Take classes at a culinary institute, technical school or community college. There are many different culinary arts programs at various schools across the nation. Some of the top programs are the Culinary Institute of America and Le Cordon Bleu School of Culinary Arts. Culinary institutes introduce you to the various aspects of the culinary arts business. You will learn many of the basic skills required to be a chef, but you will also learn many advanced techniques as well. Some culinary schools allow you to specialize in areas such as pastry preparation. So make sure to pick a culinary arts program that suits your needs.
Gain hands-on experience working as a cook or a sous chef. The sous chef is the head chef's chief officer in charge of the kitchen in the chef's absence. Working in this capacity or as a cook can give you much of the day-to-day experience of working in the kitchen that is necessary to understand the ins and outs of the culinary arts profession. You can also work as a waiter or bartender to learn more about the restaurant business. Take any opportunity you can to learn as much about running a restaurant as possible.
Practice your culinary skills at home. One of the best ways to perfect your culinary abilities is to practice over and over again. Experiment constantly. You may stumble upon a new dish as you are practicing an old one.
Read cooking magazines, books and other publications that can provide you with new insight into your culinary career. "Food & Wine" magazine and "Gourmet" magazine are two magazines in the culinary industry that you can glean insight from.