Course and certificate
Follow-up Instruction under § 43 (4) IfSG (Germany)
For employees in kitchens, catering, bakeries, butcher's shops, retail and communal catering who already have their first instruction and must be instructed by their employer under the Infection Protection Act (Infektionsschutzgesetz, IfSG) every two years. Seven short lessons in plain English explain the work bans under § 42 IfSG, the most important illnesses and signs of illness, your duty to report, everyday hygiene, and documentation and record keeping. Then you take a test of 25 questions. The course replaces neither the first instruction by the local health office (Gesundheitsamt) nor the employer's documentation. Your employer decides whether it counts as the follow-up instruction or as part of it.
- Jurisdiction
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- Languages
- Deutsch, Български, English, Italiano, Polski, Română, Українська
- Lessons
- 7
- Time needed
- About 40 minutes for the lessons and the test
- Assessment
- 25 questions, pass mark 80%
- Refresher
- Recommended after 2 years
- Content updated
- 27 October 2026
- Certificate fee
- €15.00, payable after passing
01Who this course is for
- Employees in restaurant kitchens, canteens, nurseries, care homes and other communal catering
- Staff in bakeries, butcher's shops, ice cream parlours and snack bars
- Sales staff at fresh-food counters and in food retail with unpackaged goods
- Dishwashing and cleaning staff who handle crockery and work equipment
- Employers and self-employed people who want support for their instruction under § 43 (4) IfSG
02Syllabus
03Assessment
25 multiple-choice questions drawn from the whole course. The pass mark is 80%. The test is free and can be retaken as often as needed; wrong answers point to the lesson to read again.
04The certificate
- With your name, your score and the date you passed.
- A unique number, recorded in our register.
- Your employer or an inspector scans it to see that it is genuine.
- Download it, print it or show it on your phone.
05Sources
The course follows the published guidance below. We are not affiliated with the bodies that publish it.
- Verordnung (EG) Nr. 852/2004
- § 43 Abs. 4 IfSG
- Merkblatt Gesundheitsamt zur Belehrung nach § 43 IfSG
- § 43 Abs. 2 IfSG
- § 43 Abs. 1 IfSG
- § 42 Abs. 1 IfSG
06Questions
As an employee, do I have to be instructed every two years?
§ 43 (4) IfSG obliges the employer to instruct people who carry out an activity under § 42 (1) about the work bans and the duty to report, after they start work and then every two years. The employer must document participation. The law does not lay down in detail how the employer carries out the instruction.
Does this course replace the first instruction at the Gesundheitsamt?
No. Only the local health office (Gesundheitsamt) or a doctor appointed by it gives the first instruction under § 43 (1) IfSG. You need the certificate before your first job. This course concerns the follow-up instruction and does not replace the first instruction.
Is the confirmation of participation a proof of qualification?
No. It is a confirmation of participation: it shows that you completed this course and passed the test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification and not a certificate from an authority. Your employer decides whether the course counts as the follow-up instruction or as part of it. The employer itself must document your participation.
Who documents the follow-up instruction?
The employer. The employer instructs, documents participation, and keeps the latest documentation together with the Gesundheitsamt's certificate. The employer keeps the records available at the place of business and shows them to the authority on request. Our confirmation of participation shows only that you completed the course.
What must my employer still do despite the course?
The employer must carry out or arrange the instruction, document participation, keep the records, give the business's hygiene instructions and, when obstacles are known, take measures at once to prevent further spread. The course can be one building block but does not replace these duties.
What if I am ill or have symptoms?
Then you report it to your employer without delay and do not work with the foods concerned or in the kitchen. See a doctor and say that you work with food. The course explains the rules but does not replace medical advice.
How long does the course take?
Most people need about an hour for the lessons and the test of 25 questions. You can pause at any time and continue on the same device.
What if I fail the test?
It costs nothing. You can see which lessons you should read again, and you can take the test as many times as you like.
When do I pay, and how much?
Only after you have passed the test: €15 for the confirmation of participation. The course and the test are free.
How can my employer check the confirmation?
Every confirmation of participation has a number and a QR code. When someone scans the code or types the number on our verification page, your name, the course and the date you passed are shown.
How long is the confirmation valid?
The law requires the follow-up instruction every two years. The confirmation therefore shows a renewal date two years after you passed. Your employer must instruct you again every two years. When and in what form is up to the employer.
Does this also apply to self-employed people?
Under § 43 (6) IfSG the employer's duties apply accordingly to people who carry out the activities on a self-employed basis. The follow-up instruction, its documentation and the keeping of the records are then your own task. You keep your own certificate from the Gesundheitsamt ready at the place of business (§ 43 (5) IfSG). This course can support you in this. It does not replace legal advice.
The certificate confirms that you completed this course and passed its test. It is not a regulated or accredited qualification; your employer decides whether this training meets their requirements.