V TP Course OJT 10/08/2020 

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) For Supervisors –

Virtual Thermal Processing (VTP) Course - On-the-Job Training (OJT) Checklist

Target Audience: Supervisors of Inspection Program Personnel (IPP) who recently completed

the Virtual Thermal Processing course and are assigned to a Thermal Processing

establishment.

Objective of this SOP: Ensure that supervisors provide necessary guidance and time to IPP

who recently participated in the VTP course to complete the OJT checklist.

Instructions: Supervisors should review the OJT checklist and coach/mentor the IPP while they

are working on checklist items. The Center for Learning (CFL) recommends completing the 

checklist within the first week after finishing the VTP course training. However, following

completion of the VTP course, IPP have 3 weeks to complete the checklist.

Upon IPP completion of the OJT checklist, the supervisor or designee should sign and date the

checklist. Participants should keep a copy of the list for their records and certify the completion 

by sending an email to: FSISAgLearn@usda.gov. The email should contain the participant’s 

name, the Virtual Thermal Processing course number, and date of completion of the OJT and a 

statement attesting that they completed the OJT list. The participant should attach the signed

list to the email.

NOTE: The VTP – OJT checklist only applies to IPP that recently completed the Virtual Thermal

Processing Course and are assigned to a Thermal Processing (canning) establishment.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Hala Bessyoung at hala.bessyoung@usda.gov.

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V TP Course OJT 10/08/2020 

Virtual Thermal Processing (VTP) Inspection Course - On-the-Job Training (OJT)

Checklist

The objective of this OJT Checklist is to verify that the VTP Course participants that recently

completed the Virtual Thermal Processing Course and are assigned to a Thermal Processing

(canning) establishment can successfully apply the knowledge they gained during training.

After completing the VTP Inspection course training, participants must complete OJT. Participants will

have up to three weeks following completion of the VTP Inspection training course to complete the 

training. The participant must conduct each part of the tasks, as soon as practicable and if applicable. 

The tasks can be performed at any of the establishments in their assignment that produce thermally

processed, commercially sterile (TPCS) products. 

The participant should collaborate with their supervisor while working on the OJT list. Upon completion of

the OJT, the participant and supervisor should sign the list attesting for the participant’s successful

completion of the OJT list. Participants should keep a copy of the list for their records and certify the 

completion by sending an email to: FSISAgLearn@usda.gov. The email should contain the participant’s

name, the VTP Inspection course number, and date of completion of OJT and a statement attesting that

they completed the OJT list. The participant should attach the signed list to the email.

If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Hala Bessyoung at hala.bessyoung@usda.gov. 

Student Name

VTP Course Number

Tasks

*Applies to thermally processed product

Estimated

Time 

Date Participant

Initials

 HAV Task - Please review

documentation from an open or

completed task

180 minutes

 HACCP Verification Task 60 minutes

 Big 8 Formulation Verification task - 60 minutes

 Sanitation SOPs

 Pre – Operational

 Operational

60 minutes

 SPS Task 60 minutes

 Supervisor signature and Date

Resources:

Directive 5000.1 Revision 5 – Verifying an Establishment's Food Safety System

Directive 5000.4 Revision 2 – Performing the Pre-Operational Sanitation Standard Operating Procedure 

Verification Task

Directive 5000.6 Revision 4 – Performance of the Hazard Analysis Verification (HAV) Task

Directive 7230.1 – Ongoing Verification of Product Formulation and Labeling Targeting the Eight Most 

Common (“BIG 8”) Food Allergens

https://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/wcm/connect/b656e71d-465c-4d54-bb31-448a09c41b78/virtual-thermalprocessing-reference-material.pdf?MOD=AJPERES

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