Culinary Schools in South Prairie WA

CULINARY SCHOOLS > WASHINGTON > SOUTH PRAIRIE

Looking for the best Culinary Schools in South Prairie WA? 44% of those with culinary positions like Executive Chef, Head Cook, and Line Cook have a culinary degree.



The restaurant and food industry will continue to fuel U.S. employment in the year ahead for the reason that it is the nation’s 2nd largest private sector employer. This year, restaurant gross sales will reach a superior $683 billion, a 3.6% boost over the previous year. The restaurant industry will add jobs at a 2.8% pace increase, out-doing the 1.8% gain seen for the total U.S. employment.

Cooks generally must possess physical stamina, manual dexterity and also a good sense of taste and smell. They must manage to function like a member of the team. Chefs and head cooks must have the creativity to produce recipes. They need to be reasonable leaders and also have excellent communication and time management abilities.

South Prairie WA Culinary Schools






Bates Technical College

1101 S Yakima Ave,
Tacoma, Washington
18.25 miles away

Phone: (253) 680-7000

2-year or less, public program, 4259 enrolled, 20 to 1 student to teacher ratio





Clover Park Technical College

4500 Steilacoom Blvd SW,
Lakewood, Washington
18.97 miles away

Phone: (253) 589-5800

2-year or less, public program, 4738 enrolled, 27 to 1 student to teacher ratio





Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts-Seattle

360 Corporate Dr North,
Tukwila, Washington
22.83 miles away

Phone: (206) 268-3888

2-year or less, private program, 459 enrolled, 38 to 1 student to teacher ratio





Renton Technical College

3000 NE Fourth St,
Renton, Washington
24.50 miles away

Phone: (425) 235-2352

2-year or less, public program, 3417 enrolled, 18 to 1 student to teacher ratio


Chef Cooking Schools & Programs

A chef can get basic certification that demonstrates to an employer that they have achieved a specific level of culinary proficiency, while classroom and hand-on instruction can elevate a culinary career to new heights. 44% of high level chefs have a culinary degree.


If you prefer to explore certification in the culinary field, the below certificates are highly regarded throughout the culinary industry. In order to obtain your certification, you may need to have some work experience in the field, take a written exam, and renewals may be required every few years.

Certification Name Certifying Organization
Certified Correctional Food Systems Manager American Correctional Food Service Association
Certified Chef de Cuisine American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Certified Executive Chef American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Certified Master Chef American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Personal Certified Executive Chef American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Foodservice Professional Certification North American Assoc. of Food Equip. Manufacturers
ProChef Level III Certification The Culinary Institute of America
Certified Personal Chef United States Personal Chef Association
Certified Correctional Foodservice Professional American Correctional Food Service Association
Certified Culinary Administrator American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Certified Executive Pastry Chef American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Certified Master Pastry Chef American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Certified Sous Chef American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Certified Working Pastry Chef American Culinary Federation, Inc.
Certified Decorator Retail Bakers of America
Certified Wedding Planner The Wedding Planning Institute


Baking and Pastry Schools

Specific culinary programs and schools are available that focus on baking and pastry creations. Such programs are quicker to complete and offer a very specialized and valuable skill set.

How Long Does Culinary School Take?

The time needed to finish a culinary degree will depend on the avenue taken. Professional culinary degrees can range from 2 to 4 years at top programs. There are shorter options that take a few months to a year for more specialized training that are more focused towards lower entry culinary jobs.


What Is The Cost of Culinary School?

The cost of a culinary degree depends on what a person is aiming to achieve in the culinary field. Some careers such as Food Scientists and Nutritionists require a degree to have success in their field. If the goal is to become an executive chef, an official degree from a known culinary program will be very valuable. On the other hand, someone can become a successful chef by starting in an entry level position and working their way up. Experience is important in the culinary field. It's important to understand and balance the formal education along with actual experience. These two factors play an important role in the assessment of cost and overall success of someone's culinary career.

The cost to attend a top culinary program can range around $20,000 to $50,000 per year. On the other hand, there is a lower cost path to a culinary degree via community colleges and technical schools. Costs typically range from $2,000 to $5,000. Public universities are also a good option but are more expensive, typically ranging from $3,000 to $15,000 in tuition per year.