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Cook |
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Technical Training Registration for this trade begins on May 18, 2012! Visit the Technical Training Centre to review the Class Schedule and registration details.
Cooks prepare food in eating establishments including hotels, restaurants, institutions, trains and ships. Their major responsibilities are nutrition, food costs and sanitation.
Depending on the establishment, cooks may be involved in any combination of the following duties:
While specific duties vary depending upon the type of establishment, it is the cook's responsibility to prepare meals that are both appealing and nutritious.
Cooks work under pressure, and the work volume can be considerable. Shift work and having to work weekends and holidays is common.
Burns and cuts are common occupational hazards.
In general, people attracted to this career value the job's creative challenges and the public appreciation for their expertise.
To be successful in their trade, cooks need to:
Cooks are employed in hotels, clubs, restaurants, catering firms, cafeterias, institutions, homes, high-class specialty food outlets, and isolated bases and camps. Some jobs are seasonal.
Journeyperson wage rates vary, but generally range from $9 to $12 an hour plus benefits.
Experienced cooks can advance through promotions with the same employer or by moving to more advanced positions with other employers. They can become sous-chefs, chefs, executive chefs, banquet managers, food service administrators and coordinators, general managers or food editors. Or, they can become a Certified Chef de Cuisine (C.C.C.), a highly respected trade level of certification. There are good prospects for travel both within Canada and abroad.
To work as a Cook in Alberta, a person must:
Cooks learn their skills by registering with Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training to participate in apprenticeship training. Upon successful completion, they are awarded the Alberta Journeyman Certificate.
A cook who holds a valid trade certificate from Alberta or from another Canadian province or territory may apply to write the Interprovincial Exam and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program. The Red Seal is recognized throughout most of Canada.
A cook who holds a valid recognized credential that does not have a Red Seal may apply for:
Cooks who:
may be eligible to apply for trade certification under the Qualification Certificate Program.
Individuals possessing a valid Alberta Journeyman Certificate, an Alberta Qualification Certificate, an Alberta Occupational Certificate, or a valid recognized credential are eligible to receive a Blue Seal business credential after completing the necessary requirements.
The term of apprenticeship for a cook is 3 years (three 12-month periods) including a minimum of 1560 hours of on-the-job training and 8 weeks of technical training each year.
To learn the skills required of a Cook in Alberta and be issued an Alberta Journeyman Certificate, a person must:
Most employers prefer to hire high school graduates and may select apprentices from among their current employees.
- during on-the-job training, apprentice cooks earn at least 60 percent of the journeyperson wage rate in their place of employment in the first year, 75 percent in the second, and 85 percent in the third year.
- select an educational institution that offers training for Cook apprentices, and a time to attend training
- determine requirements for enrolling at the selected institution, and forward completed enrollment form to the selected institution
Apprentices may attempt the Interprovincial Exam in the final period of their apprenticeship training and, if successful, be granted a Red Seal. (see Exam Counselling Sheets)
When apprentices attend technical training, they are required to pay the applicable tuition fee and purchase course supplies.
Grants, scholarships and other financial assistance may be available. For more information see Financial Assistance or contact an Apprenticeship and Industry Training Office.
To qualify for a Red Seal, a person must:
- an Alberta trade certificate or completion of apprenticeship certificate, OR
- a journeyperson or completion of apprenticeship certificate issued by another Canadian province or territory
To qualify for an Equivalency document based on a recognized credential, a person must:
A person who holds a valid recognized credential, as described above, does not require an Alberta Equivalency document to work in the trade in Alberta. However, some employers may require Alberta documentation as proof that the holder is allowed to work in the trade or that the holder's credential is recognized.
To qualify for a Qualification Certificate based on a recognized credential, a person must:
To qualify for an Alberta Qualification Certificate based on work experience, a person must:
Time spent on supervisory or foreman duties, counter work, heading the tool crib, or on a training course is NOT counted as ‘hands-on’ work experience.
This application fee covers the review of the application, the assessment and confirmation of the applicant's work experience hours/months, the administration of the applicant’s demonstration of competency, and one attempt at the Qualification Certificate theory examination. The Qualification Certificate practical examination requires a separate fee as identified on the application noted above.
