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Chefs apply their creative skill to pique the tastebuds and imaginations of diners in restaurants, hotels, resorts, and on cruises. Start a rewarding career as a chef by completing a chef training program.
Chef Training: The First Step to a Chef Career
Chef training schools prepare you to meet the demands of a professional cooking career. You'll develop your expertise in the kitchen as well as the classroom, learning culinary techniques and restaurant management skills. Chef training is an important stepping stone for various career paths in the hospitality industry, such as:
Chef training subject areas reflect these different career paths. You'll have the opportunity to target your chef training to a specific cooking technique, chef role, or management position.
Chef Training: Degrees and Coursework
Aspiring culinary professionals generally get their start with a two- to four-year chef training program. These programs are available at culinary schools, vocational or technical schools, or community colleges. The American Culinary Federation accredits over 200 formal academic chef training programs nationwide. Each program brings unique requirements and resources to the table, but in general you can expect these features:
Prerequisites. Most culinary programs require a high school degree and some selective culinary institutes prefer candidates with some industry experience.
Curriculum. The curriculum covers general academic knowledge, applied cooking skills, and culinary business fundamentals. Courses cover:
In addition, chef training programs may provide instruction in nutrition, purchasing and inventory software, and specialized chef techniques. Specialized elective courses include wine and sommelier training, pastry chef training, bread baking, sous vide cooking, flavor dynamics, buffet presentation, and more.
Credentials. Chef training schools offer certificates, diplomas, and degrees. The most common qualification is the two-year associate's or four-year bachelor's degree in culinary arts or hospitality.
Most chef training programs lead to a professional apprenticeship. Working side by side with an established chef, you'll have the opportunity to apply your formal training in practice. The mentorship and professional contacts you gain from this apprenticeship can have a major impact on your career prospects. As you review chef training schools, take into account their networking and apprenticeship programs.
Chef Career Outlook
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment for chefs is projected to grow by 6 percent between 2008 and 2018, slower than average for all occupations. But high turnover in the field should ensure a steady supply of job openings for ambitious graduates. The culinary profession is fast-paced and demanding, leading to a high risk of job burnout.
The BLS singles out several areas of job promise for aspiring chefs:
The culinary industry features many different career paths in cooking, menu design, kitchen management, and restaurant management. A chef training program can get you started in the field, with a powerful combination of applied training, professional instruction, and industry apprenticeship. Build the foundation for your culinary career with a chef training program.
Resources for Chefs:
These schools offer particularly quick info upon request, and we have written detailed profiles for each (click school names to see the profiles).
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