How to Obtain a Journeyman Meat Cutter Card

Meat cutters are responsible for cutting, trimming and preparing various meats for consumers and retail outlets. Training for this occupation can be done on-the-job or through various courses offered at community colleges or by organizations such at 4-H. There isn't a journeyman's certificate, per se; the equivalent is a two-year associate degree. People who start as meat cutters are eligible to further their careers as meat processing plant managers, government meat inspectors and wholesale distributors. According to the United States Department of Labor, the average salary for a meat cutter as of 2010 was $30,270 per year.

Instructions

    • 1

      Earn a high school certificate or GED. While it isn't a requirement for a meat cutter to have high school standing, employers tend to frown on those who don't. If you are still in school, take classes that are related to customer service, computer skills and cooking.

    • 2

      Gain some practical experience through on-the-job training. Try to get a summer job in a butcher shop or in the supermarket meat section. Learn basic meat cutting skills, such as bone removal and shaping simple cuts of meat.

    • 3

      Do an apprenticeship with an experienced butcher. Working side-by-side with a butcher who holds an associate degree in meat cutting will give you an insider's edge. Take notes and ask questions.

    • 4

      Take courses --- check at the community colleges and 4-H clubs --- on curing meat, basic business operations and inventory control. The broader your educational base about meat cutting, the better.

    • 5

      Enroll in an associate degree program at a community college. Although a certificate is not required to be a meat cutter, it gives you additional credibility when applying for jobs. The courses in the meat cutter program include carcass evaluation, sanitation, specialty meat products and meat processing techniques.

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