If you're a high school graduate who dreams of working in a professional kitchen, Conestoga's one-year Culinary Skills certificate program is your recipe for success. This co-op program blends classic techniques with modern culinary trends, giving you the hands-on experience and industry insight needed to thrive in today's fast-paced food service sector.

You'll learn in a collaborative environment through live-action demonstrations, lectures and immersive kitchen practice. From knife skills to plating artistry, you'll build a strong foundation in culinary techniques while exploring creative expression. A four-month paid co-op placement connects you with employers, helping you gain valuable workplace experience and build your professional network.

Admission requirements:

• Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent, or 19 years of age or older with mature student status (See Mature Student definition for details.)
• Grade 12 compulsory English, C or U, or equivalent, OR Conestoga College Preparatory Communications (COMM1251), or equivalent
• For more information on preparatory programs, visit Academic Upgrading

• International English Language Testing System (academic or immigration) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (Internet Based) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (Internet Based) or Pearson Test of English (Academic)

Program requirements:

• Applicants are advised that in order to comply with the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario regulations, students under 18 will be unable to serve alcohol in the Restaurant Operations class.
• To be eligible for a co-op work term, the student must have a minimum 65% session weighted average, have successfully completed the Co-op and Career Preparation course as well as the Sanitation and Safety course, and have a maximum of two failed or dropped courses during the term that occurs two terms prior to the work term.
• Academic eligibility for a co-op work term is based on the term that occurs two terms prior to any work term. If this term is also a co-op work term, then work term eligibility will be based on the student’s achievement during the preceding academic term.
• Should a student’s academic performance decline considerably (including cumulative missed courses) during the term just prior to any work term, the college reserves the right to withdraw the student from the upcoming work term.
• Students may only defer one work term regardless of the reason(s) (e.g. failed or missed work term).
• Students who do not successfully complete their deferred work term will be removed from the co-op stream.
• Since only one work term may be failed/deferred regardless of the reason(s), should a subsequent work term be missed/failed/unsecured (not successfully completed for any reason) the student will be immediately removed from the co-op stream.
• Students who are discontinued are not eligible for co-op work terms.
• Students must maintain academic eligibility standards in order to participate in a co-op work term. As well, students must successfully complete the required co-op program prerequisites to be eligible for co-op. The prerequisites for individual programs may be found on the Hospitality Group eConestoga website.