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Becoming a chef -
High school student learns food-service skillsAlthough having a high school diploma is not a requirement for starting out in the cooking services, it is surely a requirement for the additional education you will need to have to become a fully qualified chef. Getting a good high school education is especially important if your goals include becoming an executive chef. -
Learn the basic skills to become a chefSome vocational schools train people on the basics of food service, which may give a chef the foundation for formal culinary school programs. They may teach kitchen safety, basic cooking and some health issues for the food-service professional. -
Culinary students get specialized chef trainingAn aspiring chef may enter culinary school for more in-depth training. She may choose a two-year certificate program or a four-year degree. This is important for those wanting to take higher levels of responsibility in the kitchen. These schools will focus on all aspects of cooking, from bakery classes to classical cooking techniques. -
Apprentices get help from more experienced chefsIn some restaurants, chefs fresh out of culinary school do not jump into management positions in the kitchen. Instead they start out as apprentices and lower-level chefs, while they learn the trade and become more familiar with how a kitchen is run. Additionally, apprentices may learn specialized cooking styles while under a more experienced chef. - Some apprenticeships offered by the ACF to teach aspiring chefs the craft. The ACF also has a training program for certification. These programs offer 14 designations of chef-training courses.
