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Preventive Controls For
Human Food V2.0 Course

Become a PCQI

FSMA regulations require that key personnel in charge of developing and implementing the Food Safety Plan at a company must be a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual, PCQI. The FSPCA Official Curriculum recognized by FDA, Preventive Controls for Human Food (PCHF) Course, is offered by Rachel Montgomery, now the updated Version 2.0, as a 22-hour (4 days x 5.5 hours per day) instructor-led virtual course.

The Updated Curriculum, Version 2.0, is described by FSPCA as improved over the prior version as follows:  
Version 2.0 of the FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food participant course represents a significant update to the curriculum.  An important change in the curriculum is a heightened emphasis on the connection between HACCP and Preventive Controls to gain recognition from the Global Food Safety Initiative as a recognized HACCP training. It is important to note that PCQIs who have already completed an earlier version are NOT required to complete Version 2.0 to retain their status as a PCQI.   But note that there are advantages to taking Version 2.0, such as:
This updated version addresses important updates in FDA guidance documents; important knowledge that PCQIs will need to keep their Food Safety Plans up to date. In addition to FDA guidance updates, other updates in Version 2.0 include:
  • Updated references, e.g., RFR, CDC
  • Expanded examples to better support application by small and mid-sized producers
  • Streamlined sections, reduced redundancy
  • Better supports development of key concepts
  • Gains recognition as an approved HACCP-based curriculum

Rachel Montgomery of Simple Compliance Solutions, LLC, a Lead Instructor since May 2016, is now providing the updated curriculum, version 2.0.   She began providing the original curriculum (version 1.2) of the PCQI Human Food course in mid-2016 and in 2017 she pioneered with offering the course, live, virtually and interactively in approximately half-day sessions to enable the training without the time, expense, and hassles of travel, and being away from the work site for a full day.

Simple Compliance Solutions, LLC also has years of experience in actual food processing on two continents and helping clients on five continents. Participants rave about the meaningful examples Montgomery can share, and we have received excellent feedback about how the participants feel very engaged with the instructor and other participants.

The Simple Compliance Solution, LLC course fee includes the $60 FSPCA official certificate (After the course, participants will receive a link to their certificate but will not have to pay the certificate fee to FSPCA).

Note#1: The Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-based Preventive Controls for Human Food regulation requires that certain activities must be completed by a “preventive controls qualified individual.” This course, developed by FSPCA, is the “standardized curriculum” recognized by FDA; successfully completing this course is one way to meet the requirements for a “preventive controls qualified individual.”

Note#2: The courses provide a certificate. FSPCA states the following related to advertising requirements for the courses: "FSPCA participant courses are NOT certification courses. Do not use the terms certification or  Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) certification. The certificates that are issued by the FSPCA for the participant course are certificates of successful completion. FSPCA does not provide or manage certification."


Benefits

  • Learn how to comply with the Preventive Controls for Human Food, one of the FSMA regulations, when a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) must perform or oversee activities, including preparation of the food safety plan, validation of the preventive controls, records review, and reanalysis of the food safety plans.
  • Learn how to develop a food safety plan compliant with the Preventive Controls rule.
  • Engage in an interactive environment, with an instructor who is a microbiologist and holds the FSPCA certificate and has real-world industrial experience with FDA compliance from front-line to executive roles.
  • Learn best practices and review case study examples.
  • Receive the official FSPCA Certificate of Completion and the official FSPCA course book, with reference material as a PDF for the virtual course.

Who Should Attend/Participate

  • Key leaders and cross-functional team members instrumental in building or strengthening a company’s Food Safety Culture to improve business as well as regulatory compliance
  • Food Safety & operational personnel
  • QA Directors, Managers, and Supervisors
  • Regulators, State and Federal (FDA/FSPCA designed the training so that Regulators would attend same classes as industry and understand what is being presented to industry)
  • Company trainers

The Preventive Controls for Human Food Course, updated curriculum, version 2.0 (16 Chapters)

  • Preface: Overview and Agenda for Participant Course and Introductions
  • Chapter 1: Food Safety Plan Overview for Preventive Controls for Human Food
  • Chapter 2: Good Manufacturing Practices & Prerequisite Programs for Human Food
  • Chapter 3: Biological Food Safety Hazards for Human Food
  • Chapter 4: Chemical, Physical and Economically Motivated Food Safety Hazards for Human Food
  • Chapter 5: Preliminary Steps in Developing a Food Safety plan for Human Food
  • Chapter 6: Hazard Analysis for Human Food (Hazard Identification and Exercise using FDA’s Hazard Guide)
  • Chapter 7: Hazard Analysis for Human Food (Hazard Evaluation)
  • Chapter 8: Preventive Controls Determination for Human Food and Exercise using Food Safety Plan Teaching Example(s)
  • Chapter 9: Process Preventive Controls for Human Food—Parameters and Values, Including Critical Limits 
  • Chapter 10: Process Preventive Controls for Human Food—Monitoring and Corrective
  • Chapter 11: Process Preventive Controls for Human Food—Verification and Recordkeeping and Exercise using Food Safety Plan Teaching Example(s)
  • Chapter 12: Food Allergen Preventive Controls for Human Food and Exercise using Food Safety Plan Teaching Example(s)
  • Chapter 13: Sanitation Preventive Controls for Human Food and Exercise using Food Safety Plan Teaching Example(s)
  • Chapter 14: Supply-Chain Preventive Controls for Human Food
  • Chapter 15: Recall Plan for Human Food
  • Chapter 16: Regulation Overview -- Current Good Manufacturing Practice, Hazard Analysis, and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food

