid WSQ FSC Level 1 certificate is a licensing requirement to handle food legally in Singapore's F&B industry.
What is the purpose of the WSQ Food Safety Course Level 1?
The course equips food handlers with knowledge and skills to follow proper food safety and hygiene policies and procedures, and to maintain cleanliness of food premises.
What happens after passing WSQ FSC Level 1?
After passing the WSQ Food Safety Course (FSC) Level 1, you officially become a certified food handler in Singapore. Food handlers can register with the SFA's Food Handler Digital Data Hub (FHD2H) and legally work in food handling roles in licensed establishments.
What are the course funding available?
Funding Eligibility Criteria
- Individual and Corporate Sponsored
- – Singapore citizens or Singapore permanent residents
- – From October 1, 2023, attendance for all courses sponsored by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) must be conducted through the Singpass app. This applies to both in-person and concurrent online learning courses.
- – Students must achieve at least 75% attendance.
- – Students must pass all required tests/assessments and achieve 100% skill level.
- – We reserve the right to reclaim the sponsorship amount if a student fails to meet the eligibility criteria.
Funding types
- Individual Sponsored
- SkillsFuture:
- Eligible Singapore citizens can use the SkillsFuture Training Grant to offset course fees (the remaining amount after the grant).
- Trainers Training Assistance Scheme (UTAP):
- This course is eligible for the Traders Training Assistance Scheme (UTAP).
- NTUC members can receive up to 50% assistance (up to a maximum of S$250 per year).
- Company Sponsored Students
- Absentee Payroll (AP) Funding:
- S$4.50 per hour, capped at S$100,000 per company per year.
- AP allowance will be calculated based on the actual number of training hours attended by the student.
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