How to Become a Cook in Manitoba
Do you need certification?
Certification is voluntary
Cook is a voluntary trade in Manitoba. You can work in the trade without a certificate.
- Protected titles
- Not listed in the sources checked
Show the source
“Some trades in Manitoba require you to be certified; these are known as compulsory certification trades. Other trades are voluntary.”
From gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier...., checked October 10, 2026.
At a glance
- Licence status
- Voluntary certification See the source
- Routes
-
- Trained in Canada: 4 steps
- Licensed in another province: 4 steps
- Trained outside Canada: 4 steps
- Annual fees
- Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Your roadmap
Tick each step as you finish it. Your ticks are kept in this browser only.
Trained in Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
-
Apprenticeship Manitoba sends you the Apprenticeship Agreement by email, and you and your employer must both sign it.
Source
“Apprenticeship Manitoba sends an email to you with the Apprenticeship Agreement - you can print out the agreement and sign it, or electronically sign the agreement - your employer must also sign Part C of the agreement”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... -
Submit your education records, documentation of related work or educational experience, and the signed Apprenticeship Agreement to Apprenticeship Manitoba.
Source
“Follow instructions on your Apprenticeship Agreement to submit: - a copy of your education records (post-secondary transcript, or high school diploma, and/or Grade 12 transcripts, GED certificate/ Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), or equivalent).”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... -
Complete the required on-the-job hours, technical training hours and exams for each level of your apprenticeship.
Source
“complete on-the-job hours, technical training hours and exams according to The Apprenticeship and Certification Act and for your specific trade regulation or by-law.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... -
After completing all apprenticeship requirements, pass the certification exam with at least 70 per cent to earn your Certificate of Qualification.
Source
“Once you’ve completed all levels and apprenticeship requirements for your program, you must pass the certification (final) exam. The minimum passing grade is 70 per cent.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Licensed in another province
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)
-
Review the work experience form for your trade to determine if you have the required work experience, training, knowledge and skills to write the qualification exam.
Source
“Determine if you have the work experience, training, knowledge and skills required to be eligible to write the qualification exam by reviewing the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website.”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations -
Submit your trades qualification application with the completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of previous trades certification if you meet all requirements.
Source
“Submit to Apprenticeship Manitoba your trades qualification application (along with your completed work experience form, employer letter(s) and copies of previous trades certification) only if you meet all requirements to write the qualification exam in your trade.”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations -
Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba, as application review typically takes about six weeks.
Time: 6 weeksTime source
“Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks).”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupationsSource
“Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks). Approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations -
Once approved, challenge the certification exam for your trade to earn your Certificate of Qualification.
Source
“Trade qualifiers challenge the certification exam for their trade to earn their Certificate of Qualification.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Trained outside Canada
0 of 4 done
- 4 steps without a listed fee
- Listed time: 1.4 months (only 1 of 4 steps state a time)
-
Review the work experience form for your trade to determine if you have the required work experience, training, knowledge and skills to write the qualification exam.
Source
“Determine if you have the work experience, training, knowledge and skills required to be eligible to write the qualification exam by reviewing the work experience form for your trade on the Apprenticeship Manitoba website.”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations -
Submit your trades qualification application with the completed work experience form, employer letters and copies of previous trades certification if you meet all requirements.
Source
“Submit to Apprenticeship Manitoba your trades qualification application (along with your completed work experience form, employer letter(s) and copies of previous trades certification) only if you meet all requirements to write the qualification exam in your trade.”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations -
Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba, as application review typically takes about six weeks.
Time: 6 weeksTime source
“Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks).”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupationsSource
“Wait for a reply from Apprenticeship Manitoba (application review typically takes about six weeks). Approval of your application means you are eligible to write the exam.”
immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations -
Once approved, challenge the certification exam for your trade to earn your Certificate of Qualification.
Source
“Trade qualifiers challenge the certification exam for their trade to earn their Certificate of Qualification.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice...
Listed fees for this route
No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
4 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.
Other listed fees
The regulator lists these without tying them to one step, so they are not in the route totals above. Check which apply to you.
- Level Placement Exam: $200
Source
“Level Placement Exam $200”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... - NSF Cheque Service Fee: $20
Source
“NSF Cheque Service Fee $20”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... - Technical Training: $425 (starting at $425)
Source
“Technical Training (click link for full fee breakdown) Starting at $425”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... - Book and materials fees: $800 (vary by program and technical training provider, ranging from $800 to $1,500)
Source
“Book and materials fees vary by program and technical training provider and range from $800 to $1,500.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...
Requirements
Education
Apprenticeship applicants must submit education records such as a post-secondary transcript, high school diploma, Grade 12 transcripts, GED or CAEC, or state if they do not have Grade 12 or equivalent.
Source
“a copy of your education records (post-secondary transcript, or high school diploma, and/or Grade 12 transcripts, GED certificate/ Canadian Adult Education Credential (CAEC), or equivalent). NOTE: If you do not have Grade 12 or equivalent education, state this in your application.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr...
Experience
To challenge the exam through trades qualification, you need 4.5 years of experience totalling 8,100 hours.
Source
“Challenging the Exam - Trades Qualification: 4.5 Years of Experience 8,100 Hours Required”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/cook.html
Residency
You must reside in Manitoba when you apply, whether as an apprentice or as a trade qualifier.
Source
“Whether you plan to be an apprentice, or plan to challenge the certification exam as a trade qualifier, you must reside in Manitoba when you apply.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.htmlYou must be a Manitoba resident to apply as a trade qualifier.
Source
“You must be a Manitoba resident to apply as a trade qualifier.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/cook.html
Already licensed in another province?
Not stated
The pages state that for voluntary trades like cook, the CFTA certification process does not apply because you can work in Manitoba without certification. Source
“If your trade is categorized as voluntary, the CFTA certification process does not apply because you can work in Manitoba without mandatory credentials. You are legally allowed to work in the trade without certification.”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/labour-mobility.html
Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Credential assessment
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Exams
-
Level Placement Exam
Source
“Level Placement Exam $200”
gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... -
Red Seal Exam
Language tests
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Canadian experience
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Supervised practice
Not stated by the regulator Check with Apprenticeship Manitoba
Demand and pay
| Where | Low | Median | High | Outlook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manitoba | $16.00 | $16.50 | $21.00 | Moderate (3 of 5) |
| Canada | $15.00 | $18.00 | $25.00 | — |
Cooks in other provinces and territories
- British Columbia Voluntary certification
- Alberta Voluntary certification
- Saskatchewan Voluntary certification
- Ontario Voluntary certification
- Quebec Voluntary certification
- New Brunswick Voluntary certification
- Nova Scotia Voluntary certification
- Prince Edward Island Voluntary certification
- Newfoundland and Labrador Voluntary certification
- Yukon Voluntary certification
- Northwest Territories Voluntary certification
- Nunavut Voluntary certification
Sources checked
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/experienced-tradespersons/trade-qualifier.... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/discover-apprentice... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/apprenticeship-program/apply-for-your-appr... · fetched October 10, 2026
- Regulated Occupations | Manitoba Immigration immigratemanitoba.com/life/regulated-occupations · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/newcomers.html · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/trade-profiles/cook.html · fetched October 10, 2026
- Apprenticeship Manitoba | Province of Manitoba gov.mb.ca/apprenticeship/explore-trades/labour-mobility.html · fetched October 10, 2026
Frequently asked questions
2
Do you need a licence to work as a cook in Manitoba?
No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Manitoba. Certification is managed by Apprenticeship Manitoba.
Which exams are required?
Level Placement Exam, Red Seal Exam.
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