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OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C.
NOC: 6241
NON-REGULATED
Chefs
Chefs
Introduction What are the Occupational Guides for Immigrants to B.C.?
British Columbia welcomes you! Like you, over 35,000
immigrants from around the world settle in B.C. each year and find
work in a variety of professions. The process of finding work can take
time, so it is important to understand each of the steps needed to
gain employment.
If you are preparing to come to B.C., or have just arrived, this guide
provides the following information:
Section 1 - how this occupation is practiced in B.C.
Section 2 - steps to help prepare you before you arrive
Section 3 - qualifications needed in B.C.
Section 4 - tips to help you find employment
Section 1
Occupational Overview
Learn More
What is a chef?
There are many different types of chefs. Chefs mainly plan and
direct food preparation and cooking activities. They prepare and
cook meals as well as manage kitchens. Chefs often work in larger
establishments and some specialize in a particular cuisine or food.
These may include various cultural cuisines, sauces, salads and
desserts.
Chefs may do some or all of the following kitchen activities:
Manage kitchen operations
Develop and price menus and recipes
Oversee safety, sanitation, and food storage procedures
Manage kitchen staff
Oversee the preparation and presentation of food
What qualifications are required to be a chef in B.C.?
Completion of secondary school is usually required. Related
post-secondary courses are preferred. Several years of previous
experience in commercial food preparation is required. You do not
need a certificate or credential to work as a chef in B.C.; however,
employers prefer to hire chefs who are certified. Certification can
be obtained from the Canadian Culinary Institute (CCI).
Some excellent sources of
occupational information include:
National Occupational Classification (NOC)
is Canada’s reference on occupations. The
NOC provides job descriptions, occupational
statistics and labour market information.
www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/noc
Workforce Highlights
11,400 Chefs in B.C.
Hourly Wage
$10.25 - $23.00 Range
For more information on wages and workforce see Section 2
This Occupational Guide for Immigrants to BC is a resource to help immigrants build a career plan. Occupational qualifications and requirements
sometimes change. Planning your career in BC will require additional research and direct contact with the appropriate regulatory bodies,
professional associations and training institutions. This Occupational Guide is for general information only and is not legal or professional advice.
www.WelcomeBC.ca
OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C.
NOC: 6241
NON-REGULATED
Chefs
What skills and attributes do employers expect
from chefs?
A good understanding of timing and excellent organizational skills
!
Trades: Industry Training Authority (ITA)
The ITA manages B.C.’s trades training.
Creativity and a detail-oriented approach to preparing and
presenting food
www.itabc.ca/site3.aspx
Telephone: 778.328.8700 or1.866.660.6011
Excellent communication and managerial skills, and an ability to
motivate kitchen staff
Knowledge of food preparation equipment
Ability to learn new cuisines
An understanding of the importance of safety and hygiene
Excellent English language skills
Ability to work under pressure
Understanding of food costs
Where are chefs employed?
Restaurants
Event centres
Cafeterias and cafes
Catering companies
Hospitals
Flight catering centres
Hotels and resorts
Institutions
Clubs
Aboard ships
Residential care homes
Logging, mining and guided fishing camps
Section 2
Prepare Before You Come to B.C.
Explore Regions in B.C. to Live and Work
The demand for each occupation varies throughout the regions of the province. B.C. is a big province, about the same
size as Tanzania or Venezuela, and bigger than Pakistan or Turkey. Each region has different employment needs and
industries. Use the labour market information and resources in this guide to explore regional employment options.
B.C. Labour Market Information
To learn more about your chosen profession visit the following
websites where you will find information including salaries, regional
employment opportunities, job descriptions, and more.
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B.C. Job Trend Tracker
www.bcjobtrendtracker.ca
Education Planner
www.educationplanner.ca
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WorkBC
www.workbc.ca
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BC Wage and Salary Survey 2009
www.bcstats.gov.bc.ca/StatisticsBySubject/LabourIncome/Earnings.aspx
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Working in Canada Tool
www.workingincanada.gc.ca
B.C. DEVELOPMENT REGIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
Vancouver Island/Coast
Mainland/Southwest
Thompson-Okanagan
Kootenay
5.
6.
7.
8.
Cariboo
North Coast
Nechako
Northeast
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OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C.
NOC: 6241
NON-REGULATED
Chefs
Prepare Yourself
Plan and prepare for your career as much as possible before
arriving in B.C. Be sure you understand the provincial job
market and professional requirements of your occupation. You
may be able to start or complete many of these tasks before you
arrive in Canada.
