What Are the Prerequisites to be a Culinary Arts Chef?
- Chefs are responsible for the preparation of culinary dishes as well as kitchen sanitation and upkeep.bruschetta image by deusebi from Fotolia.com
Chefs prepare a wide variety of dishes and ingredients, and maintain overall kitchen cleanliness. Prospective chefs face stiff competition, and the job hours and workload can be quite demanding. However, for candidates with dedication, creativity and a love for all things culinary, a career as a culinary arts chef may be ideal. - According to Education Portal, many chefs complete a four-year degree before beginning their career. However, this is not a mandatory prerequisite, although it may increase your chances of landing a position. In general, chefs are required to attend a formal training program at a community college, culinary arts school, technical school or college. Culinary arts courses teach students how to prepare food safely and effectively, sanitize the kitchen and maintain cleanliness, store food and maintain inventory. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), more than 200 formal training programs are approved by the American Culinary Federation (ACF). You can find a local program by visiting the ACF's online listing of accredited postsecondary programs.
- Some chefs are able to progress through the ranks based on experience alone, according to the BLS. To get a head start to your career as a chef, apply for positions as a fast-food or short order cook, which will provide basic experience in sanitation practices and food handling. For more advanced training, consider the ACF's apprenticeship programs, which provide two to three years of hands-on experience to prospective chefs. The programs are available throughout the United States, and the only prerequisite is a high school diploma. Upon completion, apprentices can go on to pursue more specialized certification.
- In addition to the education and experience requirements to be a culinary arts chef, potential candidates should possess a variety of personal qualities. According to the BLS, "Chefs and head cooks also must have an intense desire to cook, be creative, and have a keen sense of taste and smell." Additionally, since most states require that their employees be free of contagious disease, chefs should be attentive to personal hygiene, cleanliness and overall health. For chefs who specialize in ethnic cuisine, a knowledge of the appropriate foreign language may also be required or recommended. Of course, prospective chefs should be open to criticism and possess a great deal of determination, since they will be working in such a competitive field.
