At a glance

Licence status
Voluntary certification See the source
Annual fees
Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Your roadmap

Trained in Canada

  • 8 steps without a listed fee
  1. Begin working with a certified journeyperson right away, with no prior experience needed.

    Source
    “Start working with a certified journeyperson and begin your apprenticeship right away - no experience needed.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/discover-trades/institutional-cook
  2. Complete, sign and submit an apprenticeship application package to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency once you and your employer decide to enter an agreement.

    Source
    “Once a potential apprentice and an employer decide to enter into an apprenticeship agreement, an application package must be completed, signed and submitted to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice
  3. Submit proof of any previous trades training and proof of previous work experience, such as signed employer letters on company letterhead.

    Source
    “Proof of previous trades training (certificates/diplomas, transcripts)”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice
  4. Arrange a meeting with the Industry Training Consultant, the employer and the apprentice to review the program, confirm credited hours and discuss supervision requirements.

    Source
    “After you've submitted the complete application package to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, please contact the Industry Training Consultant for your trade/region to arrange a meeting with the Consultant, the employer and the apprentice.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice
  5. Have the employer and apprentice sign the agreement form, which is then signed by an Agency Director or Designate and returned to the apprenticeship office.

    Source
    “The Industry Training Consultant will then have the employer and apprentice sign the form, and will return the form to the Apprenticeship office for the Director/Designate's signature.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice
  6. Receive a signed copy of the agreement, a logbook and a Nova Scotia Apprentice ID Card from the Agency.

    Source
    “The Agency will forward a logbook and a Nova Scotia Apprentice ID Card to the apprentice.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice
  7. Complete the required apprenticeship hours in the two-level Institutional Cook program.

    Source
    “Number of Levels: 2 Total Required Apprenticeship Hours: 3600”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/trades
  8. Successfully pass the certification exam for the trade as part of the apprenticeship requirements.

    Source
    “successfully passing the certification exam for that trade”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-certificates

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

8 steps without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Licensed in another province

  • 1 step without a listed fee
  1. Carry your apprentice ID card when working temporarily in Nova Scotia as an out-of-province apprentice.

    Source
    “Make sure you carry your apprentice ID card. You do NOT have to register again in Nova Scotia.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/labour-mobility/apprentice-mobility

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

1 step without a listed fee, so the total may not be the full cost.

Trained outside Canada

  • 3 steps without a listed fee
  1. Apply under the Trade Qualification Program for approval to write the certification examination.

    Source
    “To apply under the Trade Qualification Program for approval to write the certification examination:”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-qualifiers-military
  2. Show that you have significant experience working in the trade and that your skills and work experience meet the standards set for a certified tradesperson.

    Source
    “allows for an individual to be examined as a Trade Qualifier for certification if they have significant experience working in a trade that is recognized in Nova Scotia and can prove that their skills and work experience meet the standards set for a certified tradesperson”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-qualifiers-military
  3. Challenge and pass the certification examination with a mark of 70% or greater to receive the Certificate of Qualification.

    Source
    “To receive a Certificate of Qualification in a trade in Nova Scotia, an individual must challenge and pass (70% or greater) the certification examination.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-qualifiers-military

Listed fees for this route

No one-time fees listed by the regulator for these steps Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

3 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.

  • Apprenticeship ID card: $20
    Source
    “As a Youth Apprentice, you will only need to pay the cost of issuing your apprenticeship ID card, which is less than $20.00.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

Requirements

Experience

Other

  • Apprentices must be supervised in the workplace by a certified journeyperson, and may obtain practical experience under a journeyperson in the Cook or Institutional Cook trade.

    Source
    “Supervision: An apprentice in the Institutional Cook trade may obtain practical experience under the supervision of a journeyperson in the Cook or Institutional Cook trade.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/trades
  • To register as an apprentice you must be supervised in the workplace by a certified journeyperson.

    Source
    “To register, you must be supervised in the workplace by a certified journeyperson.”
    nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice

Already licensed in another province?

Not stated

The pages only describe temporary work in Nova Scotia for out-of-province apprentices and do not state how a certified tradesperson from another province registers in this trade.

Source
“If you are an Out-of-province/territory apprentice planning to work TEMPORARILY in Nova Scotia: Make sure you carry your apprentice ID card.”
nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/labour-mobility/apprentice-mobility

Processing time: Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Check a move between two provinces

Credential assessment

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Exams

Language tests

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Compare scores across provinces and professions

Canadian experience

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Supervised practice

Not stated by the regulator Check with Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency

Demand and pay

Job Bank wages and outlook in Nova Scotia and Canada
WhereLowMedianHighOutlook
Nova Scotia $16.50 $17.00 $22.50 Good (4 of 5)
Canada $15.00 $18.00 $25.00 —

Wages by region and job outlook in Nova Scotia

Wages in every province and territory

Institutional cooks in other provinces and territories

  • British Columbia Not confirmed yet
  • Alberta Not confirmed yet
  • Saskatchewan Not confirmed yet
  • Manitoba Not confirmed yet
  • Ontario Voluntary certification
  • Quebec Not confirmed yet
  • New Brunswick Not confirmed yet
  • Prince Edward Island Not confirmed yet
  • Newfoundland and Labrador Not confirmed yet
  • Yukon Not confirmed yet
  • Northwest Territories Not confirmed yet
  • Nunavut Not confirmed yet

Compare institutional cook licensing across Canada

Sources checked

  1. Trades in Nova Scotia | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/trades · fetched October 9, 2026
  2. Institutional Cook | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/discover-trades/institutional-cook · fetched October 9, 2026
  3. Register as an Apprentice | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/register-apprentice · fetched October 9, 2026
  4. TRADE CERTIFICATES | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-certificates · fetched October 9, 2026
  5. Apprentice Mobility | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/get-started/labour-mobility/apprentice-mobility · fetched October 9, 2026
  6. TRADE QUALIFIERS & MILITARY | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency nsapprenticeship.ca/tradespersons/trade-qualifiers-military · fetched October 9, 2026

Frequently asked questions

2

Do you need a licence to work as an institutional cook in Nova Scotia?

No. Certification is available, but it is not required to work in the trade in Nova Scotia. Certification is managed by the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.

Which exams are required?

Certification Exam, certification examination, trade qualifier exam.

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