Fast facts
| Trade code | 423C |
|---|---|
| Sector | Service |
| Classification | Voluntary trade |
| Certifying exam | Required (O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3) |
| Apprentice to journeyperson ratio | Not subject to a ratio |
| Red Seal trade | Yes |
| Active apprentices in Ontario | 404 (reported in Ontario's apprenticeship dataset) |
| Approved sponsors | 280 |
| Certifying body | Skilled Trades Ontario |
Last verified August 20, 2026 against the sources listed below.
What does a baker-patissier do?
A Baker-Patissier prepares and bakes pies, tarts, squares, bread, rolls, cookies, cakes and other items for commercial and retail establishments as well as restaurants.
Skilled Trades Ontario describes the work of this trade as follows:
- prepares straight or sponge dough, yeast-raised pastry, puff pastry and aerated products
- makes savoury products such as filled pies, patties, rolls, biscuits, crackers and flat breads
- finishes and decorates cakes, prepares fillings, mousses, sauces, compotes and glazes
- prepares confectionary, specialty goods and desserts for dietary restrictions
- makes ice creams, sorbets/sherbets, gelatos and other frozen desserts
- calculates raw product requirements to meet production demand and controls inventory
How long is the baker-patissier apprenticeship?
The in-school portion of this apprenticeship runs to 3 levels. Skilled Trades Ontario does not publish a total hour requirement for this trade on its trade page; confirm the current requirement in the trade's apprenticeship training standard before signing an agreement.
What do you study in school for the 423C?
The in-school portion covers, but is not limited to:
- workplace health and safety
- sanitation and baking equipment operation
- calculations, ratios, costing, inventory control, recipe comprehension, portion control
- nutrition, ingredients, substitutions and alternatives
- fermentation
- various production methods for: cookies, crackers, flatbreads, savoury biscuits, cakes, specialty cakes, pastries, petit fours, desserts, almond paste, gum paste, sugar work and chocolate
- specialty seasonal products and wedding cakes
- bakery management
Is baker-patissier a compulsory trade in Ontario?
No. Baker-Patissier is a prescribed trade under section 1 of O. Reg. 876/21, but it is not on the compulsory list in section 2. That means you can legally work in this trade in Ontario without holding a Certificate of Qualification. Certification is voluntary and serves as formal proof of competency to employers and clients.
Voluntary classification only covers certification under the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act. Specific work within the trade can still require separate licences or permits under other Ontario statutes, so confirm the rules for the actual work being done. The 23 trades where certification is mandatory are on the compulsory trades list.
How do you become a baker-patissier in Ontario?
The apprenticeship pathway for this trade is administered by Skilled Trades Ontario under section 14 of the Building Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021:
- Find a sponsor and register a training agreement. An employer or union sponsor takes you on and the training agreement is registered with the ministry.
- Complete the on the job and in school training. The skills are set out in the trade's Apprenticeship Training Standard, signed off by your sponsor as you demonstrate them, alongside levels of in school theory at a training delivery agent.
- Receive your Certificate of Apprenticeship. Skilled Trades Ontario issues it when the program is complete.
- Pass the certifying exam. This trade has a certifying exam under O. Reg. 876/21, s. 3. Passing it earns the Certificate of Qualification, the voluntary proof of qualification for this trade.
The exact training standard, current curriculum and program details are on the Skilled Trades Ontario page for Baker-Patissier. On the job hour requirements vary by trade and are not published on this page yet; confirm them in the training standard before signing an agreement.
Is the 423C a Red Seal trade?
Yes. Baker-Patissier participates in the Interprovincial Red Seal Program, the national standard for the trade across Canada, stewarded by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship. A Red Seal endorsement on an Ontario Certificate of Qualification means the qualification is recognized in other provinces and territories without re examination, which matters for workers moving between provinces and for employers hiring from outside Ontario.
Ontario's apprenticeship dataset records this as a Red Seal trade, but red-seal.ca does not currently publish an exam breakdown under a matching national title. Confirm the current Red Seal status with Skilled Trades Ontario before relying on it for interprovincial recognition.
Already experienced? The Trade Equivalency Assessment
Workers with experience from outside Ontario's apprenticeship system, or from another country, can apply for a Trade Equivalency Assessment instead of starting an apprenticeship. Approval requires verifiable evidence of competency in the trade's Training Standard and experience at least equal to the trade's total training time; if approved, you challenge the certifying exam directly. The assessment costs $235 plus HST, and a reassessment with new evidence costs $100 plus HST, per Skilled Trades Ontario's Trade Equivalency Assessment page.
Certification is not the only paperwork
A Certificate of Qualification covers the person. Running a business in the trade carries its own obligations: many Ontario municipalities require a contractor licence on top of personal certification, and construction employers must complete WSIB registration before work begins. Both are indexed on our sister site: municipal contractor licensing requirements by city and WSIB Form 1000, registration of constructors and employers, on Ontario Trade Registry.
Where can you train as a baker-patissier in Ontario?
| Public training providers | 2 colleges deliver the in-school portion |
|---|---|
| Approved sponsors | 280 employers registered to train apprentices |
| Apprentices in training | 404 |
Counts are from Ontario's published apprenticeships dataset. A sponsor is the employer or union that registers and trains the apprentice; you need one before an apprenticeship can start.
Related Ontario trades
Other service sector trades with certification records on this registry:
Official verification sources
- RegulationO. Reg. 876/21, Prescribed Trades and Related Matters (e-Laws)
- Certifying bodySkilled Trades Ontario: Baker-Patissier
- ActBuilding Opportunities in the Skilled Trades Act, 2021 (e-Laws)
- Participation dataOntario open data: Apprenticeships dataset
Classification, exam requirement and ratio status on this page are read directly from O. Reg. 876/21 as consolidated on e-Laws, not from secondary summaries. Facts not yet verified against a primary source are marked as not published rather than estimated.