Professional Cook Apprenticeship program

Shape your passion and creativity into a rewarding career that can take you anywhere in the world.

The chefs training at the Vancouver Island University is internationally recognized. Students gain hands-on, real-world experience working in state-of-the-art kitchens.

The Professional Cook (PC) apprenticeship program consists of:

3 levels of technical training
5000 work-based training hours
writing the Interprovincial (Red Seal) examination for journeyperson-certification. Learn more about the application process for apprenticeship technical training.

Professional Cook 1 (28 weeks, full time)

Level 1 is covered in VIU’s 28 week Culinary Arts certificate program and 2 year Culinary Management diploma. VIU does not offer Level 1 as a stand-alone program.

food safety and sanitation
fundamentals of butchery protein cookery
soups, stocks & sauces
fundamentals of baking
vegetable and starch cookery
short order and breakfast cookery

Professional Cook 2 (14 weeks, full time)

Level 2 is covered in VIU’s 28 week Culinary Arts certificate program and 2 year Culinary Management diploma. Level 2 is also occasionally offered as a stand-alone program.

advanced meat cutting
advanced protein cookery
fresh noodles & dumplings
advanced dining room service
advanced pastries and desserts
menu planning and cost controls

Professional Cook 3 (14 weeks, part time)

Level 3 is covered in VIU’s 2 year Culinary Management diploma and is occasionally offered as a part-time, stand-alone program.

advanced meat cutting, curing & smoking
advanced pastries & desserts, chocolate and sugar
leadership and supervisory skills
complex production systems

Admission information

successfully completed the previous apprenticeship level
registered as an apprentice with SkilledTradesBC
have an employer sponsor

Tuition and Other Mandatory Student Fees include supply fees, student activity fee, student services fee and VIU Students’ Union fee.

Costs are for budgeting purposes only and will be confirmed when you register for the course.

Apprenticeship Level	Tuition	Additional mandatory student fees	Domestic Total
Level 2	470.12	81.72	551.84
Level 3	Contact us	Contact us	Contact us

All fees are subject to change without prior notice and are expected to increase by 2% each year on April 1.

Start dates for all apprenticeship training in BC can be found on Trades Training BC. Apprenticeship training classes at Vancouver Island University fill on a first-come, first-registered basis. There are waiting lists for many trades and apprenticeship levels.

Please contact the Apprenticeship Admissions and Registration Assistant for seat availability and waitlist information:

Email: apprentice@viu.ca

Phone: 250.740.6227

An Apprenticeship Admissions and Registration Assistant can help with your questions: