How to Become a Chef | Best Chef Schools

How to Become a Chef | Best Chef Schools | Our TOP Recommendations
Request FREE information today. There is NO OBLIGATION to enroll.

Food preparation workers, cooks and chefs plan, season, and cook a wide variety of dishes—from snacks, soups, and salads to main courses, side dishes, and desserts. They are employed in a variety of different restaurants and other food services institutions.

• Nature of the Work - Cooks and chefs craft recipes and make meals, while food preparation workers trim meat, prepare poultry, peel and cut vegetables, and perform other tasks, like cleaning work areas and monitoring oven and stovetop temperatures.
• How to Become a Chef - Training - Vocational training programs provide courses in basic food handling and safety procedures, cooking, and computer and general business classes that are helpful for those who may some day aspire to become a chef or to start their own restaurant.
• Certification - The American Culinary Federation certifies culinary educators, personal chefs, and pastry professionals as well as several levels of chefs. Certification standards are based mainly on formal training and experience. Though certification is not a requirement, it can help to establish a chef’s accomplishments and further a chef’s advancement.
  
  

How to Become a Chef - Best Chef Schools

Advancement prospects for food preparation workers, cooks, and chefs depend on their work experience, training, and ability to execute more responsible and sophisticated duties. For example, several food preparation workers may advance into assistant or line cook jobs. Cooks and chefs who show an eagerness to master new cooking skills and to take on more responsibilities may also advance and be called upon to train or supervise novice kitchen workers. Others may advance to bigger or more impressive restaurants and kitchens.

Many vocational and high school programs provide classes in basic food safety and handling procedures, cooking, and computer and general business classes that can aid those who desire to become a chef or to open their own restaurant. Several school districts cooperate with State departments of education to offer summer workshops and on-the-job training for cafeteria kitchen workers who want to become cooks. Hotel and restaurant chains as well as food service management companies may offer summer jobs or paid internships to those getting their start in the field. Internships can supply significant experience and may lead to positions in conventional chef training programs.


How to Become a Chef - Chef Schools - Graduate - Job Outlook

Job opportunities for food preparation workers, cooks, and chefs are anticipated to increase due to the ever-present progress and expansion of food services outlets, cumulating in median employment growth, and due to the large numbers of workers who vacate these jobs and then require replacements. Nonetheless, workers looking for the highest-paying jobs will likely encounter fierce competition.

Job opportunities for food preparation workers, cooks, and chefs are anticipated to rise by 11 percent for the 2006-16 decade, which is about as quickly as the average for all careers. This career will have among the biggest numbers of new jobs develop, approximately 351,000 within the timeframe. Growth will be ignited by upsurges in household income, population, and desire for convenience that will result in more people eating out and going on vacations that factor in and restaurant visits and hotel stays. Additionally, employment of food preparation workers, cooks, and chefs who make meals-to-go, like those who are employed in the prepared foods sector of specialty food or grocery stores, should increase more quickly than average since these stores are in direct competition with restaurants for the public’s business. Furthermore, consumers are beginning to demand healthier, home-style meals that are still convenient.


How to Become a Chef - Earnings Statistics

The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the average annual wage-and-salary incomes of chefs and head cooks were $34,370 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $25,910 and $46,040. The bottom 10 percent made less than $20,160, and the top 10 percent made more than $60,730.

In May, 2006, the average annual wage-and-salary incomes of private household cooks were $22,870. The middle 50 percent made between $17,960 and $31,050. The bottom 10 percent made less than $14,690, and the top 10 percent earned more than $55,040.

Average annual wage-and-and salary incomes of cafeteria and institution cooks were $20,410 in May 2006. The middle 50 percent made between $16,280 and $25,280. The bottom 10 percent made less than $13,450, and the top 10 percent made more than $30,770.

Related Occupations: Workers who carry out duties similar to those of food preparation workers, cooks, and chefs include people in food processing careers, such as bakers, meat cutters and butchers. People who are in direct contact with these workers include food and beverage serving and related workers and food service managers.

How to Become a Chef - Best Schools - Colleges - Universities

There are an excellent number of choices if you want to learn how to become a chef. Online colleges and universities now provide the same curriculum as the traditional education. Learning online provides you with so much more flexibility to suit your lifestyle and current employment. We include our top recommendations for best chef schools.

Go from How to Become a Chef to Online Vocational School