PCQI Online Training

As we discussed in one of our recent blog posts: “PCQI Training - What You Need to Know”, PCQI’s are required by FDA to:

    Oversee of develop the food safety plan
    Validate certain preventive controls
    Review records
    Reanalyze the food safety plan
    Approve deviations from the plan

It depends on the type of online training that you register for. Some classes offered by different providers are self-paced and do not include a live instructor. Other classes include live instructors that teach the class from their computers. All classes that FSQS offers are with a live instructor as we feel this is a more effective method of training than the self-paced version.

For online training, participants need a computer with a camera, microphone and a reliable internet connection in order to participate. If you are participating in an FSPCA course, the agenda does not change for online training. Instructors must still deliver the minimum content and follow the course outline. So if you are worried that you get less content when taking an online class, that is not the case

Interacting with your instructor is a little different for online training, but still very effective. In all FSQS online training classes, attendees can interact with their instructor in real time by simply unmuting their microphone and asking a question verbally or by typing up a question using the chat box feature. 

Yes. Although it hasn’t been the traditional way of training, it can still be effective. As with in-person classes, we require all participants to be engaged throughout the training. We make sure the classes are moving at an acceptable pace by getting continuous feedback from participants and assessing their knowledge as we cover the material. 

Over time, we have also learned that breakout sessions and exercises are even more important when learning virtually. The sessions allow all participants to engage with one another and give them more freedom to ask personal questions, which aids in their learning process. So breakout sessions are a must.

In our online PCQI training course, participants still get the training they need to be a qualified individual. Participants will understand the importance of preliminary steps, including:

    Developing a food safety team
    Describing the product, it’s intended used and distribution
    Developing a flow diagram
    Verifying the flow diagram

They also learn the core components for an effective food safety plan.  These include:

Hazard Analysis - Participants will then learn how to conduct an effective hazard analysis. This starts with being able to identify known or reasonably foreseeable hazards associated with the products produced at each facility. We then discuss how to risk assess each identified hazard for likelihood and severity using a risk assessment tool that we share with attendees.

Preventive Controls - Participants then learn how to develop preventive controls to prevent identified hazards from causing illness or injury.  

Monitoring - Preventive controls must be monitored in order to prove effectiveness.  We show individuals how to build an appropriate monitoring program.

Corrective Actions - When monitoring reveals a process deviation, we explain how to implement proper corrective actions to prevent recurrence. 

Validation and verification - Often a sticking point for many people, we will clearly explain the difference and how each one is used differently to support your food safety program.

Records - You are only as good as your records. We will discuss how to design and complete adequate records to capture critical food safety data as well as regulatory requirements for record retention.

Our #1 goal is to provide each participant with the necessary education that they need to manage a successful food safety program. We make sure that both online and in-person methods are effective.