Who Needs PCQI Training?
The US FDA FSMA regulations require that specific activities be conducted by a “Preventive Controls Qualified Individual” or PCQI, a person who has experience in implementing risk-based preventive controls plans. The PCQI has the mandate to develop or oversee the preparation of the food safety plan, validates the preventive controls, reviews records and is responsible for re-assessing the food safety plan a minimum of every 3 years unless changes are required. The PCQI may be but is not required to be an employee of the facility. If you’d prefer to hire a qualified Sirocco PCQI consultant, see our PCQI Consulting page.
One way to become a PCQI is to attend an FSPCA course taught by an FSPCA lead instructor. The course developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) is recognized by the US FDA as meeting the requirements of the new food safety regulations.
See below for the three options that Sirocco offers to become a certified Preventive Controls Qualified Individual.
UPDATE!: Version 2 of the FSPCA curriculum (Preventive Controls for Human Food) is now available for purchase at this link.
Existing PCQIs are NOT required to attend Version 2 training. Training on the V2 curriculum is recommended.
Stay tuned for news on upcoming public courses (Full length (22 hours) course & hybrid version). Contact us to book a private course or to find out more about training on the V2 curriculum.
Full 2.5 Day Course – FSPCA PCQI Training (Version 1)
Become a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual
Course Objectives
This course (Version 1 of the curriculum) is still offered for training. The Preventive Controls for Human Food course, was developed by the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance under a grant from the FDA. This is the training being given to FDA and State Inspectors and is recommended by the FDA for the food industry.
This course will provide you with the knowledge to develop and implement a Preventive Control Plan for Human Food.
After completion of this class, FSPCA will issue a “Preventive Controls Qualified Individual” (PCQI) certificate to demonstrate that you have attended the recommended training to be able to develop, implement and monitor your company’s food safety plans under FSMA.
PCQI Certificate – a certificate of completion will be issued by the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) of FSPCA, the cost of this certificate is included in the course fee.
About the Instructor
Karine Lawrence, Sirocco Principal, has worked for the Canadian and US wine and food industry for over 20 years and brings an extensive working knowledge in Food Safety and Quality Management Systems (GMP, HACCP, SQF, Preventive Controls for Human Food) including regulatory compliance, program implementation and auditing. Karine holds a Master of Food Science degree as well as a diplôme d’ingénieur (specialized in agri-food industries). She is a FSPCA Lead instructor, Certified Safe Quality Food (SQF) professional and Certified HACCP professional (CCHP).
1 Day Course Version 1 – PCQI Blended Training Part 2 Only
This Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance (FSPCA) Blended Training course was developed to provide an alternative for individuals to complete the FSPCA Preventive Controls for Human Food course (Version 1).
While we await information on the release of the Version 2 hybrid PCQI training course, Version 1 is still being offered.
The Blended course consists of 2 parts. Part 1 is online, which you can complete at your own pace. Part 2 is a one-day (8 hours) online Zoom course taught by FSPCA Lead Instructor (Human Food) Karine Lawrence, Principal/Founder of Sirocco Consulting. Both parts must be completed in order to obtain the certificate.
Important Timeline Notes:
Upon completion of part 1, you have six months to complete a Part 2: Instructor-Led course. We recommend you book the Part 2: Instructor-Led course prior to enrolling in Part 1: Online to ensure your timeline will work out.
Before you enroll for Part 1: Online course, please read the instructions on how to sign up for Part 1. Information can be accessed HERE.
1 Day Course Format (Version 1):
- Part 2 is a one-day (8 hours) online Zoom course taught by FSPCA Lead Instructor (Human Food) Karine Lawrence, Principal/Founder of Sirocco Consulting. Both parts must be completed in order to obtain the certificate.
- Prerequisite: Part 1 certificate.
- 350 USD per participant.
- Please note that participants will only be eligible for the FSPCA Participant Certificate of Training if they are present for all modules of the virtual course.
- Start time for all courses: 8:00 am PST
NOTE: We are awaiting the release of the Version 2 FSPCA hybrid course. Keep checking our course page for updates and sign up for our newsletter.
Private Training (Version 2 – 22 hours)
The Private PCQI Course (Version 2) is designed for teams that are looking to become GFSI-certified and FSMA-ready. If you manufacture food or beverages for the US market, your team will need to receive their PCQI certificate to create, verify and validate preventive control plans that are FDA-compliant under FSMA. These legislation requirements are included in the SQF code version 9, a GFSI-benchmarked scheme. Sirocco Consulting provides an efficient and value-added way for teams to obtain their PCQI certificate by attending training remotely via Zoom.
Another advantage of the remote training option is that your team members can interact during the discussions and exercises. Besides helping with team building, Karine Lawrence, our lead FSPCA instructor (human food) and Certified SQF trainer/Consultant can guide you and answer questions about your product or process to facilitate the food safety risk assessment under FSMA.
PCQI Course Testimonials
I recently attended the training session for PCQI (Preventive Controls Qualified Individual) required by the FDA for food exporters and U.S. food processing facilities. Karine Lawrence presented a clear view of the requirements and provided good practical example on how to implement them. She worked her way through the extensive manual in a knowledgeable, effective, clear and timely manner while allowing for participation and discussion of the people attending the course. She followed up and researched questions that she did not have immediate answers to and provided valuable information based on her experience in the area of food safety.
KATHRIN WALLACE, R&D/QC MANAGER, CARMI FLAVORS
I attended the FSPCA Preventive Controls (Human Food)/PCQI course offered in Vancouver, British Columbia. Course materials were good, the mentoring approach was good, and working with other people in group setting made the course content much clearer. Karine Lawrence, the PCQI instructor did a good job of communicating and making it a more intimate arrangement. She provided good references along with the course material. Overall, I really enjoyed the course and learned a lot.
NEDA RAHIMI, SENIOR QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER, SUNRISE POULTRY PROCESSORS LTD.
I got a better understanding of the Food Safety Plan required for FSMA from this [FDA’s Preventive Controls Human Food] training. Karine has skillfully conducted the training as she provided fact-based examples and links to additional resources to help first-timers build an FSP. Karine was a wonderful trainer with her knowledge of the subject matter and extensive experience in food safety.
MARYANN CRUZ, QA MANAGER, PBF PITA BREAD FACTORY LTD. BURNABY, BC.