How to Get Certified

Achieving SQF Certification can seem like a daunting task. However, SQFI has provided resources to help at every step of the way. With step-by-step certification instructions, training, customer service team, and more, SQFI has made food safety and quality certification easier to acquire.

Certification Steps

Step 1: Learn About the SQF Code

There are different available options for learning about the SQF Code:

Attend a SQF Information Day – SQF Information Days are day-long, in-person informational seminars designed to introduce food suppliers at all levels of the food chain to the benefits of food safety and quality certification.
Online Courses – Our Implementing SQF Systems course is available through our online training center, Alchemy Academy
Instructor led Courses – Our Licensed Training Centers offer Implementing SQF Systems courses in many different locations throughout the US and Globally
Train Yourself – Our codes are available for free to download and study here

Step 2: Register Your Company in the SQF Assessment Database

To register for an SQF audit in the SQF Assessment Database, click here

Registration Fees:

Classification	Description of Classification	Fee USD
Fundamentals	Suppliers auditing under the SQF Fundamentals Code	$200
A	Primary Producers (farms, ranches, orchards, etc. or FSC 1, 3, 5, 6)	$200
B	Suppliers with a gross revenue < $5 million USD	$350
C	Suppliers with a gross revenue > 5 million USD < 25 million USD	$500
D	Suppliers with a gross revenue > 25 million USD < 50 million USD	$650
E	Suppliers with a gross revenue > 50 million USD	$750
M	Multi-site Organization
	Central-site	$1250
	Each Sub-site	$50
Food Service		$500
Retail		$250
SQF Quality Audit (non SQF food safety site) Edition 9		$250

Effective as of April 1, 2021

Step 3: Designate an Employee as the SQF Practitioner

The SQF Practitioner must satisfy the below requirements as outlined in section 2.1.2.4 of the SQF Code:

Be employed by the site as a company employee on a full-time basis
Have completed a HACCP-based training course
Be competent to implement and maintain Good Agricultural/Aquacultural/Manufacturin Practices
Have an understanding of the SQF Code and the requirements to implement and maintain SQF System relevant to the site’s scope of certification.*

*To learn more about the SQF Code and requirements, please refer to Step 1

Looking for an SQF Practitioner? Why not Hire a Scholar?

Step 4: Choose Your Type of Certification

Please choose either:

Fundamentals (Formerly Level 1)
Food Safety (Formerly Level 2)
Food Safety and Quality (Formerly Level 3)

Step 5: Obtain Proposals from SQF Licensed Certification Bodies

To find a Certification Body in your area, click here

Step 6: Conduct a Pre-Assessment (Optional)

Either an SQF auditor or your SQF practitioner can identify the “gaps” between your program and the desired type of SQF certification.

Step 7: Choose a Certification Body and Schedule an Audit

Select the proposal from the Certification Body that best suits your facility and its needs, then schedule an audit with this Certification Body.

Step 8: Certification Body Conducts Initial Certification Audits

Initial Certification Audits consists of both a Document Review (Desk Audit) and a Facility Assessment (Facility Audit).

The SQF Assessment Database

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Training Corner

Need help learning about the SQF Program and how to get started, check out our educational tools and training classes.

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