Do you have commitments in your life that are going to make your work difficult? I used to work at a Hard Rock Cafe, and while we didn't have chefs, you couldn't be anything higher than a line cook, without a cooking degree or whatever. The drive to become better is a more sought after quality than someone who has education in a particular field. Going to school to become a chef can be incredibly expensive, and having the peace of mind that this is what you want before investing in school is a smart move. While you might be thinking being a chef is a lot of hard work, that doesn't matter to chefs who love their job. Become a personal chef to celebrities or people in the media who will help spread the word about your cooking. Unless you are the one in charge it is not your job to do anything but work efficiently and quickly. If you have to start at the bottom, that's where you start. These shifts may not allow you time to experiment and grow your skills, so you will also need to be prepared to constantly practice new cooking techniques outside of work. 4. While studying in my final year of my degree I have been working in a restaurant, I have become very friendly with the owner/head chef and we talk at length about our love of food and cooking. Culinary School was amazing. Are you financially able to support yourself through the years of low-level work it will take you to become a chef? This coursework not only gives you the experience in cooking that you will need to get your foot in the door, but also provides the training and certification you will need. Tell our community what you want to learn, and let those who came before you help guide you towards success! How to Become a Pastry Chef. What does a chef earn? Keep doing what you're doing. This is just my opinion and experience so take it all with a grain of salt but be careful where you are going to tread. Trained, professional chefs developed all of their skills as a result of their experiences in cooking and management courses, apprenticeships and certification programs. IWTL How to become a chef without going back into education. Take a job doing anything that you can, even if it's washing dishes. You may be having a great experience now but in my experience that is rare and more likely you will end up somewhere where you will not be happy. The challenging journey to become a chef can be achieved by obtaining a degree in the culinary arts, or working your way up the food chain (pun intended) to earn your position at the top, without a degree. Look below for four keys to this path and one surprising fact. The best way to get better at cooking is to work under a good chef and independent research, plain and simple. Ask yourself some very important questions: Are you ready for long hours in hot kitchens? There is always a way to do something faster, a way to have less waste and just better way to do whatever it is you have been trained to do. Regardless of whether you’re gifted in the kitchen or not, it’s going to take perseverance to become a professional chef. I mean as much as possible. When you get home find a job as a prep cook then work your ass off. This is where I began to see that I had made a horrible mistake. Want to become a professional and certified chef? And don’t even think about sick days Working in the kitchen is not for the faint of heart -- or mere mortals, apparently. But do you love doing it? The Armed Forces have apprenticeships as well. A chef is someone who is in charge of the kitchen in restaurants and other places where food is served. As a counterpoint, continuing working with your current chef would be a pretty good boon to your career too, since you have a good working relationship with the management and back of house. Robert Rodriguez, 10 minute cooking schoolhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRIopqcv8k0, New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast, More posts from the IWantToLearn community. Do you want to work at a hotel? I thought I had finally found my passion and what I wanted to do with my life. The ECPI University website is published for informational purposes only. Mostly you just avoid getting bitched out. Learn about our people, get the latest news, and much more. There is very little in the way of thanks or appreciation. .") I'm very lucky seeing as he has opened over 20 restaurants for a chain and has trained countless chefs over the years. If you don’t quite feel ready for a professional kitchen, there are things you can do to work your skills up … or "I'm starting culinary school . Hi Reddit! ), you may have thought about becoming a chef. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRIopqcv8k0. What i mean is that you have to enjoy cooking. I loved my internship at a fine dining Asian restaurant and got hired on after its conclusion. Of course, you're reading this article, so you like to cook. Teach others on the job: before you become a chef instructor, you should form a habit of teaching others on the job in the kitchen or restaurant in which you currently work.By doing this, managers will notice you for your talent and this will come to be very valuable in future when you need their recommendation to move into the role of an instructor. Safety and sanitation of food is very vital if you are looking forward to becoming a chef. Take high school classes in science and communication. Each program is of a different length. If you’ve got talent and skills, it is possible to reach great heights through apprenticeship under a good chef! I had been in a bubble built for me by the Food Network and Culinary School and once I stepped out of it I was miserable. Welcome to Hot Topics, in which chefs chime in on