Most culinary arts schools offering certificates require students have a high school education. Proof can be in the form of a high school diploma or a general education certificate. Related work experience is helpful, but not always necessary. Schools like Le Cordon Bleu require students to submit a complete application, provide proof of high school education, include fees with the admission application and submit to an interview with a school admissions representative. To achieve certification, students must complete all coursework with a passing grade.
Students interested in obtaining an associate degree in culinary arts may find training through a variety of two-year degree programs at technical colleges or trade schools. Topics covered typically include food prep and presentation, management, international cuisine, baking and nutrition. Students must show proof of graduation from high school by providing a general education certification or a diploma, fill out a school application, pay school tuition fees (financing and scholarship information is available for most two-year programs), maintain a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better and complete all coursework and financial obligations.
Bachelor's degree programs in the culinary arts require more than a high school education. Food service experience is required prior to the beginning of coursework, but is not needed when submitting an application. The Culinary Institute of America, for instance, requires a letter of recommendation and student assessment tests. It also requires students have at least six months of hands-on food preparation experience in the kitchen. That experience must be with entities in which at least 50 percent of the food is made to order on site.
Recommended ways students can gain the experience include working as a volunteer in a soup kitchen or hospital, through an apprenticeship program, commercial kitchen experience or catering experience. Students are also able to quality if they complete a high school program's hands-on requirements or they have participated in the ProStart culinary career-building program for high school students. Students who have participated in the ProStart program must have earned the ProStart national certificate of achievement.