Professional Cook (Institution Entry)

Cooks perform all phases of kitchen activities including the preparation and presentation of food, basic menu planning/costing and they possess knowledge of safety, sanitation and food storage, plus human and customer relations.

Cooks can obtain professional designation at Levels 1, 2, or 3, progressing in knowledge and responsibility at each Level. A Professional Cook 1 is usually supervised and performs basic cooking and food preparation tasks utilizing knife skills, correct terminology, and a variety of cooking methods. They must be able to follow recipes, weigh and measure food accurately, and have an understanding of the major techniques and principles used in cooking, baking, and other aspects of food preparation. At Level 1, a professional cook should have a solid foundation of culinary skill.

A Professional Cook 2 usually works under some supervision and performs a variety of cooking and food preparation tasks using multiple methods, and should have a preliminary understanding of food costing, menu planning, and purchasing processes.

Usually working under limited supervision, a Professional Cook 3 will be competent at the major techniques and principles used in cooking, baking, and other aspects of food preparation. In addition, a Professional Cook 3 should be able to plan and cost menus and recipes, and have an understanding of the communication skills necessary to take a leadership role in the kitchen. At Level 3, a Professional Cook can obtain national designation as a Cook under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program.

Other programs in this sector:

 | Baker

Recommendations

Creativity, a keen sense of taste and smell, interest in precision work and good memory for details.

 

The following education is recommended: Grade 10 or equivalent (Grade 12 is preferred), including English 10, Math 10, Science 10.

 

A Foodsafe Level 1 Certificate is required prior to enrolment in a training program.

 

The Apprenticeship Program is comprised of Levels 1-to-3 of progressive training, with each Level taking 6 weeks (180 hours) to complete, however certification can be achieved at any desired level (refer to SkilledTradesBC for full details).

 

At Levels 1 and 2, apprentices are required to accumulate 1,000 hours of work-based training; at Level 3, it's 3,000, totalling 5,000 hours.

PROGRAM TYPES

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Apr 02 2024Nov 21 2024

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Apr 02 2024Aug 02 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Okanagan College

1000 K.L.O. Rd. Kelowna, BC

Apr 15 2024Nov 08 2024

Professional Cook 1 Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Nicola Valley Institute of Tech.

Merritt

Apr 22 2024Jun 14 2024

IPC2

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Apr 29 2024Dec 19 2024

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Apr 29 2024Aug 30 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

May 27 2024Sep 27 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

May 27 2024Feb 06 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Okanagan College

1000 K.L.O. Rd. Kelowna, BC

Jun 24 2024Aug 30 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Jul 08 2024Oct 25 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Jul 08 2024Mar 06 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Coast Mountain College

Terrace

Aug 06 2024Feb 28 2025

Professional Cook (Institution Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Aug 06 2024Apr 03 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Aug 06 2024Nov 22 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

College of New Caledonia

Prince George - Main Campus

Aug 12 2024Mar 07 2025

Professional Cook

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Univ. of the Fraser Valley

Trades and Technology Centre (CEP)

Aug 12 2024Mar 07 2025

Prof. Cook Institution Entry (L1)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Univ. of the Fraser Valley

Trades and Technology Centre (CEP)

Aug 12 2024Mar 07 2025

Prof. Cook Institution Entry (L1)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Aug 26 2024Mar 21 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Cowichan

Aug 26 2024Mar 21 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Aug 26 2024Mar 21 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Aug 26 2024Mar 21 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Northern Lights College

Dawson Creek

Sep 03 2024Apr 17 2025

Professional Cook 1 (Institutional Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Northern Lights College

Dawson Creek

Sep 03 2024Dec 11 2024

Professional Cook 2 (Institutional Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

North Island College

Campbell River

Sep 03 2024Mar 21 2025

Professional Cook 1 - Institution

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

College of the Rockies

Main Campus

Sep 03 2024Apr 04 2025

Cook 1 Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Thompson Rivers University

Kamloops

Sep 03 2024Apr 30 2025

Professional Cook 1 (Institution Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Sep 03 2024Dec 23 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Sep 03 2024Jun 26 2025

Cooking ESL Level 1

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Sep 03 2024May 01 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Okanagan College

1000 K.L.O. Rd. Kelowna, BC

Sep 09 2024Apr 17 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Selkirk College

Tenth Street Campus - Nelson

Sep 10 2024Dec 13 2024

Professional Cook (Institutional Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Thompson Rivers University

Kamloops

Sep 16 2024Dec 20 2024

Professional Cook 2 (Institution Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Oct 01 2024Feb 07 2025

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Oct 01 2024May 29 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

North Island College

Port Alberni - Roger St

Oct 07 2024Jan 17 2025

Professional Cook 2 - Institution

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Okanagan College

1000 K.L.O. Rd. Kelowna, BC

Oct 07 2024Dec 13 2024

Professional Cook 2 Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Coast Mountain College

Terrace

Oct 21 2024Feb 07 2025

Professional Cook (Institution Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Oct 28 2024Jun 26 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Oct 28 2024Mar 07 2025

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

North Island College

Campbell River

Nov 04 2024Dec 20 2024

Professional Cook 3 - App 03

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Nov 18 2024Mar 07 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Nov 25 2024Apr 04 2025

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Nov 25 2024Jul 24 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Thompson Rivers University

Kamloops

Jan 06 2025Dec 23 2025

Professional Cook 1 (Institution Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Okanagan College

1000 K.L.O. Rd. Kelowna, BC

Jan 06 2025Aug 01 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Thompson Rivers University

Kamloops

Jan 13 2025Apr 30 2025

Professional Cook 2 (Institution Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Jan 13 2025May 02 2025

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Jan 13 2025Aug 21 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Okanagan College

1000 K.L.O. Rd. Kelowna, BC

Jan 20 2025Mar 28 2025

Professional Cook 2 Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

North Island College

Port Alberni - Roger St

Jan 27 2025Aug 15 2025

Professional Cook 1 - Institution

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Coast Mountain College

Smithers

Feb 03 2025Jul 18 2025

Professional Cook (Institution Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Northern Lights College

Dawson Creek

Feb 03 2025May 14 2025

Professional Cook 2 (Institutional Entry)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Feb 10 2025Sep 18 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Feb 10 2025May 30 2025

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Feb 18 2025Nov 14 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

College of New Caledonia

Prince George - Main Campus

Mar 10 2025Jun 13 2025

Professional Cook

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Mar 10 2025Jun 27 2025

Professional Cook 2 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

VCC

Downtown Campus

Mar 10 2025Oct 16 2025

Professional Cook 1 Institutional Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Univ. of the Fraser Valley

Trades and Technology Centre (CEP)

Mar 10 2025May 23 2025

Prof. Cook Institution Entry (L2)

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Mar 24 2025Sep 05 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

North Island College

Campbell River

Mar 24 2025Jun 27 2025

Professional Cook 2 - Institution

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Mar 24 2025Sep 05 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Nanaimo

Mar 24 2025Sep 05 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

Institution

Campus

Date

Program

Contact

Van. Island University

Cowichan

Mar 24 2025Sep 05 2025

Professional Cook Institution Entry

INSTITUTIONS THAT OFFER THE PROGRAM BUT HAVE NO ACTIVELY SCHEDULED INTAKES BEFORE APRIL 2025

Institution

Campus

Program

Contact

Nicola Valley Institute of Tech.

Merritt

Culinary Arts PC1

Institution

Campus

Program

Contact

North Island College

Campbell River

Culinary Co-op/Internship

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