Food for Thought: Chef Training Degree Programs

When you are working as a professional chef, there is no time to waste. You have to get the job done quickly and excellently, and you should be able to think creatively. Attending a chef training degree program can be the first important step in building your skill set, while also cultivating the attitude of a top-notch chef.

Chef Training Available Degrees

You don't need a college degree to get a job as a cook. But if your goal is to become a chef, a degree can be helpful, because it indicates your commitment to your craft. You can choose from a number of programs including certificate programs in culinary arts, service skills training, and culinary arts and hospitality management.
Coursework varies based on specialization, but usually includes classes in:

• Food history
• Restaurant management
• Nutrition
• Plate presentation
• Different cooking techniques
• Sanitation law compliance
• Food selection

Online Education for Chef Training

Every reputable online degree program respects the fact that chefs are not made by staring at a computer and clicking buttons, but by the fire of real cooking experience. For this reason, online degree programs customarily have a "hands-on" component. This may come in the form of an internship at a restaurant or other apprenticeship role.

Chef Career Options

Chefs come in various shapes and sizes, and so do their careers. Chefs at upscale restaurants can make $100,000 per year or more. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, head chefs earned a median annual salary of $37,160 in 2007. If you are interested in working in fine dining, participating in a chef training degree program is a definite plus. Employers at those establishments want the crème de la crème.
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chefs and Head Cooks

Andrew Freiburghouse is a writer and businessman. As a partner at Los Angeles tax preparation firm Pronto Income Tax of California, Inc., Andrew learned the fine art of growing a small business into a not-so-small business. Currently, Andrew lives in Brooklyn, NY.