Better Process Control School for Retort Foods
Meet FDA training requirements for low-acid canned food processors with the Better Process Control School (BPCS): Retort Certification Course. Delivered 100% online and self-paced. This thermal processing course is based on the 9th Edition BPCS curriculum and provides the essential knowledge and credentials required to supervise and verify retort operations in compliance with FDA regulations.
Overview
Whether you manage production, quality assurance, or regulatory compliance, this retort training equips you to confidently oversee thermal processes, safeguard product safety, and ensure compliance for low-acid foods in hermetically sealed containers.
- FDA-Recognized Certification: Earn an official Better Process Control School (BPCS) certificate accepted by regulators and industry leaders.
- Practical Application: Learn through scenario-based exercises designed for immediate use in your facility.
- Expert-Led Instruction: Study under globally respected professionals in thermal process certification and food safety management.
- Flexible Online Learning: Complete the course at your own pace — accessible anytime, anywhere.
- Career Advancement: Strengthen your qualifications in quality assurance, food safety, and regulatory compliance.
Trusted by over 30,000 food safety professionals worldwide with 5-star reviews, Registrar Corp brings more than 20 years of compliance expertise to give you the best, most streamlined path to Retort Certification.
Curriculum
What You’ll Learn in the BPCS Retort Certification Course
Our Better Process Control School for Retorted Foods delivers the most up-to-date training (9th Edition) covering every aspect of thermal processing for low-acid canned foods. The curriculum has been reviewed and approved by FDA.
You’ll complete at least seven of nine chapters, each including instructional videos and interactive exercises you must pass (80% or higher) before progressing. You can retake exercises as needed to master the material.
Course Chapters:
- Introduction to Better Process Control School
Overview of course objectives, FDA regulations, and qualification requirements for operators and supervisors. - Microbiology of Thermally Processed Foods
Understand microorganisms of concern in low-acid foods and how thermal processing controls them. - Sanitation for Retorts and Atmospheric Cookers
Learn best practices for maintaining hygienic conditions in thermal processing systems. - Closures for Containers
You will need to complete at least one of these three chapters, based on the needs in your facility:- Double-seamed Metal and Plastic Containers
- Closures for Glass and Twist-off Plastic Containers
- Flexible and Semi-rigid Containers
- Introduction to Thermal Processing
Study heat transfer, lethality, D-values, F-values, and other fundamentals of thermal process control. - Retort Equipment and Operation
Gain familiarity with different retort systems and operating principles. - Batch Saturated Steam Retorts & Continuous Systems
You will need to complete at least one of these three chapters, based on the needs in your facility:- Still and Agitating Batch Saturated Steam Retorts
- Continuous Rotary Retorts
- Still and Agitating Retorts that Process with Overpressure
- Hydrostatic Retorts
Recommended Textbook: Canned Foods: Principles of Thermal Process Control, Acidification and Container Closure Evaluation (9th Edition) ($125) – Available in print from Consumer Brands or Kindle on Amazon.
FAQ
What is Retort Training & Certification?
Retort training and certification are courses that teach food processing professionals how to operate retort systems safely and effectively to create commercially sterile products. These programs are often required by regulatory bodies like the FDA and USDA for supervisors of thermally processed low-acid foods and cover topics such as thermal processing principles, HACCP, equipment operation, and food safety guidelines.
Who Should Take the Retort Certification Course?
The BPCS Retort Certification Course is ideal for supervisors, operators, quality assurance professionals, and regulatory compliance personnel working with low-acid canned foods in hermetically sealed containers. It is especially valuable for those responsible for overseeing retort operations, validating thermal processes, maintaining records, and ensuring compliance with FDA regulations. Whether you manage production, quality control, or regulatory affairs, this course equips you with the knowledge and credentials needed to confidently supervise thermal processing and maintain the highest standards of food safety.
Is it Mandatory to Get BPCS Retort Certification?
According to FDA’s CFR – Code of Federal Regulations Title 21, it is mandatory for at least one supervisor who is certified through a Better Process Control School (BPCS) to be on site during all operating hours at a food processing facility that handles low-acid or acidified foods.
Why Earn Your BPCS Retort Certification?
Earning BPCS Retort Certification demonstrates your expertise in thermal processing for low-acid canned foods and ensures compliance with FDA regulations. The certification equips supervisors and operators with practical knowledge of retort operations, process validation, recordkeeping, and safety protocols, helping to prevent contamination, recalls, and regulatory non-conformances. It also provides professional recognition through an official Better Process Control School certificate, enhancing your credibility and career opportunities in quality assurance, production management, and food safety compliance.
Why Should I Take Registrar Corp's Retort Certification Training?
The curriculum in this course has been reviewed and approved by the FDA to meet its BPCS requirements. Registrar Corp’s Better Process Control School: Retort Certification Course provides more than just compliance training — it delivers the knowledge, confidence, and credentials you need to safely manage and validate thermal processing operations for low-acid foods.
This retort training meets all FDA requirements for supervisors and operators working with thermal processing systems, ensuring your facility complies with 21 CFR 113 regulations for low-acid canned foods.
You’ll gain practical, real-world expertise through interactive lessons on heat transfer, lethality, D-values, F-values, and retort operation, taught by industry-recognized instructors with decades of experience.
Is Registrar Corp approved by the FDA?
