According to the American Culinary Federation (ACF), culinary certifications exist for different areas of expertise such as cooking, baking and pastry-making. Some of these designations include Certified Culinarian (CC), Certified Sous Chef (CSC), Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) and Certified Pastry Culinarian (CPC). The International Association of Culinary Professionals (IACF) only issues Certified Culinary Professional (CCP) designations.
Culinary certification can be taken in addition to a degree in culinary arts, or solely on the basis of culinary experience and the completion of mandatory nutrition, food safety and specialized management courses. In order to qualify, candidates must also pass exams administered by the certifying institution.
The cost of applying for culinary certification can range from $175 to nearly $500 depending on the desired designation, issuing institution and the applicant's membership status with the institution (non-members generally pay higher fees).