Food Service Worker
Overview
Prepare yourself to be a member of a food service team in commercial, institutional, or long-term care facilities. Work completely online and complete your certificate in one year.
Ontario College Certificate program provides students with the knowledge and skills required to be an effective member of a food service team in a commercial, institutional, or long-term care facility.
The program covers food preparation, service, nutrition and sanitation practices, customer service, communications, and business skills. This program includes a field placement in an institutional food service operation. Students are required to have a valid Food Handling certificate.
Admission Requirements
O.S.S.D. or equivalent with:
- Grade 12 English C or U
Mature Student Assessment for this program is available in the subject of English for the purpose of demonstrating proficiency in this required admission subject. For all other admission requirements, applicants must complete the required course(s) as listed above. For more information, please contact counselling@lambtoncollege.ca. Review the Mature Student Admission process.
Academic admission requirements can be obtained through Academic Upgrading and the Pre-Programs at Lambton College.
Costs
- Year 1 $4,359.94
Please note: These fees apply to the 2026-2027 academic year and are subject to change. Fees do not include books (unless specifically noted), supplies or living costs.
OSAP Eligible
This program is OSAP eligible. OSAP is a needs-based Federal and Provincial student loan and grant program that is calculated based on your personal financial situation and the cost of your education expenses. If you are registered as a full-time student (minimum 60% course load), you may qualify for assistance. OSAP does not always provide assistance to cover all of your educational and living costs.
Technology Requirements
In order to keep pace with the requirements of each and every course in your program, Lambton College requires that each student have access to a laptop while studying at our college.
Courses
Role of the Food Service Worker
This course focuses on the food service worker's role in health care food service with an emphasis on requirements under the Long-Term Care Homes Act. Various food production, delivery and service systems will be introduced and departmental operations such as purchasing, receiving, storage and inventory will be discussed. Quality management and costs controls will also be addressed.
Communication & Customer Service
This course focuses on the communication skills required by the food service worker. General principles of human communication such as verbal interaction and listening are explored. Students will learn effective communication skills with patients, residents, co-workers and supervisors. Students will also have the opportunity to develop writing skills and presentation skills with a major emphasis on documenting and charting food intake measuring techniques, communication of therapeutic diets and nutrition support required for treatment.
Introduction to Nutrition
This course introduces students to the basic principles of human nutrition and the role of nutrition in the health care environment. Nutrient composition of foods and current nutrition recommendations for carbohydrate, fat, protein, vitamins, minerals and water will be discussed. An introduction to digestion, absorption and transport of nutrients will be provided. Energy balanced and body composition and special considerations for nutrition throughout the lifecycle will also be explored.
Placement Preparation
This Pre-Placement Readiness course is a prerequisite for the following placement courses: AUTF-5053, AUTF-6055, EMRF-1003, FSFW-1073, PRNF-4009, RPNF-3009 and STRF-1079. Through this course, you will, submit your selected placement location for approval; complete your placement orientation modules that align with Bill 18 requirements; complete your Passport to Placement clearance which will ensure you have all of your health requirements met prior to placement. It is important that all three objectives are met prior to placement. If any of the above are outstanding, you will not be approved to begin placement until you have been fully cleared.
General Education Elective
Sanitation & Safety
This course focuses on preventing food-borne illness within the health care environment. Safe food handling practices and regulations and acts governing food service are emphasized. Quality improvement and risk management programs such as HACCP are also discussed. Safe working environments for the FSW are explored including fire safety, managing safety hazards, prevention of common injuries, and an introduction to first aid.
Quantity Food Preparation
This course focuses on the cooking principles and methods for preparing food in large quantities. Students will be introduced to control systems used in quantity food production including menu planning, standardized recipes, portion control, forecasting, scheduling and service. Various food types will be examined including sandwiches, salads, desserts, beverages, soups, meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk, and cheese. Texture modified and special menu items will also be explored. This course emphasizes the importance of quality improvement and customer satisfaction in quantity food production.
Nutrition in Health Care
This course focuses on the basic principles of diet therapy. Several therapeutic diets are discussed, as well as tube feedings and commercial preparations.
Field Placement: Food Service Worker Certificate
This 80-hour placement course provides students with hands-on experience in a food service environment, with a focus on serving residents in health and long-term care settings. Students will develop practical skills in meal preparation and service throughout the day while learning to meet residents' individual nutritional needs. The course also introduces the roles and responsibilities within the food service department and how they align with Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care guidelines. Emphasis is placed on professional communication, teamwork, customer service, and safe work practices to prepare students for effective and responsible employment in the food service industry. Students are responsible for finding their own placements and must complete FREEM-9040 before beginning placement.
Graduation Requirements
All theory and general education courses must be completed prior to beginning FSWP-1073 Food Service Worker Field Placement. Students are required to arrange their own field placement opportunity.
Students are advised that SCI-1103 Nutrition is not an eligible General Education Elective for this program.
Contact
Continuing Education
Program Information
After Graduation
Employment Opportunities
Placement
- You’ll complete a placement as part of this program, giving you the chance to apply what you learn in a real-world setting. This hands-on experience helps you build practical skills, explore your career interests, and gain experience valued by employers.
- Students are responsible for securing their own placement. For support, contact: onlineplacement@lambtoncollege.ca.
Placement Requirements
All placements have requirements that must be completed before you begin. These typically include a Police Record Check with Vulnerable Sector and proof of immunizations.
More Information
Prepare for Success
Variations due to Section
Remember to review the important dates associated with this program - some deadlines may be different depending on how your program is delivered and what section you're enrolled in.
Please note: This program is offered 100% asynchronously online. This means that although you may have deadlines to adhere to during the term, there is no class schedule and you will not meet with your facilitator on a regular basis. Courses are offered through a conglomerate of colleges. You may be asked to log into different learning management systems such as D2L or Blackboard.
Technology Requirements
Internet Speed Requirements
For the best online learning experience, we recommend an internet connection with at least 40 Mbps download speed and 10 Mbps upload speed. This will help you attend online classes, join video calls and access online learning tools.
Internet service varies by location, so you will need to choose a provider that is available in your area.
Laptop Requirements
You will need a laptop to access online course materials, software and other learning tools. Your laptop should meet these minimum requirements:
- Intel i5 8th Gen Processor or equivalent
- 8GB of RAM
- 100 GB HDD or more
- Webcam and microphone
- Wi-Fi capable (802.11n/ac 5GHz)
- Windows 11 operating system
Mobile Device
You will also need a smartphone to:
- Access your digital student ID
- Use campus applications and services
Software
Some courses require specific software. Lambton College provides access to Microsoft 365 and other software needed for your studies. Much of your course software is available online and can be accessed on or off campus.