Overview
Get certified with CNC's professional cook apprenticeship program! This program provides the technical training portion of your apprenticeship journey, which in combination with work-based training hours, leads to Red Seal certification.
Sharpen your skills in the kitchen with a fast-paced, creative career in culinary arts! In the Professional Cook apprenticeship program you’ll learn to prepare, cook and present meals and specialty foods.
You’ll also learn to:
- Prepare special meals for patients as instructed by a dietician or chef
- Maintain inventory
- Set up and oversee buffets
- Plan menus and more
If you’re creative, good at working under pressure while ensuring quality, safety and sanitation guidelines — and you can stand a hot kitchen — this is the career for you.
Past graduates found jobs at hotels, exotic resorts, cruise ships and local restaurants. Some have even opened their own pubs, restaurants and bars.
Professional Cook Level 1: Indigenous Content
Located at the CNC Burns Lake Campus, this unique take on Professional Cook Level 1 will allow students to develop a solid foundation in culinary arts while incorporating elements of traditional harvesting methods and local Indigenous ingredients.
Alongside Red Seal Instructors and traditional knowledge keepers, students will work to utilize new found skills to identify exciting upcoming trends and opportunity within the world of culinary arts and Indigenous specialization.
Let's bring Indigenous knowledge and methods to the forefront while working towards a renowned Red Seal certification that can be utilized in any professional atmosphere!
Governing bodies
Next career steps
Red Seal
A Professional Cook 3 will have met all of the requirements of the national Red Seal standard for Cook. Professional Cook 3 can be taken or challenged through Skilled Trades BC.
Certified Chef de Cuisine
Red Seal cooks are eligible to become members of the Canadian Culinary Federation (CCF) and enroll in the Certified Chef de Cuisine program. To enrol you need to be a Red Seal cook for at least five years, and a CCF member to enter their program.
Apprentice Professional Cook Courses
Fast-paced and rewarding, a career as a professional cook lets you express your creativity. You'll find jobs at hotels, exotic resorts, cruise ships and local restaurants. You might even own your own restaurant one day.
Apprentice Professional Cook
CULA 250 – Professional Cook Level 2 (14 weeks)
CULA 350 – Professional Cook Level 3 (6 weeks)
Professional Cook Apprentices who successfully complete CULA 350 are eligible to write the Red Seal Certification Exam.
Technical training must be completed in sequence. It is recommended to complete a full year of work-based training hours between levels to best prepare for the next level of technical training.
Training dates & how to apply
For up-to-date technical training dates at CNC visit the Trades Training BC website.
To apply for any level of technical training at CNC visit: tools.cnc.bc.ca/applytrades.
| COURSE CODE |
COURSE TITLE |
CREDITS |
LENGTH |
Locations & Dates
CNC programs have varying lengths and start dates to meet your needs, and are offered across multiple campuses where possible. Don’t see the campus you’re looking for? Check back with us soon as this page is updated throughout the school year.
Visit Trades Training BC for the most up to date apprenticeship schedules.
| START DATE |
CAMPUS |
DELIVERY |
LENGTH |
| Fall 2025 |
Prince George |
In Class |
30 weeks |
| Fall 2025 |
Burns Lake |
In Class |
30 weeks |
| Spring 2026 |
Prince George |
In Class |
14 weeks |
Entry Requirements
Once your employer has submitted an Apprentice and Sponsor Registration Form to SkilledTradesBC on your behalf you can apply to attend technical training at CNC. Many of our apprenticeship programs have waitlists so we encourage you to apply early.
SkilledTradesBC doesn’t require apprentices to have completed a required number of work-based-training hours to attend technical training. However, because apprenticeship programs are a unique blend of in-class and on-the-job training we encourage you to work with your employer to decide on a training schedule that best combines these two forms of training.
Need help meeting these requirements?
Check out our Academic Upgrading options.
Invest in your future
Please check the Fee Schedule for up-to-date information.
These costs are an estimate and do not include books. Costs may change without notice. Student fees vary by campus.
Books for this program can be purchased from the bookstore.
Paying for college
We're here to help. You can apply for scholarships and bursaries through CNC. We can also help you find loans and other funding. Visit Financial aid to find out how.
Salaries and employment
Looking for a job? Check the student employment opportunities.