A culinary arts certification program does not just involve preparing food. It prepares students for all aspects of the working and managing within the food services industry. This includes the sanitation aspects, baking, and nutrition. Some schools offer certifications that take only one year to obtain. Look for the school that suits your needs and budget the best. While you are still at school, do your best to make some contacts in the industry. Making contacts will help you break into new areas down the road.
There are several different areas within the culinary arts that you can master. Some people become masters in baking, while other choose sauce preparation. There is even a soup specialty. Focusing on just one niche of the culinary arts will help you become a master of this field while learning about other areas along the way.
Having some teaching experience under your belt before going for your teaching certificate will help you ease into the role of an instructor. Inquire about your school's teaching assistant programs. It will also help if you have already cooked for, and in front of, a large group. Look for opportunities at homeless shelters, churches and community centers. Experience will greatly improve your resume and the chance of being hired by a school.
Each state has a different requirement for getting your teaching certification. You can look up this requirement at the U.S. Department of Education website. Commonly it consists of a written test that includes essays. It might be possible to get your teaching certification concurrently with your culinary arts certification.
Culinary arts teachers commonly make the same salary as other teachers at their school. Those teaching on the college level or at exclusive culinary schools can expect to make more. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, postsecondary vocational educators averaged $52,030 per year, as of 2009.