A new procedure has been put in place that will make it easier for employers to obtain sign-off authority to validate the skill set of an apprentice at each credential level.
Traditionally, once an apprentice has completed all of the certification requirements, the Recommendation for Certification could only be completed by a Professional Cook 3 (Red Seal) certified supervisor. After consulting with the provincial advisory committees of the foodservice and hospitality trades, go2 and the Industry Training Authority (ITA) have developed a new application package to address the idea that the lack of a formal PC3 certificate alone should not prevent an employer who is providing quality mentorship and guidance to an apprentice from signing off a completed apprenticeship.
“Essentially, we can’t expect that an employer or supervisor providing work experience limited to PC1 skills and techniques will necessarily have PC3 cooking skills themselves, but we do expect that they are providing a good environment for a PC1 or PC2 apprentice,” says Dennis Green, go2’s senior manager, industry training. “Sign-off authority allows us, through the application review and interview process, to validate the skills and experience of the supervisor and make an informed decision as to whether or not that individual should be granted the authority to supervise and sign off an apprentice. We then make that recommendation to the ITA.”
If you have any questions about the new sign-off authority or would like to apply for the sign-off authority for your organization, please email Linda Halingten at lhalingten@go2hr.ca or call 604-633-9787 ext. 223.
