Education · 1 of 4

The path

Two routes: a college diploma, or an apprenticeship that pays you from day one.

1. 1

   Food handler certificate

   1 day

   A short online course recognised by your local public health unit. Get it before you apply.

2. 2

   Get into a bakeshop

   Weeks

   Bakery counter, prep, or dish in a hotel pastry department. Being the person who shows up at 5am gets you noticed.

3. 3

   Diploma or apprenticeship

   1 to 3 years

   A baking and pastry arts diploma runs 1 to 2 years. The Baker apprenticeship in Ontario is 6,000 hours: 5,280 on the job plus 720 in school.

4. 4

   Work the stations

   2 to 4 years

   Bread, viennoiserie, cakes, plated desserts, chocolate and sugar work. Each one takes months to get quick at.

5. 5

   Run the department

   5 years and up

   Pastry chef means you write the dessert menu, cost it, order for it and lead a small team.