Georgian College Baking and Pastry arts students wearing uniforms, aprons, hair nets and hats making pastry in the baking lab
Program code BAKE
Duration 1 Year
Credential Ontario College Certificate
Program Delivery Full-time
Program delivery method(s) In person What does this mean?

Program information

Program description

Launch your career as a baker or pastry chef to make a lot of dough! In this one-year certificate, the Baking and Pastry Arts program prepares you for a career as a baking professional. Through hands-on learning in bake labs, you examine the fundamentals of pastry making, study traditional and contemporary baking methods, and develop ‘on-the-tool skills’ to produce delicious baked goods and desserts. Through classroom lectures, you learn baking theory, nutrition, trade calculations, sanitation, food safety, and business concepts to support the practical skills required in the daily operation of a bakery. As a graduate of this program, you are prepared to think critically, innovate, and apply business skills for lifelong career success as a baking professional across different sectors in the food service industry or as an entrepreneur and small business owner. 

Intake information

Start dateCampus
Fall 2025 Barrie

Tuition and fees

What are the admission requirements for the Baking and Pastry Arts program?

Baking and Pastry Arts admission requirements

Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, or mature student status with

  • Grade 12 English (C or U)

Mature students, non-secondary school applicants (19 years or older), and home school applicants may also be considered for admission. Eligibility may be met by applicants who have taken equivalent courses, upgrading, completed their GED, and equivalency testing. For complete details refer to: www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/academic-regulations/

Applicants who have taken courses from a recognized and accredited post-secondary institution and/or have relevant life/learning experience may also be considered for admission; refer to the Credit for Prior Learning website for details:
www.georgiancollege.ca/admissions/credit-transfer/

Additional information

Students should be aware that various allergens, including nuts, dairy and shellfish, are routinely used in practical labs.

What career paths can I take in baking and pastry arts?

Your Baking and Pastry Arts certificate gives you many career opportunities

Graduates may find work locally, provincially, nationally and internationally as a pastry chef, bakery manager, or retail baker in a variety of settings, including fine dining restaurants, hotel pastry departments, baking suppliers, catering companies, and boutique pastry shop outlets. Graduates also find employment as business owners by combining the skills they have learned with their entrepreneurial spirit to start and operate a successful business.

Why study Baking and Pastry Arts at Georgian?

Jobs

  • Meet current labour market demand for culinary professionals linked to craftsmanship, artisans and creativity.

Integrated curriculum

  • Experience hands-on training and develop business skills to prepare you for working in an established business or running your own.
  • Take practical courses such as cake decorating, pastry assembly, bread and dessert making, alongside theory courses like health and safety, sanitation certification, nutrition, inventory control and more.

Focus on local

  • Use locally sourced products in your work.

Faculty

  • Learn from award-winning baking-industry professionals and chefs that are among the best in their field.
  • Our faculty have been recognized with the Teaching Excellence Award for postsecondary education in Ontario.

What courses are included in the Baking and Pastry Arts certificate program?

Course overview

12 Program Courses
2 Communications Courses
2 General Education Courses

Program-specific courses

Semester 1 courses are listed below. For a full list of courses in the program including course descriptions, view the Baking and Pastry Arts program outline.

  • BAKE 1000 – Baking Ingredients and Equipment Technology
  • BAKE 1001 – Baker’s Formulas and Bake Shop Management
  • BAKE 1002 – Basic Baking Production
  • BAKE 1003 – Basic Pastry Production
  • ENTR 1002 – Introduction to Entrepreneurship
  • SANI 1000 – Basic Food Service Safety and Certification
  • Select 1 course from the communications list during registration.
  • Select 1 course from the general education list during registration.

Your course delivery method(s)

In person

This program is delivered fully in person and requires you to attend campus.

Please note, delivery methods are based on planning for the upcoming semester and are subject to change.

Cabinetmaking student wearing safety glasses while using a pencil and ruler to add markings to a drawing inside a work shop

Cabinetmaking Techniques

Stand out from the rest – learn custom cabinetmaking here. Enjoy small class sizes, excellent facilities, and applied learning from project planning to execution.

Two Culinary Management students wearing tall chef hats, uniforms and blue neck scarves in front of the Georgian Dining Room

Culinary Management

Master classical and contemporary culinary techniques through hands-on experience. Learn the business of kitchen operations.

Culinary professor Anthony Borgo wearing a chef's uniform inside the culinary lab grating cheese over a pasta dish

Culinary Skills

Paid catering, special event and travel opportunities. Graduate job-ready or continue your studies.

A Hairstyling student wearing an apron and using a comb and a pair of scissors to trim a client's hair

Hairstyling

Hands-on experience in our salon. Get your in-school hours for trade certification exam. Outstanding facilities, experienced instructors.

Do you have questions about Baking and Pastry Arts? Contact us!

Thinking about applying to Georgian?

Contact our student recruitment team to explore your study options.

Already applied to Georgian?

Connect with the Office of the Registrar for admissions-related questions.

Are you an international student?

Contact our international recruitment team to learn more about studying at Georgian. 

Ways to connect

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