Inspection Methods In-Person Course
(IMI1_2026-1802, IMI2_2026-1802)
February 24 – March 11, 2026
Note: This upcoming Inspection Methods class will be the second in this fiscal year where all 3 weeks will be held fully in person. Please take note of the following changes listed in the announcement. Because class will no longer be conducted in a hybrid manner, the course name has been changed from IMH to IMI representing the in-person change. Students will now be expected to travel during the week on Monday, February 23, 2026 (if needed) and class will begin on Tuesday, February 24, 2026. The final exam will be administered in person, at the end of class, on the last day of class, which is Wednesday, March 11, 2026, and students will travel home on Thursday, March 12, 2026 (if needed).
Nominations are due: Friday, January 30, 2026
Nominations are to be entered in the Registration Application/Syberworks via OFO District Resource Coordinators or state registration contacts. Nominations from all other FSIS program areas are to be submitted to CFL Class Registration on the attached Excel spreadsheet through Outlook. Please include the employee’s full legal name.
When submitting nominations, identify employees required to successfully complete this course to meet the Training as a Condition of Employment (TCOE).
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Week One |
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Platform: |
In-person at the designated hotel |
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Dates: |
Tuesday, February 24 – Friday, February 27, 2026 |
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Time: |
7:30 am – 4:30 pm local time (daily) |
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Travel Days: (If needed) |
Monday, February 23, 2026 |
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Week Two |
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Platform: |
In-person at the designated hotel |
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Dates: |
Monday, March 2 – Friday, March 6, 2026 |
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Time: |
7:30 am – 4:30 pm local time (daily) |
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Week Three |
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Platform: |
In-person at the designated hotel |
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Dates: |
Monday, March 9 – Wednesday, March 11, 2026 |
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Time: |
7:30 am – 4:30 pm local time (daily) |
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Travel Days: (If needed) |
Thursday, March 12, 2026 |
The final exam will be given in class on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
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.
Target Audience
Newly hired or selected CSIs including those selected to work in NPIS/NSIS establishments, PHVs who have not attended PHV training, and State Inspectors.
Course Logistics
This course will be conducted in-person all 3 weeks at the designated hotel. Participants will need their government-issued computer for all 3 weeks of the IM training.
NOTE: Participants are now required to use a government-issued computer. If a government-issued computer is needed, please submit a request to CEC prior to the class. Training computers will no longer be available for the IM class. However, study guides will be shipped to the hotel prior to the class.
Participants should bring their government-issued computer and power cord to the in-person training.
PHVs will also use their government-issued computer for the PHV training.
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, please 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, March 25, 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 March 26 and 27, 2026.
Dress Code
Although FSIS does not have a formal dress code, the goal is to always project a positive and professional image. Some examples of inappropriate clothing in the FSIS worksite include:
· shorts
· flip flops
· short skirts
· crop tops
· tank tops
· clothing that is not neat, clean, and free from holes/tears or that have messages that may be offensive to others
Participants are not to wear these types of clothing to any training sessions.
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