How to become a cook in BC
Cook Red Seal Journeyperson · British Columbia
Cook in restaurants, hotels or camps. You can start with no ticket; a college cooking program or an apprenticeship leads to the Red Seal.
THE ROUTE
The route at a glance
Professional Cook 1 Foundation (VCC / Camosun)
Complete 28-week culinary foundation program (or direct kitchen hire)
Apprentice Workplace Hours & PC1/PC2 Levels
Log 2,000 on-the-job kitchen hours and pass Level 1 and 2 exams
Professional Cook 3 Technical Training (PC3)
Complete 6-week Level 3 technical training block and reach 5,000 work hours
Interprovincial Red Seal Examination
Score 70% or higher on the national Red Seal Cook exam
Certified Red Seal Cook (Chef de Partie / Head Chef)
Lead kitchens as a Red Seal Cook, Sous Chef, or Head Chef
Professional Cook 1 Foundation (VCC / Camosun)
Complete 28-week culinary foundation program (or direct kitchen hire)
Apprentice Workplace Hours & PC1/PC2 Levels
Log 2,000 on-the-job kitchen hours and pass Level 1 and 2 exams
Professional Cook 3 Technical Training (PC3)
Complete 6-week Level 3 technical training block and reach 5,000 work hours
Interprovincial Red Seal Examination
Score 70% or higher on the national Red Seal Cook exam
Certified Red Seal Cook (Chef de Partie / Head Chef)
Lead kitchens as a Red Seal Cook, Sous Chef, or Head Chef
This is the overview. For the courses to take, the entry rules, the exams and the schools, open the full route.
See the full route, step by step →THE JOB
What the job is like
Pay and outlook from WorkBC.
Work takes place in commercial kitchen lines with commercial ranges, deep fryers, and convection ovens, as well as fast-paced dinner and weekend rushes with intense heat and noise.
Be mindful of burn hazards from hot cooking oil, open burner flames, and sizzling cookware and follow all required safety procedures.
Manage back-of-house kitchen brigade, menu development, and food inventory.
Lead multi-outlet restaurant programs, hotel banquet operations, or resort kitchens.
JOBS
Find jobs
Live postings on the big job boards, searched for this job in British Columbia.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
Common questions
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