Cooking classes are offered by many community organizations. Check the classifieds section in your local newspaper, on the Craigslist website for your area, or with online search engines, to find out what is available. Typically these types of classes are conducted in a single session and are informally offered by social groups, restaurants and catering companies, and the price ranges from free to under $100.
For those looking to have a career in cooking, obtaining a certificate of knowledge of a certain cuisine can be helpful when applying for jobs to show employers that you are especially knowledgeable. Many cooking schools offer certification programs, which are less intensive than one-time classes and feature a short series of classes. The duration of the course is typically a few weeks and the cost ranges from $100 to $500.
Culinary schools are dedicated solely to teaching students how to cook. Typically a year-long or two-year long study is needed to obtain a degree from the school, and a variety of cuisines, techniques and styles of cooking will be taught. The cost is typically in the thousands of dollars range.
Many universities offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in food science, which can involve cooking classes. While the major coursework will be similar to what is offered at a culinary arts school, a university will also require students to take courses in other subjects as part of an overall liberal arts bachelor's degree. Technical colleges usually require a two-year study, while universities require four years. While this is the most expensive option, studying at a university offers a number of advantages, including federal student loan programs to cover the cost of studying as well as job-placement support. The cost is typically in the thousands of dollars range.