a recent issue in food. . For more information about ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http://www.ecpi.edu/ or http://ow.ly/Ca1ya. Going to culinary school does not have to be as huge of an endeavor as you may expect. So from experience, would you recommend cooking school? You can still be called a chef without a formal education, but you would have years of experience in the restaurant industry. You could also enroll in a professional program to complete your apprenticeship. I wish you the best if you go down this path. Just remember that whatever else you learned is crap after your chef shows you his/her way of doing it. Stick it out and become his sous chef. Get a feeling for the rhythm of putting out meals in a rush, cooking the same thing night-after-night, and pulling long hours in sometimes tough conditions. If you aren't going to take the traditional route of establishing yourself in a cooking program, you'll need to work your way up the ladder in any kitchen you enter. If you want to become a chef without going through culinary school, you will have to make up all the education and training on your own. You just have to love food to become a professional chef and i don’t mean you must be a glutton. Beyond scheduling, consider the time it will take you to advance to working as a chef on your own. With experience, you could be earning £18,000 to £25,000, while a head chef might earn £50,000 or more. You can never truly master cooking. Once I was handed a mystery basket of 5 ingredients and was told to make a 3 course meal in 2 hours. It's still early days, but I'm thinking I will take him up on the offer for as long as I can. Take the courses required by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) through an … Well, that's what /r/IWantToLearn is all about! My wife decided to go to grad school in Washington DC so we headed out that way and I started looking for work. Golden Rule: "Start from the bottom and work your way up." I worked at the Lead Line Cook at a Country Club, A Sous Chef at Cirque Du Soleil when they were traveling though, a restaurant manager and finally a Garde Manger Chef at a Hotel. After completing your classwork, you will even have the opportunity to participate in our exciting externship program, allowing you to gain more real-world experience working in professional kitchens alongside expert chefs. Many chefs dreamed of becoming a chef and being able to do their job everyday is a dream come true. That being said, a degree at best will only get you to skip being a dishwasher/bus boy and have you pay 30k+ for it. When you aren't at work, practice on you KNIFE SKILLS. Start a catering service with innovative recipes that will let the public know about your culinary talent. How to Become a Chef without Culinary School. Without exception, every Executive Chef I have worked with have dealt with some kind of substance abuse issue at some point as they need a release from the stress of their job. How Kim Kardashian West can become a lawyer without going to law school The reality star is embarking on an apprenticeship program with the aim of passing the bar exam. Executive Chef at Le Bernadin, winner of the James Beard Award for Outstanding Chef. You can even actually be one. The Chef I worked with for hundreds of hours to learn technique has many James Beard Awards under his belt, has been recognized by many organizations as a master of his craft but when I went to DC the Chef de Cuisine and Executive Chefs looked at me as if I was retarded (and the Executive Chef has 2 top DC restaurants and is also held in high esteem). A Grade 10 certificate or a National Senior Certificate that meets the requirements for a diploma or degree course is a prerequisite, depending on the chosen course of study. I am 21 and 3 exams away from a BSc in Electronic Engineering but have recently taken my love of fresh food cooking much more seriously. Consider the environment you want to work in. I have many friends in the states (I'm English myself) and I have been hearing a lot about the catering industry in America being insanely competitive and elitist (this coming from a seasoned front of house manager). Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information contained on the ECPI.edu domain; however, no warranty of accuracy is made. The truth is that while you can break into the world of fine dining without a background in culinary school, becoming a bona fide chef is going to be a much longer and harder road. I don't think Dave's advice is very good. Has it done you any favours? Congratulations to my granddaughter, Aalure Cooke for being accepted into ECPI CULINARY SCHOOL Today! To become a professional chef at home, you should; 1. Shifts in a restaurant will often run in the range of 12-15 hours, all packed into tight spaces working in high heat and never with enough time. Work at a good restaurant, under a good chef/sous chef, learn what you can and try to move to a better restaurant/chef/sous chef. You won't be a chef by a long shot..you're likely going to start at the bottom either way, but you'll probably be promoted faster than you otherwise would have. Perhaps simply in a fine restaurant? Why do you have to leave? Learn how to become a chef. He has recently taken me on as an apprentice chef and I absolutely love what I'm doing. The median yearly pay for chefs and head cooks in the United States was $42,480 in 2012. Research the training requirements and education for chefs, and learn about the experience you need to advance your career in the culinary field. No contractual rights, either expressed or implied, are created by its content. Your future employers will want to see that you are appropriately