Get Started!
1. Learn about the occupation. Know the name of the job in Canada, and make lists of potential employers.
2. Collect documents. Collect copies of relevant documents, and if necessary, have them translated into English.
Degrees, diplomas or certificates from universities, colleges or schools
Program descriptions related to your studies, and transcripts of grades
Reference letters and performance reviews from employers
Work descriptions and letters from professional agencies
3. Improve your workplace skills. You may need to improve your skills or knowledge before you start working in B.C.
Explore all of the resources provided in this guide.
Section 3
Becoming Qualified to work in B.C.
The following information will help you understand how to become
certified to work as a chef in B.C. This is only a guide; you will have
to do more research to make a career plan that will work for you. It
is important to complete all of the activities listed below. It is not
necessary to complete the activities in the order they are listed. To
save time, it is advisable to work on many of these activities at the
same time.
!
Begin the qualification and career
planning process and obtain all
required documents before leaving
your country. If you have already
arrived in B.C., plan and work
without delay to avoid creating a
gap in your professional experience.
Consider obtaining your chef certification
You do not need a certificate or credential to work as a chef in
B.C. However, certification can improve your job search prospects.
Certifications for chefs in Canada are administered by the Canadian
Culinary Institute. These programs are recognized by the Canadian
Tourism Human Resources Council, including the B.C. Chef’s
Association. If you were certified as a chef in a foreign country, your
credentials may be recognized. Check with the Canadian Culinary
Federation (CCF) and the Canadian Culinary Institute (CCI) for
requirements. The three certifications are:
CCI Certified Working Chef (CWC)
www.ccicc.ca/Certified_Working_Chef_CWC.html
CCI Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC)
www.ccicc.ca/Certified_Chef_de_Cuisine_CCC.html
CCI Certified Master Chef (CMC)
www.ccicc.ca/Certified_Master_Chef_CMC.html
Learn More
Chef Certifications
To see more information and to access
applications for chef certifications, visit:
The Canadian Culinary Federation of Chefs and
Cooks
www.ccfcc.ca
The Canadian Culinary Institute
www.ccicc.ca
To view the Chef Certification flow chart, visit:
www.cthrc.ca/en/research_publications/credential_
recognition/~/media/Files/CTHRC/Home/research_
publications/credential_recognition/qualifications_
framework/CulinaryPosterENG_may2010.ashx
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OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C.
NOC: 6241
NON-REGULATED
Chefs
If do not have the qualifications to obtain a chef certification,
there are two ways you may work towards becoming a chef. You
can challenge the 'Red Seal' certification exams for a cook or you
can take training and complete the necessary education and a
cook apprenticeship program to obtain 'Red Seal' certification.
Once you have 'Red Seal' certification you can begin pursuing chef
certifications.
1. Challenging Cook Certification Exams
If you have been in the industry for a long time, you can
challenge any level of the Professional Cook 1 to 3 Certification
Exams. To achieve 'Red Seal' certification you will need to
challenge the Professional Cook 3 Certification Exam. To
challenge an exam, you must provide evidence that you have
enough work experience and knowledge of the industry. For
more information about the challenge process, go to:
www.itabc.ca/Page1024.aspx
Learn More
New Enhanced Assessment Process: go2 has
been instrumental in developing and piloting an
enhanced assessment process for the certification
of trade challengers. These are often individuals
whose knowledge and skills were acquired outside
the B.C. apprenticeship system.
www.go2hr.ca/ApprenticeshipbrTraining/
CookProgram/tabid/1566/Default.aspx
The ITA Immigrants in Trades Training Initiative:
Provides opportunities and support for immigrants
and internationally trained workers.
www.itabc.ca/AssetFactory.aspx?did=1229
2. Training and Apprenticeship: If you have been a chef for
a short period of time, it may be necessary for you to take
training and become a cook apprentice first. This will mean
completing or challenging some or all of the three levels of
training and certifications for cooks: Professional Cook 1,
Professional Cook 2 and Professional Cook 3 ('Red Seal'). Each
level of the apprenticeship includes classroom study, “handson” experience, and practical and written assessments.
Collect relevant documents and professional
evidence
Before leaving your country, you will need to collect work related
documents and evidence of your professional work experience.
Be sure you are collecting the right documents, check the ITA and
go2 websites regularly as qualifications and processes sometimes
change.
