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Step 1: Education Requirements
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Step 2: Internship or Apprentice
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Step 3: Licensing & Certifications
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Step 4: Continuing Education and License Maintenance
Step 1: Education Requirements
To become a chef in the U.S., a high school diploma or GED is typically the first step, as it is often required for admission to culinary school. Aspiring chefs should choose an accredited culinary program that suits their goals, with options ranging from associate to bachelor’s degrees, typically taking one to four years to complete. While master’s degrees in culinary arts are rare, obtaining a degree from a reputable institution can provide essential skills and enhance career prospects.
Find Your Online Culinary Program
A culinary associate degree, commonly offered at community colleges and culinary schools, is a popular path to becoming a chef. These programs cover food safety, procurement, and preparation, as well as essential skills like knife techniques, food handling, management, and purchasing. Typically, this degree takes about two years to complete.
A culinary bachelor’s degree is ideal for aspiring chefs seeking prominent roles with significant responsibilities. Students learn to create diverse cuisines, manage restaurants, provide proper table service, and develop skills in marketing, customer service, and international cooking. This program typically takes four years to complete.
Step 2: Internship or Apprentice
When it comes to becoming an exceptional chef, a formal culinary education is definitely a good start. However, after obtaining a culinary degree, it’s a good idea to acquire relevant work experience through an internship or apprentice. An internship or apprentice will definitely give chefs incredible hands-on experience as they will be learning from seasoned culinary professionals.
During this hands-on experience, future chefs will learn the right way to use cooking utensils, how to cook various recipes, and much more. An internship or apprentice will also help future chefs quickly identify their strengths and weaknesses, providing them with feedback that can help them improve their skills quickly. An internship or apprentice also offers future chefs the opportunity to network with many culinary professionals.
Step 3: Licensing & Certifications
Licensing
Future chefs who would like to operate a food service establishment with a commercial kitchen should definitely obtain a restaurant license. Here are the most common restaurant licenses and permits that are needed to operate a food services establishment.
- Restaurant Business License:
Chefs need to obtain a restaurant business license to legally operate a food service establishment. The cost of obtaining this common license will usually cost less than $7,000. - Restaurant Food Service License:
Chefs who plan on serving food at their food service establishment will need a restaurant food service license. A food vendor license is necessary for chefs who want to serve food from a food truck. - Restaurant Liquor License:
In most cases, chefs want to serve food and liquor at their food service establishment. In order to serve liquor, chefs will need a restaurant liquor license. Without a restaurant liquor license, a food service establishment may incur penalties and fines if it attempts to sell alcohol. - Food Handler’s Permit:
Chefs should ensure that every team member has a Food Handler’s Permit, which is also known as an Employee Health Permit. A Food Handler’s Permit ensures that employees understand how to properly handle food. This important permit shouldn’t cost more than $600.
Certifications
While certification isn’t really required to become a chef, it will definitely help qualify future chefs for high paying positions. Generally speaking, a culinary certificate may provide hands-on learning and training in the following areas: baking, food science, and culinary skills.
One of the most popular certifications is the ACF Certification from The American Culinary Federation. The ACF Certification program features several certification designations for many different chef levels. Depending on the certification level, future chefs will be able to become ACF certified within a few months or years. The United States Professional Chef Association also boasts an exceptional certification program known as a Certified Personal Chef. A Certified Personal Chef is offered to chefs who would like to receive industry recognition.
Other certifications are available for chefs who wish to work in a variety of settings. It’s up to each individual to decide which certifications are right for them and which will best help them achieve their career goals.
Step 4: Continuing Education and License Maintenance
For prominent chefs, continuing education and license maintenance are vital for career advancement. Those rising through the ranks can benefit from pursuing a certificate, associate, or bachelor’s degree in culinary arts while working as a line cook, food prep worker, or dishwasher, making career progression easier.
Chefs with an associate degree can advance their careers by earning a bachelor’s degree, which opens opportunities to prepare diverse cuisines from around the world. For example, a culinary bachelor’s program may teach French cuisine, equipping chefs with advanced techniques for specialized roles.
A culinary bachelor’s degree offers various career concentrations, such as pastry chef, executive chef, personal chef, and chocolatier. It also equips professionals with the skills needed to become a fine dining chef, specializing in exquisite dishes made with the finest ingredients.
Chefs can pursue continuing education by joining professional organizations, reading industry magazines, visiting renowned restaurants, and attending conferences. They can also seek feedback on their dishes from family and friends and stay updated on industry trends.
Licensing Maintenance
Chefs who own a food establishment must maintain various restaurant licenses, such as a Restaurant Business License, Food Service License, Liquor License, and Food Handler’s Permit. License requirements, including fees or courses, vary by state or provider, but it's important to ensure you maintain the necessary licenses for your career.