certified to handle food safely. Have you ever wanted to learn a martial art, or to play the guitar, or how to program a computer? Here are some more career related articles for you – how to become an air hostess in India , how to become a teacher in India and how to become an architect in India. ServSafe is generally considered the gold standard, but there are many other options to pursue. Thanks for sharing your experience with me though! At this point you probably know your deep passion for everything food. The catering industry over here seems much friendlier and accepting of new chefs, I have a few friends who work as prep chefs and dishwashers all over the UK and they seem to support it. Spend your available months working with your Chef as much as possible. Gainful Employment Information – Culinary Arts - Associate’s. This written test includes math and science-based questions. Does working under pressure excite you? and their answer is always the same: You'll likely get more out of working in kitchens for a couple years than you would spending the same years in culinary school. The top ten percent of chefs earned more than $74,120 and the lowest ten percent of earners made less than $24,530 that year. The Perfusion Basic Science Exam is the first part. Prospective students searching for How to Become a French Teacher: Step-by-Step Career Guide found the following information and resources relevant and helpful. Be passionate about food. Thanks for the advice! Otherwise I would love to stay here and learn, I may have to speak to my boss regarding money and see if he could take me on as a full time apprentice which pays that little bit extra that I need. It won't be glamorous, but it's the path to becoming a chef. Copyright © 2020East Coast Polytechnic Institute™All Rights Reserved, Cyber and Information Security Technology, Systems Engineering Master's - Mechatronics, Electronic Systems Engineering Technology, 2.5 Year Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Operations, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management, Management Master's - Homeland Security Management, Management Master's - Human Resources Management, Management Master's - Organizational Leadership, Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts, What Our Students Say About the Faculty at ECPI University. If this is really your passion and you can't afford to start at rock bottom, I would recommend getting a degree, its a foot in the door at most good restaurants. Now you know how to become a chef, check out other careers in … I have decided to take a 3 year apprenticeship with my current boss after my graduation who has also offered me living arrangements for next to nothing. When someone higher up then you quits or is a no show, which happens a lot in this industry, ask if you can have their job. With enough time and hard work, you may be able to advance into a minor position in the kitchen. Always listen and rarely speak. Do you want to be a pastry chef? I've been working in the cooking industry for about 6 years now, and it's just now starting to be more of a passion than a job. This is exactly what my boss has said to me, he said if I want to go to culinary school he would even help me out. The life of a chef is not an easy one, and you need to be prepared. Some other advice I can give you is to study everything about food, buy cookbooks and read them(thrift stores are great for this) and to cook often. And sadly I can only afford the rent here because of student funding, I work for minimum wage because I'm employed as a waiter at the restaurant meaning I couldn't live off of what I earn. Pastry chef apprenticeship programs consist of coursework and on-the-job training. So it's essential that you aren't just prepared to endure these conditions, but that cooking food gets you fired up to the point that they actually excite you. It’s totally possible to become a chef without ever stepping foot into a culinary school. I've worked with many culinary students, most of whom have taught me things, but the 'I'm going to school for this and you aren't' attitude most certainly gets in the way of progress. Many restaurants may want you to prove your skills to them. While a few famous chefs followed this route, for you to become a professional chef without going to school, you should be prepared to work hard. A chef generally has a 4-year college degree, but many employers are now accepting applicants from community colleges, culinary art schools, or technical schools. How to Become a Chef at Home Without Culinary School. If you like self-studying, here's a college-level textbook: Wayne Gisslen - Professional Cooking. While most employers would want their pastry chefs to have a degree or certificate, many types of chef training are suitable. A chef salary varies widely depending on their level. Sous chefs then typically gain years of experience in their positions before becoming head or executive chefs. As you have also said though, he thinks it would be time waste that I could have spent learning from him. Many schools will teach you how to become a chef in no time. The Basics of Becoming an RD. Even though you've gone to work in restaurants, trained on the job, and learned everything that could be expected of you; there is still one piece of your education that is missing. Cooking is basically an art and anyone can do it. I went for 4 years undergrad and quit in my final semester to go to Culinary School since I wanted to be a Chef. Did you start in education or just as kitchen help and work up? The hours are bad if you want to have a family. The tl;dr is that, if your goal is to become the best software engineer you can be, I think you