Inspection Methods Course-Fully Virtual

(IMV4-2026-1801)

January 5 – January 21, 2026

Nominations are due: Friday, December 12, 2025

Nominations are to be entered in the Registration Application/Syberworks via OFO District Resource Coordinators or State Registration Contacts.  

The final exam will be given on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026, between 8am-4pm ET.

Course Overview

The Inspection Methods course covers the essential FSIS inspection verification tasks for newly promoted or newly hired Consumer Safety Inspectors (CSIs) and PHVs. This course focuses on the essential knowledge needed for the CSI position; some of the major topics covered include sanitation, Hazard Analysis Verification, HACCP verification, sampling, sanitary dressing procedures, humane handling, raw, ready-to-eat, and shelf-stable product hazards and preventive measures, the Listeria regulations, export certification, food defense, and the Public Health Information System (PHIS) establishment profile and the task calendar. This course is also part of the PHV program.

Course Logistics

This course will be conducted virtually for all 3 weeks. Participants will need their government-issued computer for all 3 weeks of the IM training.

NOTE: Participants are required to use a government-issued computer. Training computers will no longer be available for the IM class.  However, study guides will be shipped to one address per state prior to class.    

Prior to the class, District and State POCs will be provided with instructions to share with participants for accessing the training. These instructions will include logging into the computer and accessing the training website with the participant’s username and password. District and State POCs must provide this information to the participants prior to the start of the class. Participants should test the functionality of their computer and other equipment prior to the beginning of the class.

For technical assistance with accessing the training, send an email to CFLHelpDesk@usda.gov. Do not contact the CEC Help Desk. 

Participants who do not receive a passing test result should have access to a government- issued computer & equipment for a retest.  A voluntary Retest Review Session will be held on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, from 10 am – 2pm ET in Microsoft Teams for all IM participants who failed the exam.  An instructor will send the TEAMS invitation prior to the

review session.  The dates for the retest exam are February 5^th and 6^th, 2026. 

If you have any questions regarding the course, send an email to: CFL.ClassRegistration@usda.gov.  

The upcoming course calendar and course materials can be accessed on the FSIS website at: Inspection Training & Videos | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov).

The IM Workbook can be accessed on the FSIS website at:

IMH Workbook – January 2025

·         Part 1 of 3

·         Part 2 of 3

·         Part 3 of 3

·         New RTE Case Study

Class Registration Team

Office of Policy and Program Development

Training Management Staff


Food Safety Inspection Service