Baking

Baking

Bakers prepare, bake and decorate bread, rolls, pastries, cakes, biscuits and other goods. Bakers work in a number of different environments from bakeries, patisseries, and cake shops to hotels, restaurants, cafeterias and factories - or, as part of a bakery department for a supermarket or even a cruise ship.


To become a baker you usually need to complete an apprenticeship and gain a National Certificate in Baking, Plant Baking or Craft Baking. Completing Baking Gateway units while you are at school could be the first step on a path to a baking apprenticeship and an exciting career as a baker.


Bakers usually work in shifts and may work early mornings, evenings and weekends. So if you’re an early bird, or you’d like a career where you have the day to yourself, this could be for you.


Bakeries can be hot and noisy, and bakers often need to work to strict deadlines - this can be stressful at times, but if you enjoy buzz and excitement around you, like being creative, and working in a team to meet deadlines, you could thrive in a bakery.


All distance learning prices are in New Zealand Dollars (NZ$) and are GST exclusive.

Key Skills

These unit standards will give you the key skills you need for a job in baking.
Standard Title Version Level Credits Price (ex. GST)
62 Maintain personal presentation and a positive attitude in a workplace involving customer contact 9 2 3 $65
167 Practise food safety methods in a food business 8 2 4 $65
7755 Apply safe working practices in the food or related product processing workplace 4 2 2 $65
497 Demonstrate knowledge of workplace health and safety requirements (updated with the new HSW Act 2015) 9 1 3 $65
23079 Demonstrate knowledge of basic baking ingredients in the baking industry 2 1 2 $65
23077 Demonstrate knowledge of common types and uses of baking equipment in the baking industry 1 2 4 $65

Subjects

Making Biscuits
Learn the steps involved in making biscuits, from preparing and mixing ingredients through to baking and decorating the biscuits.
See standards
Decorating Bakery Products
Learn about the different ways of finishing bakery products, including icing, glazing, decorating, topping and filling products.
See standards
Making Bread Products
Learn the steps involved in making different types of bread products, from preparing ingredients and mixing the dough through to baking the bread.
See standards
Making Pastry Products
Learn about how to make different pastry products, like pies, sausage rolls and tarts.
See standards