Assistant Cook

An Assistant Cook prepares and cooks a wide range of foods for public consumption in various settings such as restaurants and hotels. Specifically, an Assistant Cook:

prepares, cooks, and assembles complete breakfasts
prepares short order dishes including hot and cold sandwiches
prepares stocks, soups and sauces, salads, dressings, vegetables and desserts
uses a variety of preparation methods including roasting, deep-frying, poaching, sautéeing, braising and grilling to prepare meats, poultry and fish
practises safe work practices, hygiene, equipment handling, sanitation and workplace safety

Apprenticeship Resources

Apprenticeship Training Standard (PDF)

Curriculum Training Standard (PDF)

APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM

An apprenticeship training program consists of on-the-job and in-school training. Generally, the time-frame to become competent in the trade of Assistant Cook is 3,000 hours (approximately one and a half years) consisting of 2,640 hours of on-the-job work experience and 360 hours of in-school training.

ON-THE-JOB TRAINING

An apprenticeship involves practical training provided on-the-job by a skilled worker, or trainer. The skills or competencies to be developed are set out by the trade’s apprenticeship training standard and are recognized by the industry as being essential to the practice of the trade.

As these essential skills are developed, the apprentice’s sponsor or trainer signs the relevant sections of the training standard to indicate that the apprentice has met the individual training objectives by demonstrating the skills required of a skilled worker, or journeyperson, in the trade.

IN-SCHOOL TRAINING

An Assistant Cook apprenticeship includes one level of theoretical training, which includes but is not limited to instruction in:

applied safety procedures
sanitation, safety and equipment
basic nutrition
communications
basic calculations
basic kitchen management
basic food theory
baking techniques
basic culinary techniques
preparation of food in quantity

Depending on the training delivery agency, in-school training may be available in one of the following ways:

block release (full-time, for a set number of weeks)
day release (one day per week from September to June)
part-time (night-school programs)
alternative delivery (online, correspondence, etc.)

Assistant Cook is a trade named under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021. This trade has an apprenticeship program that is administered by the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development. Upon completion of an apprenticeship program, the Ministry issues a Certificate of Apprenticeship. This is the highest level of certification available for the trade.

As there is no certifying exam in this trade, Skilled Trades Ontario does not issue a Certificate of Qualification and therefore cannot accept Trade Equivalency Assessment applications for this trade.

As this trade is non-compulsory, the information of individuals practicing this trade will not appear on the Skilled Trades Ontario Public Register.