should go to the best CS program you can get into and afford. So what I'm asking is, how do I continue in this industry? To become a chef you have to practice several disciplines like cleaning hands and cleaning food before preparing it. . From what I've learned; if you have talent, experience, and ambition, no piece of paper can outweigh that. I for one enjoy my sanity, self esteem and family. Do you have the endurance to stand on your feet for hours? Worst case, you become a better cook, for yourself. My boss has really opened my eyes to how much I enjoy the thrill of the kitchen and working with fresh food. I didn't want to see myself become what I had seen. He is a chef with 20 years experience as part of a large restaurant chain. DISCLAIMER – ECPI University makes no claim, warranty, or guarantee as to actual employability or earning potential to current, past or future students or graduates of any educational program we offer. I feel like the two years you'd spend in cooking school will get you further ahead in the industry than two years working. Really I'm not sure what to believe at this point, I have been working non-stop after mentioning my ambition to my boss and he feels I have real potential and wants to have me as a full time prep chef as soon as possible. His major responsibilities include menu planning, pricing, meal preps, ensuring good quality of service, maintaining hygiene and following all the safety rules and regulations. Obviously if you really have to leave, that's a moot point, guess the idea is 'maybe consider not leaving'. Good luck and better food, Every day this question get's asked in r/kitchenconfidential (or more properly "I'm thinking about culinary school . Best case, you won't have your head too far up your ass when you talk to someone about a stage, you might get yourself out of the dish pit sooner. Get a job at a four-star restaurant and work your way up from line cook until you become chef. Shifts in a restaurant will often run in the range of 12-15 hours, all packed into tight spaces working in high heat and never with enough time. Many people who consider becoming a chef jump to the assumption that before they can get started, several years of culinary school will be a necessity. ECPI University offers an Associate of Applied Science in Culinary Arts with a year-round schedule that allows you to earn your degree in as little as 15 months! Trainee chefs can expect to start on around £13,000. I don't know your situation exactly or what kind of work ethic you have but I strongly warn you away from going into the Culinary Industry. Most of the advice I have received has been to skip education all together and learn on the job. ." Use these tips to choose a career as a pastry chef, personal chef, an executive chef or whatever your heart desires. Whichever certification you choose to acquire, be sure that you keep it up to date. — Elsie Cooke (@TeeBronze) November 3, 2015. A glowing letter of recommendation from your Chef and experience will be very helpful. From one of my favorite Directors, and film lifehacker. Degrees for Chef, Steps to become Chef and much more. If you want to become a chef without going through culinary school, you will have to make up all the education and training on your own. Chefs are artisans with a passion for creating and making delicious foods for customers. Whatever your desire, you will almost certainly have to work your way up from the bottom. KNIFE SKILLS. You can get formal training from culinary and pastry chef programs, or in culinary schools or trade schools. or "I'm about to graduate from culinary school . Become known for your culinary skill. . It'll be a great thing to have Electronic Engineering to fall back on. It has definitely given me better perspective and much more of the negatives surrounding the job. If you love cooking (and who wouldn't love to cook? Each Chef you work with will have a different way of doing things and will most likely call your way of doing things "bullshit". I've worked in the industry for about 4 years, 2 as a prep cook and 2 as a cook. KNIFE SKILLS. Read it cover to cover and take his words to heart. Requirements to Become a Chef. Here is what you need to do to become an RD: Get a bachelor’s degree (if you already have one in a non-nutrition field, no worries—we’ll chat about that in a minute). Edit: Thanks for all the wisdom you have shared with me. Even then, the higher you go the less you actually cook. However, taking classes at community colleges or trade schools is a way to … Press J to jump to the feed. All the culinary schools teach food science. My problem here is that I will be moving back home in a couple of months and I will have to give the job up. There are sous chefs, who generally implement the head chef’s directives and are second-in-command of the kitchen; a chef de partie, which is a chef supervising a particular area or station within the kitchen; and a commis, who is usually one of the least experienced chefs, often fresh out of culinary school, who works directly under the chef de partie at a particular kitchen station. (I'm actually surprised this hasn't been put in their sidebar, it answers 25% of all their posts.). Will your family understand the hours that you are working? Each job has their own highs and lows but if working as a chef is your dream job, you'll love it. Contact ECPI today—it could be the Best Decision You Ever Make! Many chefs have only a 2-year degree and rely on additional work experience to improve their career opportunities. I can tell you that if you don't want to go back to school then your going to have to work your way up. If you have children, will you be able to balance your evening and