Aspiring chefs
can attend a culinary arts school.
Thanks to the Food Network and shows like "Top Chef," the culinary arts have collected many fans in recent years with chefs turning into celebrities and terms like "foodie" entering our modern day vocabulary. If the idea of becoming a professional chef is an alluring one, consider attending a culinary arts school. Trained chefs can open their own restaurants, start a catering business or work in top restaurants or cruise ships. Aspiring chefs can choose from among hundreds of training programs around the world to turn their passion for food into a career.
Requirements
Cooking schools generally require a high school diploma and transcripts. Depending on the school, an essay, interview, assessment tests and references may also be required. The Culinary Institute of America, for example, calls for six months of hands-on food preparation experience in a professional kitchen or bakery before admission is granted. Often, SAT scores are not necessary for admission to a culinary school. Some schools do not accept transfer credits from other cooking institutions, so it is ideal to pick a program and stick with it.
Program Types
While some cooking programs offer certification in the culinary arts, a certification is not as prestigious as having a degree in culinary arts. A degree allows a chef to enter the workforce beyond entry-level. Two- and four-year degree programs provide a well-rounded education that includes basic courses as well as higher-level classes. While an associate's degree in culinary or pastry arts typically takes two years and focuses on cuisine preparation, baking and nutrition, a bachelor's program takes about three to four years and will also include studies in business marketing and finance.
Considerations
Before choosing a cooking school, take into consideration the school's faculty and accreditation. Qualified faculty will have a certification by the American Culinary Federation (or similar international certification), a culinary degree and/or industry experience. Schools in operation five years or more should be accredited. An accredited school has been investigated for its finances, facilities, faculty and procedures and met standards required by an educational standards organization. Also, consider whether real-world experience is part of the program. The French Culinary Institute and the Culinary Institute of America, for example, both have professional restaurants on campus where students complete internships to gain hands-on knowledge.
Cost
While it's possible to take cooking courses at a community college for a couple hundred dollars, tuition at trade schools that specialize in the culinary arts can top $10,000 per year. Depending on the program, culinary arts students will also need to invest in uniforms, shoes, books and knives. Some schools offer scholarships and other types of financial aid. It's also feasible to take out a loan to pay for cooking school.
Tags: culinary arts, Culinary Institute, America example, arts school, Aspiring chefs, certification culinary