PCQI 2.0 Training & Certificate — FSPCA Approved

If your facility is registered under Section 415 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and manufactures, processes, packs, or holds human food for consumption in the U.S. (or exports to the U.S.), the FSMA requires you to have a trained Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI) to develop and manage a compliant Food Safety Plan.

This training is ideal for:

• Food safety professionals responsible for developing or managing food safety plans
• Production, quality assurance, and compliance managers that support legal compliance and risk management

(Note: If your facility works with animal food, you should take the PCQI for Animal Food course.)

Earning your PCQI certificate ensures your facility meets FDA requirements and protects your business from fines, recalls, and shutdowns. PCQI training teaches you to prevent hazards, create recall-ready plans, and minimize the financial impact of food safety issues. It also strengthens operations with FDA-recognized best practices, simplifies audits, builds a strong safety culture, and ensures supplier compliance.

Beyond compliance, your PCQI certificate equips you to confidently lead food safety initiatives across your facility, and also helps advance your career.

Registrar Corp’s PCQI 2.0 Training offers a flexible, practical way to meet FDA and FSPCA requirements — all online and at your own pace.

Registrar’s 100% online PCQI course does not require a follow-up full-day session with a virtual instructor prior to earning your certificate. These sessions required by other courses are scheduled once a month, so it could be weeks or even months before you can get enrolled, thus delaying your certificate.

Built on the official FSPCA 2.0 curriculum, Registrar’s FDA-recognized course helps you turn compliance into action with real-world examples, downloadable templates, and expert instruction from an FSPCA lead instructor.

Rated 5 stars by professionals worldwide, Registrar Corp combines regulatory expertise with modern online learning to help you earn your official FSPCA certificate and strengthen your facility’s food safety compliance.

Team training is easy too, with group enrollment options, volume discounts, and progress tracking for multi-facility programs.

Yes. Registrar Corp’s PCQI training follows the FDA-recognized curriculum developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA). By successfully completing the course, you’ll earn your official FSPCA PCQI certificate and become qualified to meet FDA requirements for Preventive Controls, ensuring your facility’s food safety systems are compliant and effective.

The main changes reflect the FDA’s current thinking on food safety and include:

• Updated Hazard Analysis:

  A revised hazard analysis chapter that integrates the FDA’s new guidance, including Appendix 1, to provide a more thorough process for identifying potential hazards.

• HACCP Integration:

  The course content has been restructured to integrate HACCP principles with preventive controls more effectively.

• Refreshed Allergen Guidance:

  The allergen chapter has been updated to include sesame, which was recently added as a major food allergen.

• Improved Tools and Examples:

  The course provides clearer, more modern examples and templates for developing a robust food safety plan and documenting preventive controls.

• Streamlined Learning:

  Some material was restructured to reduce redundancy and enhance clarity.

• More Engaging Format:

  The curriculum incorporates new features, such as QR codes for quick access to supporting documents and knowledge checks at the end of each chapter.

The FDA does not require individuals with existing PCQI certificates to retake the course. Certificates from previous versions remain valid. However, some companies or third-party auditors (such as those for GFSI schemes) may require updated training. Retaking the course is highly recommended to stay current with the latest FDA guidance and industry best practices.

Registrar Corp’s PCQI 2.0 course is delivered 100% online and self-paced, allowing you to complete the training on your schedule. The course is divided into interactive modules covering all aspects of food safety plan development, preventive controls, and FDA FSMA requirements. Each module includes instructional videos, practical exercises, and quizzes to reinforce learning.

To pass the course, you must achieve a minimum score of 80% on each module assessment. You can retake exercises as needed to ensure mastery. Upon successful completion of all modules, you’ll receive the official FSPCA PCQI 2.0 certificate, recognized by the FDA, which qualifies you to develop and implement food safety plans for your facility.

No, you don’t need to print the FSPCA exercise manual. All exercises are fully online and integrated into the course, so you can complete and review them digitally.

Most participants complete Registrar Corp’s PCQI 2.0 course in about 22 hours, though the self-paced format allows you to move faster or slower depending on your schedule. Your progress is saved automatically as you go.

You’ll have full access to the course for one year, giving you plenty of time to review materials and complete all modules.

After successfully completing the course, you’ll receive an official FSPCA PCQI 2.0 certificate, recognized by the FDA as proof of your PCQI 2.0 training. Your certificate is downloadable immediately upon completion and does not expire under current FDA rules.

While retraining isn’t required, refresher training every few years is recommended to stay up to date with the latest FDA and FSPCA updates.

Once you complete your Registrar Corp PCQI 2.0 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., “FSPCA PCQI 2.0 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.

To compliment your PCQI certification and continue to advance your skillsets, we recommend the following Registrar Corp online courses:

HACCP Certification
Strengthen your foundation in hazard analysis and critical control points, which is essential for effective preventive controls and food safety plan development.

FSVP Training
For importers, understanding Foreign Supplier Verification Programs complements PCQI skills by ensuring suppliers meet the same rigorous food safety standards your facility enforces.

Better Process Control School (BPCS) Certification Courses
Gain certification in acidified, retort, or aseptic food processes to meet FDA compliance requirements and expand your expertise in specialized food processing operations.