For more information, go to: www.itabc.ca/page1024.aspx
Note: If you possess International Certification Papers equal to
the Red Seal certification, your application will be reviewed and
processed on a case-by-case basis.
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OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C.
NOC: 6241
NON-REGULATED
Chefs
Improve your language skills
There is no formal English language requirement to become
qualified as a chef in B.C. However, employers will expect you
to communicate with your team, customers and suppliers. You
must also be able to read recipes and food orders accurately.
To enroll in programs in most education institutions you will
require English at a Grade 12 level.
!
Make improving your English language
skills a priority. Study to improve your
English language abilities as much as
possible while in your native country.
English Language and Communication Services
DIVERSEcity
www.dcrs.ca
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
www.successbc.ca
TOEFL
www.toefl.org
English Language Services for Adults
www.elsanet.org
MOSAIC
www.mosaicbc.com
Welcome BC
www.welcomebc.ca
Planning to Work in British Columbia,
Canada Workbook
www.welcomebc.ca/local/wbc/docs/
BC_Workbook_EN_June4_Fillable.pdf
IELTS International English
Language Testing System
www.ielts.org
Immigrant Services
Society of BC
www.issbc.org
Research and enroll, if required, in professional
upgrading programs
You may need professional training or skills upgrading to be
certified as a chef. To view a list of institutions that offer training,
go to:
ITA Designated Training Institutions (Cook Programs)
www.go2hr.ca/ApprenticeshipbrTraining/
ListofTrainingInstitutions/tabid/2406/Default.aspx
Canadian Culinary Institute
www.ccicc.ca
For those who require English Language and Cook Training:
!
Many of these programs have waitlists
so it is important to make contact and
register as soon as possible.
Learn More
The ITA Immigrants in Trades Training initiative:
The ITA supports immigrants in B.C. to find careers
in the trades. You may be able to get funding
for English language classes or for other skills
upgrading programs. To find out more:
www.itabc.ca/Page956.aspx
Vancouver Community College - Cooking – English as a Second Language (ESL)
www.vcc.ca
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OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES FOR IMMIGRANTS TO B.C.
NOC: 6241
NON-REGULATED
Chefs
Section 4
Tips to Finding Employment in B.C.
Get Help with Your Job Search
Finding a job in B.C. may be very different than in your home
country. You may need help finding job vacancies, updating
your resume, writing cover letters, preparing for interviews, and
understanding what B.C. employers are looking for.
Skills Connect for Immigrants program provide
employment-related support services that move
internationally educated professionals into the B.C. labour
market: www.welcomebc.ca/skillsconnect
!
The Canadian government provides employment
and settlement services in China, India, the
Philippines and the United Kingdom. The program
is called the Canadian Immigrant Integration
Program (CIIP). To get more information about
these pre-arrival services, go to:
www.newcomersuccess.ca
B.C. Employment and Labour Market Services
employment programs: www.labourmarketservices.gov.bc.ca
Search for job vacancies and build a list of
companies and positions you are interested in
Look for job postings online. The go2 job board is a good place for
chefs to look for job postings: go2hr.ca/jobboard.aspx
Learn More
Chefs may have different job titles or do
different jobs such as:
Chef de cuisine
Build connections to the cooking profession – begin
networking
Chef de partie
Many job vacancies are not advertised. To find out about jobs that
are not advertised, you must make connections with working chefs
and others in the hospitality field. Taking another job in the field or
working as a volunteer is a good way to meet people, understand
Canadian workplace culture and to improve your English language
and communication skills.
Executive chef
Good places to network and to make connections include events,
conferences and courses. To learn about some of these opportunities,
go to these sites:
Specialist chef
Corporate chef
Executive sous-chef
Pastry chef
Saucier
Sous-chef
Head chef
Master chef
go2
www.go2hr.ca
The British Columbia Chefs’ Association
www.bcchefs.com
The B.C. Restaurant Association
www.bcrfa.com
Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association
www.crfa.ca
Canadian Personal Chef Association
www.cdnpca.ca
Learn More
Chef Profiles – Read about people
that have become chefs in B.C.
www.go2hr.ca/ApprenticeshipbrTraining/
CookProgram/CookProfiles/tabid/1732/Default.aspx
Canadian Culinary Federation
www.ccfcc.ca
This project is made possible through funding from
the Government of Canada with support from the Province of British Columbia.
www.WelcomeBC.ca
Updated November 2012
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