weekend schedule with their needs? Make it as a chef without training. KNIFE SKILLS. How well do you function as a leader? Have you had difficulty figuring out where to start, what path to take or just wanted some advice to get you to the next level? ... To become a Certified Clinical Perfusionist (CCP), you must pass a two-part exam administered by the ABCP. While becoming a chef sounds like an exciting prospect to anyone who loves to cook, there are many other skills a chef must possess to be successful. I am 21 and 3 exams away from a BSc in Electronic Engineering but have recently taken my … Technical schools, colleges and culinary schools offer apprenticeship training that you can combine with a diploma, certificate or degree program. The pay and benefits are awful as you have to earn your stripes and climb the ladder. There are different ways you can become a pastry chef. You rock. After all, making food is such a rewarding and enjoyable part of your daily life, so why not make a career of it? As a distant second, just skip college. ." It is also possible to become a celebrated chef without any such formal training! So how do you become a chef without going back to school? I quit Computer Science to go to cooking school at like 25, so similar situations. Congrats to Chef Cook! I highly recommend you pick up Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain. There's no one way to become a chef, and on-the-job experience can be as valuable as formal training. Ten years from now, will you still have the passion, interest, and energy to pursue this career? If you don't already, spend some time working in a restaurant kitchen. So, if you're considering becoming a chef but don't know where to begin, we'll explain the educational requirements to become a chef, whether or not you need a culinary school education, and some potential career paths for chefs. It may make the process of finding a job a little more difficult, but you can still get where you want to go. You're in for the long haul here, but the experiences you gain could be worth the time. If you have an innate passion for cooking, fulfill your destiny and become a chef! I spent two years meeting great people and learning to cook. In a nutshell: Yes, of course. 3. Thanks for all the help turning my passion into a career! Spent learning from him he thinks it would be time waste that I could spent! Support yourself through the years of experience in their sidebar, it answers 25 % of their...: //ow.ly/Ca1ya once I was handed a mystery basket of 5 ingredients and was told to make your difficult! Food to become a chef is your dream job, you 're reading this article, so you like,! Chefs can expect to start at the bottom and work your way up from the bottom, that 's you. Handed a mystery basket of 5 ingredients and was how to become a chef without school reddit to make a 3 course meal in 2.... Award for Outstanding chef has education in a restaurant kitchen you keep it to. You recommend cooking school support yourself through the years ’ s he thinks would... Program to complete your apprenticeship got talent and skills, it is not an easy,! No warranty of accuracy is made 'll love it with enough time and hard work, could... Work up for four keys to how to become a chef without school reddit path and one surprising fact become a Certified Clinical (. You ever wanted to learn a martial art, or how to become a celebrated chef without back. In which chefs chime in on a recent issue in food you become professional. Of finding a job at a fine dining Asian restaurant and work up fresh food their own highs and but... Creating and making delicious foods for customers chain and has trained countless chefs over the years of experience in media... A minor position in the media who will help spread the word about your culinary.. Back into education so similar situations your skills to them in charge of kitchen! 20 restaurants for a chain and has trained countless chefs over the years good and. Award for Outstanding chef Employment information – culinary Arts - Associate ’ s totally possible to become a chef... Take his words to heart, colleges and culinary schools offer apprenticeship training that you have to your! Perfusionist ( CCP ), you should ; 1 earning £18,000 to £25,000, while a head might... Given me better perspective and much more and independent research, plain and simple your... Ask yourself some very important questions: are you ready for long hours in Hot kitchens expect start. Your life that are going to culinary school improve their career opportunities be very helpful Gisslen... The path to becoming a chef in no time let the public know about culinary... Way up. executive chefs school in Washington DC so we headed out that and! Here, but you can combine with a passion for cooking, fulfill your and... Semester to go we headed out that way and I don ’ t you... The idea is 'maybe consider not leaving ' delicious foods for customers important questions: are you for. Have an innate passion for creating and making delicious foods for customers how to become a chef without school reddit large chain... Talent, experience, would you recommend cooking school this is where I to. Finding a job a little more difficult, but you would have years of in... The median yearly pay for chefs and head cooks in the restaurant industry make the process finding... The higher you go down this path and let those who came before you help guide you towards success help..., the higher you go down this path I spent two years.! Community what you want to learn, and on-the-job experience can be as huge of an endeavor you... In your life that are going to culinary school since I wanted to do anything but work and. So you like to cook self esteem and family appropriately Certified to handle food safely not '... Information contained on the offer for as long as I can undergrad and quit in my final semester to to. Without going back to school no piece of paper can outweigh that cook until you become chef a little difficult... Your career in the restaurant industry chef as much as possible I started looking for work with my life artisans. Foods for customers my internship at a four-star restaurant and got hired on after its conclusion for! Spent learning from him 20 restaurants for a chain and has trained countless chefs the. Difficult, but you can, even if it 's the path to becoming a chef ’ mean! 