The FDA does not approve companies. The FDA recognizes and approves instructional content to meet its requirements. The curriculum in this course has been reviewed and approved by FDA, but FDA has not endorsed or approved Registrar Corp, as it does not endorse or approve any company.
How is the BPCS Retort Certification Course Structured, and How Do I pass?
The Better Process Control School: Retort Certification Course is a 100% online, self-paced training designed to fit your schedule. Each of the 7 chapter features instructional videos followed by interactive exercises that reinforce key concepts in thermal processing, retort operation, and food safety compliance.
To progress through the course, you must achieve a score of 80% or higher on each interactive exercise. If you do not pass on your first attempt, you may retake the exercise until you succeed.
There is no final exam — your performance on the exercises determines your successful completion. After passing all required chapters, you’ll receive an official Better Process Control School certificate, recognized by the FDA.
How long does it take to complete the BPCS Retort course and how long do I have to complete it?
Registrar Corp’s BPCS Retort Certification course is fully online and self-paced, allowing you to complete the training on your own schedule. Most participants finish the course in approximately 9 hours, depending on experience and pace.
You will have one year of access to review all materials and complete every module, giving you flexibility to finish the course at a pace that works best for you.
How do I receive my Retort certificate, and does it expire?
After successfully completing the course, you’ll earn an official Better Process Control School Retort Certification from Registrar Corp, recognized by the FDA, that can be downloaded in the Registrar Corp portal. The certificate is issued immediately after you finish all required modules and assessments and can be downloaded or printed for your records.
While the certificate does not expire, you will have one year of access to the course materials for review and reference.
How do I update my LinkedIn profile?
Once you complete your BPCS Retort Certification course and receive your certificate, you can easily add it to your LinkedIn profile:
- Log in to your Registrar Corp account and download your digital certificate.
- Open LinkedIn and go to your Profile.
- Scroll to the Licenses & Certifications section and click + to add a new credential.
- Enter the certificate details:
- Name: e.g., “BPCS Retort Certification”
- Issuing Organization: Registrar Corp
- Credential ID: (optional – copy from your certificate)
- Credential URL: (optional – link directly to your digital certificate)
- Click Save, and your certification will now appear on your LinkedIn profile.
What other courses do you recommend?
If you’re getting your thermal process certification via the Retort Certification Course, the following courses will complement your skills and help you build a robust food safety & compliance profile:
Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) Online Training
Meet FDA FSMA requirements for creating and managing food safety plans. This course is 100% online, self-paced, and includes the official FSPCA certificate.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Certification
Learn how to develop, write, and audit a HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plan. Essential for ensuring your facility’s safety systems are in line with FDA and GFSI regulations.
SQF Practitioner Training & Implementation Package
Great for those working with GFSI-recognized schemes, this course helps you implement, document, and audit SQF systems.
Foreign Supplier Verification Program (FSVP) Online Training
Ideal if your business imports food or ingredients. Learn how to develop and implement FSVP plans in compliance with FDA rules.
Instructor
Meet Your BPCS Retort Certification Course Instructors
Dr. Edna Negrón – President, Puerto Rico Food Safety and Quality Services
Dr. Negrón founded and coordinated the Food Science and Technology MS Program at the University of Puerto Rico for 22 years. With over 25 years of national and international experience in food safety and quality programs, she has coordinated and taught Better Process Control School (BPCS) courses since 1987. She has provided training for the State Health Department, State Department of Agriculture Programs, and major companies including GOYA-PR, Coca-Cola-PR, PepsiCo-PR, SIGMA-Mexico, and many others across Latin America, the Caribbean, and Spain. Dr. Negrón is a Lead Instructor for FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human and Animal Food, and Foreign Supplier Verification Program, a HACCP trainer for meat, poultry, juice, and seafood, and is NSF and ISO 9001 certified. She served on the FSIS-USDA National Advisory Committee for Meat and Poultry and received FDA recognition for her contributions to food safety in 2003.
Juan Manuel Cevallos-Cevallos – Regulatory Specialist, Food Canning Establishment Department, Registrar Corp
Dr. Cevallos-Cevallos holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Food Science and Human Nutrition, an MAB in Agribusiness, and a B.Sc. in Food Engineering. He has served as Director of the Biotechnology Research Center at ESPOL and as a full professor leading biotechnological research. He has authored over 40 peer-reviewed publications and contributed to numerous industry projects in microbiology and food safety.
Mayra G. Villacis – Food Canning Establishment Department Manager, Registrar Corp
Ms. Villacis holds an M.Sc. in Food and Resource Economics and a B.Sc. in Food Engineering. She assists companies worldwide in meeting LACF compliance requirements, develops training materials and workshops for regulatory specialists, and frequently speaks at conferences in the U.S., Mexico, and South America.
Cynthia Weber
Ms. Weber has over 25 years of international experience in food safety management, designing training, consulting, and documentation tools for PCQI, ISO 22000, FSSC 22000, SQF, BRCGS, and ISO 9001 systems. She has served as a registered SQF Trainer and Consultant, an ATP for BRCGS, a Lead Auditor for GFSI schemes, and an approved FSSC 22000 trainer. She is also a Lead Instructor for FSPCA courses.
Backed by the Registrar Corp Food Safety Team
Registrar Corp‘s regulatory experts review every module for accuracy and relevance, ensuring your training reflects the latest FDA guidance and industry best practices.
Why Choose Registrar Corp
