-
-
Are you an aspiring chef? If you are considering attending a culinary school, there are a myriad of choices. You will need to do your homework ahead of time to find the school that best suits your educational needs. Read on to learn how to choose a culinary school.
-
-
Introduction
- If you are interested in a career in the culinary arts, your first step is to decide where you will pursue your education. Hundreds of schools, including colleges and trade schools, now offer programs in the culinary arts. How can you determine which one is right for you?
Step 1: What Type of School?
- The type of program you choose will depend on your ultimate goal. If you wish to become a chef, you will want to attend an accredited school that offers a two or four-year degree. These types of degrees are offered at some cooking schools and many professional culinary institutes.
- Program lengths vary; some schools offer certification programs that can be completed in as little as 10 months. Programs at some culinary institutes typically last two to four years.
- To help you find culinary schools that may interest you, visit online sites like ShawGuides.com to read about individual schools and find out how to request catalogs from the schools you are most interested in.
Step 2: What to Look For
- There are several things you'll need to look for before you make a final decision on what school will be the best fit for you. To do this, you should:
- Find out if the school is accredited. The American Culinary Federation (ACF) offers a list of more than 200 accredited schools on its website.
- Visit the school and talk with students and faculty members.
- Find out the tuition cost. Will you need financial aid? If so, ask about their financial aid program.
- Ask about job placement opportunities the school may offer.
- You will also need to determine what type of training is offered at the school.
Step 3: What Type of Training is Offered?
- Curriculum offered at culinary schools varies, but most students can expect to take courses in:
- Nutrition
- Food service management
- Menu planning
- Portion control
- Purchasing methods
- Inventory methods
- Food storage procedures
- Health regulations
- Many formal culinary training programs require students to gain on-the-job experience through:
- Internships
- Apprenticeships: the American Culinary Federation (ACF) offers two and three year apprenticeship programs
- Out-placement programs
- A majority of aspiring chefs complete several years of training, working side by side with senior chefs to hone their culinary skills, before they become full-fledged chefs themselves.
About this page
-
Page Views2
This page currently has no vertical manager.
