New Zealand Certificate in Baking (Level 3)
Food & Beverage
A course by
Otago Polytechnic
A hands-on, full-time, 16-week certificate programme in baking, providing technical and practical skills in bread, pastries, cakes, and other bakery goods, delivered in a commercial kitchen environment for entry into the baking industry.
In-person study
Face-to-face learning in a physical classroom setting
Dunedin
It will take a total of 16 weeks
Core skills this course teaches
Baking a variety of breads
Develop practical skills in producing crusty loaves to soft rolls using best practice baking techniques and applying bakery food safety principles.
Master pastry techniques
Prepare short and sweet pastry for pies and tarts while understanding pastry science and techniques.
Perfect cake and sponge-making
Create classic cake and sponge recipes, learn different fillings, and apply basic decoration methods to professional standards.
What You're Signing Up For
This nationally recognised, 16-week programme equips you with specialised baking techniques in artisan bread-making, pastry, cake-making, and bakery food safety. Learn in commercial kitchens with real-world experience, producing for a campus café and developing confidence and skills for immediate employment or further hospitality study.
Course Content
- Baking a variety of breads (crusty loaves, soft rolls)
- Bakery food safety and Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in commercial kitchens
- Mastering pastry techniques (short and sweet pastries, pies, tarts)
- Cake and sponge-making (classic recipes, fillings, basic decoration)
- Creating bakery favourites: biscuits, slices, scones, muffins
- Customer service through selling to real customers at a campus café
What you need to know first
Open entry
International students individually assessed for readiness
What sort of industry will this job lead to
Hospitality
Baking
Food & Beverage
Future employment opportunities might be
Baker
Bakery assistant
Production baker
Entry-level employment in commercial bakeries, supermarkets, or catering
Otago Polytechnic is known for high quality, hands on learning that leads to strong outcomes. With excellent student satisfaction, high graduate employment rates, and a commitment to sustainability, it’s a place where practical skills meet purpose. Their award winning programmes span design, fashion, creative arts, trades, health, and business, giving you real experience and real confidence for whatever comes next.