Culinary Certification

US Culinary Certifications

There are a number of certification bodies across North America. Throughout the US in particular, there are various certifications available for numerous types of cooking, food preparation, culinary positions and dining and hospitality establishments. Every chef in America should at the very least posses their Food Safety & Sanitation Certificate, available through agencies such as ServSafe, applicable in each state and many areas of Canada.

In addition, most states will require a state-level food handler's card for those who wish to work in that state. These are generally granted from a public health agency in the area in which you are hired to work. See Culinary World's list of culinary arts specific state pages for more information.

The most highly regarded governing body for culinary professionals in the US is the American Culinary Federation. Begun in 1929, this agency has set the standard for culinary certification, accredited education programs and professional networking throughout the US. The ACF focuses on five specific areas of culinary arts: cooking professionals, personal cooking professionals, baking & pastry professionals, culinary administrators and culinary educators.

Certificates and Food Handler Permits By State

Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky		 Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota		 Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wisconsin
Wyoming



Below is a list of available certifications through the ACF:

Cooking Professional Certifications

  • Certified Culinarian (CC): Designed for cooking professionals, this is an entry-level certification available to all food service employees working in restaurants. It focuses on the preparation and cooking of many areas of food preparation and operations.

  • Certified Sous Chef (CSC): A certified sous chef is licensed to oversee a specific food service station within the kitchen.
  • Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC): This position is generally a supervisory role to oversee the production and preparation of food in any number of foodservice operations.

  • Certified Executive Chef (CEC): This position is most often the department leader or owner of a food service, dining or hospitality establishment. Unlike the previous positions listed, this certification lends its credibility towards expertise such as accounting, payroll, costs, revenue, inventory monitoring and more.

  • Certified Master Chef (CMC): A master chef has achieved the highest level of cooking experience and expertise. Qualified candidates must possess either a CEC or CPEC to apply. The test is a rigorous eight-day process judged by a respected body of the applicant's peers. Personal Cooking Professional Certifications.

  • Personal Certified Chef (PCC): This is position is the first of two personal or private chef certifications. Skills to attain this certification include menu planning, cooking expertise and business management. Applicants must have at least three years of chef experience with at least one of these years as a personal chef.

  • Personal Certified Executive Chef (PCEC): Much like the Certified Master Chef, this position certifies master personal chefs who have proven advanced qualifications in this field.

Baking and Pastry Professional Certifications

  • Certified Pastry Culinarians (CPC): This is an entry-level certification for pastry chefs or bakers who are new to the industry yet serious about their career opportunities.

  • Certified Working Pastry Chefs (CWPC): This certification takes more of a supervisory role than a CPC, given to mid-level managers with proven pastry and baking skills.

  • Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC): This certification is intended for a higher-level supervisory position than a CWPC. This position combines managerial duties with administrative duties.

  • Certified Master Pastry Chef (CMPC): This is the highest certification available for pastry chefs and baking professionals. Applicants must show a mastery of cooking and baking techniques as well as supervisory, management and administrative duties in this field. As with the Master Chef certifications, the test is rigorous and judged by a valued group of industry peers.

Culinary Administrator Certifications

  • Certified Culinary Administrator (CCA): This certification is given to supervisory-level professionals in charge of administration and management of food service establishments and operations across the US. Many CCA certified professionals are restaurant or hotel managers and even restaurant owners.

Culinary Educator Certifications

  • Certified Secondary Culinary Educator (CSCE): This certification is intended for education professionals working in accredited culinary schools across the country. These professionals, in addition to educational duties, are often in charge of the design and review of their institution's culinary curriculum.

  • Certified Culinary Educator (CCE): This is an advanced educator certification available to those who have an exceptional amount of knowledge and experience in the industry. These professionals are generally trusted with all aspects of a top level, accredited culinary institute.

Nutritionist Programs:

Branford Hall Career Institute

Branford Hall Career Institute offers career-focused education that gives you the job skills you need to make the leap into some of today's hottest careers.

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Lincoln Culinary Institute

Turn your passion for cooking into a career. Hands-on courses at Lincoln Culinary Institute help you turn your dreams of becoming a chef into reality.

For more student consumer information, please visit www.lincolnedu.com/lincolnconsumerinfo

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Oregon Culinary Institute

Oregon Culinary Institute can provide you with the hands-on training you need to launch a rewarding career in the culinary arts in as little as 40 weeks.

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Florida Technical College

Florida Technical College has structured its Health Care, Technology, and Programming curricula to achieve one thing for its students: success in the real world.

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The Art Institutes

The Art Institutes system of schools offers a range of master's, bachelor's, and associate's degree programs, as well as diploma and certificate programs specializing in the creative and applied arts. We also offer a variety of online, evening, and weekend learning options, so there's an education solution to fit your schedule. And our professional-grade technology can give you the practical skills to match your ideas—helping you transform your creative energy into a fulfilling career.

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Salter College

Get a quality education that will prepare you for a better future at Salter College. We offer a supportive environment that fosters both academic excellence and social responsibility.

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Institute of Technology

You can get started on a new career with Institute of Technology. We offer diploma and associate degree programs for careers in the culinary, technical, medical, business, and legal fields.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at www.it-colleges.edu/disclosure

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Institute of Culinary Education

The Institute of Culinary Education in New York City is the perfect place to launch your culinary career. Choose from programs in culinary arts, baking and pastry arts, and culinary management.

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Dorsey Schools

Dorsey Schools are postsecondary institutions that provide short term comprehensive training that has prepared students for promising career opportunities in the healthcare, business, legal and computer fields.

For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website at be http://www.dorsey.edu/pdf/Consumer-Information.pdf

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Sullivan University

All the schools in the Sullivan University System focus their programs on career-specific courses only, enabling you to get the education you need faster. Click to learn more about accelerated certificate and degree programs in business, technology, medicine, design, culinary arts, and law.

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Auguste Escoffier Schools of Culinary Arts

Fire up your new career with Auguste Escoffier Schools of Culinary Arts. We offer three programs for careers in the culinary industry, including culinary arts, pastry arts, as well as a chef track.

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Le Cordon Bleu Schools of North America

Learn the way to prepare for a culinary career with Le Cordon Bleu programs in Culinary Arts, Patisserie and Baking, or Hospitality & Restaurant Management.

 

Bring Your Fire to the Plate. Le Cordon Bleu. Learn the Way.

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Stratford Career Institute

Stratford Career Institute can help you earn your diploma from home in as little as six months, thanks to their proven study methods.

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Arizona Culinary Institute

Earn your culinary diploma in just 9 months. Train with professional chefs and receive hands-on experience at the school's premier student-run restaurant. Individual attention is paramount at ACI; our classes average 10-14 students per kitchen.

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Empire College

Empire College, located in Santa Rosa, California, can give you the career training you need to launch or advance your career in the Business, Law, Technology, or Medical fields.

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