FSPCA Virtual Online Course

Live interactive virtual instructor-led sessions

The live interactive instructor-led virtual online course is identical to a site-based course with the exception of being conducted over the ZOOM platform over more days with fewer hours each day. You will need webcam and audio (headset is ideal) to join the live but virtual conference training. The 22-hour course, normally 2.5 days on a site, is conducted in 4 live virtual sessions, 5.5 hours each, directed by an FSPCA lead instructor.


Once you register, you will receive additional information, including how to download the Zoom software. Participants must be ‘present’ virtually during the entire course, and you will enjoy participating face-to-face and voice-to-voice virtually with the instructor and other participants over the full 22 hours of the course, aside from the breaks that will be provided. Note: If you are not already internet savvy or have any concerns that your internet is not fast enough for full audio/visual communication over the Zoom platform, contact the instructor before the course for a ‘practice session’ just with you to try things out.


*We are creating classes outside the U.S., so if you don’t see your time zone, please contact us and let us know your time zone needs.


***Cancellation Policy: A full refund is available within 48 hours of the initial order date. Any cancellation or refund requests that occur after the initial 48-hour period will be processed less a $200 cancellation fee. Cancellations or refunds are not available within 2 weeks of the course date. However, you may transfer your course registration to a future course date or send another person in your place with advance notification.


Virtual Online Course

Participants Ratings:

22 hours total

4 live virtual sessions
(5 hours each)

$795 USD

FSPCA Certificate Included

Upcoming Schedules:

2025
Apr 28 - May 1
Jun 23 - 26
Aug 25 - 28
Sep 22 - 25
Oct 27 - 30
Nov 17 - 20
Dec 15 - 18

2026
Jan 26 -29

Time:
11:00am - 5:00pm Eastern each day


  • 100% Virtual Online
  • No prerequisites required
  • Save on travel expenses & time

FSPCA Lead Instructor

Rachel Montgomery

Mrs. Montgomery is an FSPCA Lead Instructor (Human Foods V2.0 Certificate #0690e544, Animal Foods Certificate #1bd2c691, FSVP Certificate #F3830814 ) with over 30 years’ experience as a food safety executive in large-scale manufacturing. Montgomery is the Principal of Simple Compliance Solutions, LLC and a Registered Microbiologist (National Registry of Certified Microbiologists). She can deliver the Preventive Controls or FSVP courses  at your in-house or preferred location. Montgomery also provides consulting (See details on the Consulting Services page).


Mrs. Montgomery has received the 2023 FSPCA 1000 Club certificate in recognition of training 1000 or more participants, cumulatively in the four FSPCA training curricula, with FSPCA certificates issued.

Rachel is a very engaging and exciting instructor. She is very thorough and well versed in food safety.

Scuyler 
Course participant Human Food V1.2 Jan 2025

Rachel was a great and thorough instructor. Very knowledgeable of the material/industry.

Kamisha 
Course participant Human Food V1.2 Nov 2024

Rachel was prepared for the class and was able to teach the course and explain information in a way that was relevant to each of our fields. Her background in training folks from different professions and her understanding/gentle approach are her strengths in my opinion. She was able to engage us in every section of the course, and I appreciated that she consistently checked in with each of us to ensure that all of us were following along and understanding the material. Also, the pace and length of the course (overall and for each day) was great for me especially because it was a virtual course and worked well for my time zone

shannel 
Course participant Human Food V1.2 Sep 2024

Private Options For Training

This course can also be delivered as private training in-house or at your preferred location for your company or organization. Please contact the Lead Instructor, Rachel Montgomery, to request a quote.

Facility and corporate executives:  bring your entire or key members of your food safety team to this public course (or as a private option) and take advantage of time to confer and to plan your compliance with this far-reaching rule.  Bringing in key leaders and cross-functional team members can be instrumental in building or strengthening your food safety culture. It is also an opportunity to bring family members and combine business with meaningful family time at a resort location.

Contact Us For Private Training

Phone: (843) 319-1377
[email protected]