About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 1 Year Certificate
  • Campus: Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • Code: 0458 P0458
  • Delivery Length: 1 Year
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Overview

Do you have a flair for baking and pastry arts and want to turn your talent into a successful career?

As a Baking and Pastry Chef, you are a patient and detail-oriented visionary who creates breads, cakes, cookies and pastries and is ready to meet the demand for qualified bakers in Canada’s thriving hospitality industry.

Highlights
  • The 125-acre Daniel J. Patterson Campus in Niagara-on-the-Lake is located in the heart of Ontario’s thriving hospitality industry and serves as a living lab for students including, leading-edge baking facilities, a 40-acre on-site vineyard, Teaching Brewery, Teaching Winery, Teaching Distillery, Teaching Spa, Teaching Greenhouse and hop yard.

  • Learning environment includes state-of-the-art equipment.

  • Environmentally controlled chocolate and sugar lab.

  • Program is taught by world-class chef faculty.

  • Community engagement through not-for-profit and catered events.

Career Opportunities
  • Baker
  • Bakery manager
  • Cake decorator
  • Pastry chef
  • Pastry cook
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Courses

Term one (2025 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
BAKG1143 Introduction to Baking Principles 3
BAKG1160 Baking and Pastry Techniques I 3
BAKG1165 Baking Essentials I 3
BAKG1260 Baking and Pastry Techniques II 3
MATH1080 Mathematics 3
NUTN1175 Nutrition 3
Term two (2026 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
BAKG1190 Confection Production 3
BAKG1171 Bakery Management 3
BAKG1210 Advanced Baking and Pastry Techniques 3
BAKG1265 Baking Essentials II 3
ENGL1098 Language and Communications 3
SOCL1430 Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Canada 3
Learning Outcomes Term: 1254
  1. Plan, prepare and scale a variety of bakery, pastry and confectionary products with speed, precision, and accuracy to meet the needs of a range of food service environments.

  2. Create two- and three-dimensional products using a wide variety of design strategies, materials, processes and techniques that meet the needs of a range of food service environments.

  3. Identify effective business practices, including marketing, cost control and staffing to promote a fiscally responsible operation.

  4. Develop professional and reflective practices to support lifelong learning, creative process, and skill development.

  5. Perform work and equipment operations in accordance with safety and sanitation practices to meet industry and regulatory standards.

  6. Execute work independently and collaboratively in a professional baking, pastry and/or confectionery environment.

  7. Apply food and baking science, ingredient manipulation and substitution to create products that respond to consumers' dietary needs and preferences.

  8. Select production, packaging and storage techniques for food products to extend shelf life, reduce spoilage and enhance safety.

  9. Develop and execute a product range that ensures the sustainable, responsible, and ethical sourcing and use of ingredients and materials.

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Admission Requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
  • English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
  • Mathematics – any Grade 11 (C), (U), or (M), or equivalent
Recommended Courses and/or Skills:

These courses and skills may help you succeed academically in this program, but they are not required for admission.

  • Hospitality and/or Tourism – any Grade 11 or 12 course
  • Information Technology Applications in Business – Grade 11 (O)
Selection and Ranking

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. When the applicant provides proof of meeting the requirements, an offer of admission can be issued, provided space is available in the program.

Learn more about admission decisions.

Computer Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows-based desktop or laptop that meets or exceeds the following general requirements:

  • A desktop or laptop running on an updated Microsoft Windows operating system (Windows 11 recommended).
  • Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory (note that 16 GB memory is strongly recommended).
  • An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone, and speaker system.
  • Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities. A minimum download speed of 10 – 50 Mbps is recommended.

Niagara College may not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications as provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.

Note: We do not provide support for Chromebooks or Apple products. (learn more)

Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.

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Availability

Domestic Applicants Apply
International Applicants Apply
Legendfor intake status table
Open

Accepting applications

Waitlisted

Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list

Closed

Not accepting applications

Suspended

No longer offered this term

The College reserves the right to cancel or make changes to any course or program, fee, procedure, or campus location at any time.

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Pathways

Explore your pathway options What are pathways? for the Baking and Pastry Arts program below.

  • NC Pathway
    Advanced Standing in:
    Niagara College Baking and Pastry Arts Management
  • From NC to
    Culinary Arts Academy Switzerland Bachelor of International Business in Pastry & Chocolate Arts Switzerland
Did you know?

Applicants with previous postsecondary education will be assessed for transfer credits upon receipt of an official transcript from their previous institution. There is no fee for this service.

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Tuition

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I don’t think people realize the pressures that come with being a baker. Working in a kitchen requires you to be fast and efficient to keep up with orders, while also being accurate with what you’re making. This program has really prepared me to be able to handle those demands.

Nam Hai Anh (Anna) Nguyen, program graduate
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