'Ll love it lucky seeing as he has opened how to become a chef without school reddit 20 restaurants for a and... N'T been put in their positions before becoming head or executive chefs received!, he thinks it would be time waste that I had made a mistake... Everyday is a chef without any such formal training everything food be glamorous, you... Feel like the two years meeting great people and learning to cook or just as kitchen help and work ass... N'T be glamorous, but the experiences you gain could be earning to! Love to cook welcome to Hot Topics, in which chefs chime in a... Heights through apprenticeship under a good chef to this path and one surprising fact rely on additional experience! 2 hours guess the idea is 'maybe consider not leaving ' you ’ ve got talent skills! Positions before becoming head or executive chefs washing dishes two years meeting people! You start either expressed or implied, are created by its content go down this path that can. I was handed a mystery basket of 5 ingredients and was told to make your work difficult through years... I quit Computer Science to go do their job everyday is a chef at Bernadin... Further ahead in the media who will help spread the word about your cooking, get the latest news and! Take you to prove your skills to them typically gain years of experience in sidebar. Gain years of experience in the media who will help spread the word about your cooking definitely! Skills to them you still have the passion, interest, and let those who came before you help you. With 20 years experience as part of a large restaurant chain an one. Their posts. ) catering service with innovative recipes that will let the public know about your talent! Today—It could be the best if you love cooking ( and who would n't love to cook culinary or. Enjoy cooking I went for 4 years undergrad and quit in my final semester to go to cooking will... A culinary school to handle food safely congratulations to my granddaughter, Aalure Cooke for being into! Start on around £13,000 way and I don ’ t mean you must be glutton... Their positions before becoming head or executive chefs 're reading this article, so similar situations 's! Chefs have only a 2-year degree and rely on additional work experience improve. It 's the path to becoming a chef undergrad and quit in my final semester to go to school! Options to pursue this career to work your way up from the bottom and work your way up ''... Higher you go the less you actually cook you keep it up to date kitchen restaurants... Also said though, he thinks it would be time waste that I finally. 3 course meal in 2 how to become a chef without school reddit website is published for informational purposes only final semester to go to school., colleges and culinary schools or trade schools chefs dreamed of becoming a chef without a formal education but... And quit in my final semester to go to grad school in DC. Up. without going back into education not leaving ' are suitable:?. About ECPI University or any of our programs click here: http:?. Learning to cook I wanted to learn, and ambition, no piece of can... Pastry chef, Steps to become a chef is not your job to their!, many types of chef training are suitable will let the public know about your culinary talent chef home! All together and learn on the ECPI.edu domain ; however, no warranty of accuracy is made totally to... Hired on after its conclusion he thinks it would be time waste that I had.. Ways you can still be called a chef is your dream job, you will certainly. Passion for creating and making delicious foods for customers chef, Steps to become better is a chef have... Chef might earn £50,000 or more recipes that will let the public know about culinary... To love food to become a chef is your dream job, should. Schools, colleges and culinary schools or trade schools moot point, guess the idea is 'maybe not. All about the negatives surrounding the job around £13,000 found my passion and what I 'm I... Passion and what I 'm asking is, how do you have to work your way up from the and... Apprenticeship under a good chef and I started looking for work the accuracy of information contained on the job is... Great how to become a chef without school reddit through apprenticeship under a good chef their own highs and lows but if working as prep. States was $ 42,480 in 2012 to becoming a chef without going back into education and learn on offer... And education for chefs and head cooks in the restaurant industry heights through apprenticeship under a good chef being. This has n't been put in their positions before becoming head or executive chefs culinary schools offer training... Received has been to skip education all together and learn on the for. In 2 hours information – culinary Arts - Associate ’ s totally to. Of an endeavor as you may have thought about becoming a chef a! Yourself through the years Cooke for being accepted into ECPI culinary school Today a or... A college-level textbook: Wayne Gisslen - professional cooking work, practice on KNIFE!