Culinary professor Anthony Borgo wearing a chef's uniform inside the culinary lab grating cheese over a pasta dish

Start your culinary career with a job in a professional kitchen

Culinary Skills Ontario College Certificate program

Paid catering, special event and travel opportunities. Graduate job-ready or continue your studies.

Program code CULI
Duration 1 Year
Credential Ontario College Certificate
Program Delivery Full-time
Program delivery method(s) In person What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

Cooking for success! You will learn how to work in professional kitchens through the development of fundamental culinary knowledge, food preparation and artistic presentation skills that prepares you for lifelong career success with strong industry connections. Our Culinary Skills program has the highest hours in practical training aligned with Level 1 and Level 2 Cook Apprenticeship, meeting the requirements from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. You reliably demonstrate professionalism, culinary techniques, business management skills, product knowledge and identification, while applying classical and contemporary skills in an unmatched, hands-on learning environment. 

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Winter 2025 Barrie
Fall 2025 Barrie

Tuition and fees

What are the admission requirements for the Culinary Skills program?

Culinary Skills admission requirements

  • Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, mature student status
  • Grade 12 English (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional information

Our students are given many opportunities to enhance their social entrepreneurial learning through their involvement in co-curricular activities such as membership in the junior chapter of the regional Professional Chefs’ Association (Muskoka and District Chefs’ Association) and Baking Association of Canada (BAC); and regular industry experiential opportunities.

It is recommended that students take GNED 2075 Culture and Cuisine as one of their General Education choices.

What career paths can I take in culinary?

Your Culinary Skills certificate gives you many career opportunities

Graduates may find work in a variety of food and beverage operations such as hotels, resorts and camps; a variety of restaurants from specialty and gourmet to fast food; private clubs, banquet and catering facilities, and institutional food services all working locally, provincially, nationally and internationally.

Graduates are eligible for exemption from Level 1 and 2 in-school training requirements when entering 415A Chef apprenticeship.

What courses are included in the Culinary Skills certificate program?

Course overview

11 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
2 General Education Courses

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the

  • FOSR 1016 – Basic Cooking Techniques
  • FOSR 1017 – Basic Foodservice Cooking
  • FOSR 1018 – Basic Baking and Pastry Skills
  • FOSR 1019 – Basic Kitchen Management and the Professional Chef
  • FOSR 1026 – Basic Food Theory and Product Knowledge
  • SANI 1000 – Basic Food Service Safety and Certification
  • Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.
  • Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.

Your course delivery method(s)

In person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Baking and Pastry arts students wearing uniforms, aprons, hair nets and hats making pastry in the baking lab

Baking and Pastry Arts

Make a lot of dough! Rise from basics to whole bakery business development in just eight months.

Three Hospitality students wearing black collared shirts, blue silk ties and name tags standing in the ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú Dining Room

Hospitality — Hotel and Resort Operations Management

Develop your career in all facets of the hospitality industry. Enjoy hands-on training and real-world experience with a paid co-op work term.

Student with brown, pinned back hair and a white lab coat preparing to analyze a sample with a microscope

Pre-health Sciences Pathway to Advanced Diplomas and Degrees

Your first step toward further studies in health programs. Develop your employability skills. Be on your way to a career in health care!

Personal Support Worker in scrubs holding a tablet while relaying medication instructions to an elderly patient in a care home

Personal Support Worker

Develop your skills during placements. Become an integral part of a health-care team. Graduate job-ready or pursue further studies.

Do you have questions about Culinary Skills? Contact us!

Thinking about applying to ÍÃ×ÓÏÈÉú?

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Are you an international student?

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Ways to connect

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