About this program

  • Credential Awarded: Certificate of Apprenticeship
  • Campus: Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • Trade Code: 415A
  • Delivery Length: 2 Terms
  • Starts: Winter

Overview

Do you have excellent organizational skills, keen attention to detail and a desire to prepare and artistically plate food?

As a Cook in Canada’s rapidly growing hospitality industry, you have the cooking knowledge and skills required for career advancement at restaurants, hotels, hospitals, clubs and more.

Highlights
  • The 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 facilities, 40-acre on-site vineyard, NC Teaching Brewery, hop yard, and world-class chef faculty.

  • Gain additional experience and exposure working at special functions held on- and off-campus and on-site training opportunities at Benchmark and Bench-to-Go, NC’s student-led restaurant.

  • Students pursuing the Assistant Cook (415B) apprenticeship study Level 1 Cook Fundamentals for 15 weeks of instruction plus paid on-the-job training. Students seeking to do the full Cook apprenticeship (415A) also complete a second 15-week term in school for Level 2 - Cook Advanced.

  • Graduates are eligible to apply for provincial certification following program completion.

Career Opportunities
  • Baker
  • Banquet manager
  • Caterer
  • Chef de cuisine
  • Chef de partie
  • Cook
  • Food service administrator and coordinator
  • Kitchen manager
  • Research and development cook
  • Sous chef

The Benefits of Apprenticeship

  • The Province of Ontario is facing a large shortage of skilled labour.
  • A certified journeyperson earns a good wage.
  • Approximately 18 per cent of skilled workers are self-employed.
  • There is, and will continue to be, a demand for highly skilled tradespeople.
  • Majority of tuition for the in-school training is paid for by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.

What's an Apprenticeship?

  • As an apprentice, you learn a skilled trade on the job. You work with and learn from experienced workers, and get paid while you do it.
  • You also learn in a classroom from instructors who know the trade. These classroom hours would take place at Niagara College.
Back to Top

Courses

Pursuing the Assistant Cook (415B) Apprenticeship?

Students pursuing the Assistant Cook (415B) apprenticeship study Term One only in the course information below, which is 15 weeks of instruction plus paid on-the-job training.

Pursuing the full Cook Apprenticeship (415A)?

Students seeking to do the full Cook apprenticeship (415A) also complete Term Two in the course information below, which is a second 15-week term in school.

Term one (2026 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
APPR3291 Workplace and Food Safety Practices 1
APPR3292 Basic Nutrition 1
APPR3293 Culinary Business Practices 3
APPR3294 Food Theory - Basic 4
APPR3295 Culinary Techniques - Basic 11
APPR3296 Bake Theory 1
APPR3297 Baking Techniques - Basic 3
Term two (2027 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
APPR3298 Menu Planning 1
APPR3299 Culinary Business Management 4
APPR3300 Food Theory - Advanced 3
APPR3301 Culinary Techniques - Advanced 14
APPR3302 Baking Techniques - Advanced 3
Back to Top

Admission Requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma, or Grade 12 equivalency AND
  • Employment in the trade
Back to Top

How to Apply

  1. Find out if you qualify

    To qualify for an apprenticeship, you must:

    • be at least 16 years of age
    • have legal permission to work in Canada (for example, have a valid social insurance number)
    • meet the educational requirements of your chosen trade
    • have a sponsor in Ontario
  2. Find an employer or sponsor

    A sponsor is someone who provides you with apprenticeship training. A sponsor can be a single employer, individual (for example, a contractor) or a group of employers (for example, unions or non-union consortiums).

    How to find a sponsor
    • Guidance counsellor: If you’re in high school, ask your guidance counsellor for advice and referrals for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program and other programs (Specialist High Skills Major, dual credit program.)
    • Online: Visit the job bank to post your resume and availability for apprenticeship in your chosen trade.
    • Employment Ontario: EO offers employment services and training opportunities, like matching apprentices to sponsors. Find an EO location.
    • Unions or trade associations: Many trades have unions or associations with resources to find and match apprentices to sponsors.
    • Local companies: Research local companies in the skilled trades. Try your local online resources, newspapers, or other directories.
    • Your network: Ask around to see if anyone you know is in the skilled trades, and if they are hiring or know someone who is hiring.
  3. Apply for an apprenticeship
    If you're 18 years or older

    You can apply online. You must complete the application in one session. It takes about 10 minutes to complete.

    If you're 16 or 17 years old

    You must download a paper application. Instructions: Save the application to your computer; fill out the application; print the application and sign it; get your parent or guardian and your sponsor to sign it; mail (or submit it in-person) the completed and signed application to your local Employment Ontario apprenticeship training office.


    Skilled Trades Ontario will review your application and let your sponsor know whether or not your application was approved.

    Note: You can change your sponsor later.

  4. Sign a training agreement

    If your application is approved, the ministry will:

    1. Create a training agreement for you and your sponsor to sign.
    2. Approve the signed agreement.
    3. Register your apprenticeship training.

Important: Once you have received your “Offer of Classroom Training Letter” from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development – Apprenticeship Office, you must complete the registration process by contacting Niagara College at [email protected].


The information on this page was sourced from https://www.ontario.ca/page/start-apprenticeship.

Back to Top

Personalize your Niagara College experience in 60 seconds!

Create Your Custom Viewbook