u/Fearless_Yogurt6771 — reddlx

Hi everyone, looking for some real recent info about Trade Equivalency Assessment (TEA) for the Cook trade in Ontario through Skilled Trades Ontario.

My situation:

•	Around 6000+ hours experience as a cook in Ontario

•	Worked part-time earlier, now full-time

•	Around3 years total experience in restaurant kitchen

•	Planning to apply for TEA so I can become eligible for the Certificate of Qualification exam

Wanted to ask anyone who recently got TEA approved:

1.	What was your timeline from submission to approval?

2.	What documents did they ask for exactly?

3.	Did they verify employers by phone/email?

4.	Is 6000 hours enough if experience is mixed part-time + full-time?

5.	Any issue if some experience was during study permit time?

6.	How strict are they with job duties matching cook trade?

7.	After approval, how long until exam booking?

8.	Any tips to avoid delays or rejection?

Would really appreciate if anyone who did it in 2025/2026 can share their experience. Trying to do everything right the first time. Thanks a lot