Culinary Schools in San Francisco CA

CULINARY SCHOOLS > CALIFORNIA > SAN FRANCISCO

Looking for the top Culinary Schools in San Francisco CA? Career growth shows an anticipated 5% growth.

On a personal level, culinary schools are wonderful for growing oneself. One’s ability to create a dish not only creates self-satisfying benefits, but it also brings great delight to those around you.

A chef or any other culinary arts professional can obtain certification that demonstrates to an employer that she or he has achieved some level of culinary proficiency. In addition to certification, class room and hand-on instruction, one furthermore needs a number of soft skills, or personal qualities, to achieve in this industry.

San Francisco CA Culinary Schools

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.