How to Become a Chef by Apprenticeship

Students in a chef apprenticeship program learn about food preparation and presentation, among other topics.

In a typical chef apprenticeship program, students get on-the-job training. They learn about food preparation and presentation along with food safety. In addition, many chef apprenticeship programs require that you take management courses as part of your journey to becoming a chef. Chef apprenticeships are offered at culinary institutes and community colleges, where you can earn an associate degree of applied science in culinary arts. The time it takes to become a chef through an apprenticeship program varies from school to school. It can take anywhere from one year to three years.

Instructions

1. Apply to a college or culinary institute that offers a chef apprenticeship program. Follow the admission requirements for the school that you are applying to. Community colleges and culinary institutes that offer apprenticeship programs require that prospective students have a high school diploma or a GED.

2. Enroll in a chef apprenticeship program once you have received acceptance at the desired college or culinary institute. Be sure you know all the requirements for completing the course. Through the program, you become a chef apprentice. As part of the program, a restaurant, hotel, hospital, school or other establishment takes you on as a chef apprentice, and you will shadow a professional chef. Typically, colleges and culinary institutes have sponsor restaurants that work with the college. Generally, schools require you to contact employers to see if they will sponsor you.

3. Complete the requirements of the apprenticeship program. Depending on the training program, the apprenticeship takes between one and three years to complete. Typically, once you have completed the requirements, you will become certified through the American Culinary Federation. In addition, the ACF will give you a certificate.

4. Join the American Culinary Federation Educational Institute or ACFEI once you have graduated from the chef apprenticeship program and have gotten a job as a chef apprentice. Having a membership in the ACFEI increases your advancement opportunities. The ACFEI offers updated information on upcoming culinary seminars and workshops. The ACFEI also offers a certification program for chef apprentices.

5. Obtain a job as a chef after you have completed your apprenticeship. Contact restaurants and other food service establishments to see if they are hiring. How long it takes to get a job as a chef depends on the demand for chefs and your experience. However, typically a chef apprentice advances to a chef after at least three years of apprentice experience. Be sure you detail your experience as a chef apprentice. Sometimes you can obtain a chef job at the food establishment you were a chef apprentice at.

Tips & Warnings

• Look at chef apprenticeship programs that offer job placement after completion. Job placement options increase your chance of obtaining a job as a chef.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Chef: Education and Training
• Milwaukee Area Technical College: How Do I Become an Apprentice?
• ACF-CMS: Certification
• ACF-CMS: What We Offer
• Cooking School: How Long Does It Take?

Resources

• American Culinary Federation: Find a School