Education · 1 of 4

The path

Three ways in: on the job, a 1-year college program, or a 3-year Red Seal apprenticeship.

1. 1

   Food handler certificate

   1 day

   A short online course, required before you touch food commercially.

2. 2

   Start in a bakery

   Any time

   Helper, then baker's assistant. Grocery bakeries hire teenagers. This is the real school.

3. 3

   College or apprenticeship (optional)

   1 to 3 years

   A 1-year baking and pastry program at George Brown in Toronto, Niagara College, Vancouver Community College, SAIT (Southern Alberta Institute of Technology) or NAIT (Northern Alberta Institute of Technology), or a 3-year apprenticeship registered with your provincial trades authority.

4. 4

   Red Seal Baker (optional)

   After 3 years

   Ontario requires 6,000 apprenticeship hours: 5,280 on the job plus 720 in school. Pass the interprovincial exam for a ticket that works across Canada.

5. 5

   Move up

   Years

   Baker, then head baker, production manager or pastry chef. Or open your own place.