What kind of chef training do you need?
There are many different levels of chef training, but regardless of your initial ambitions, it is always best to start off with a solid base of cooking knowledge. By earning your culinary degree at one of the reputable chef schools in the country, you will demonstrate your determination to succeed in the kitchen.
Many people love being in a kitchen and preparing food for themselves or others, but being a chef takes more than a simple love of cooking. Hard work, determination, and unquestioned skill will help good cooks progress upwards through the ranks to become true chefs. There are many different levels and types of chef training which will qualify you for a variety of different positions.
Different levels of chef training
High School – Chef training can start as early as high school, with some schools offering elective classes in cooking, meal planning and preparation, or health and nutrition. For those who are serious about their dream and hope to become a chef one day, it would also be advantageous to take classes in business management, mathematics, entrepreneurship, etc. These classes will not enable you to become a famous chef, but will give you a leg up on the competition when applying to low level kitchen jobs, such as: cleaner, dishwasher, or preparation assistant.
Chef Schools – These are typically privately run, for-profit institutions that offer specialized chef training. They have become increasingly competitive in today’s economically hard times but while they may seem like good value for money, remember that a chef’s educational background needs to be able to help them stand out from the rest and hopefully move up the kitchen ranks sooner. A certificate from a chef school will certainly help you find employment as a cook in local restaurants or franchises of larger chain restaurants. 
Culinary Colleges – A recognized culinary degree from an official culinary college or culinary arts school will you a definite advantage over the competition when applying for jobs post graduation. You will benefit from a quality curriculum, faculty expertise, and full facilities, as well as being able to enjoy the full college experience. Most culinary colleges have an on-site working restaurant for students to practice preparing food for paying customers. At the end of your chef training, which can vary from 1-4 years in length, you will be more employable as a result of your full associate’s or bachelor’s degree. While you will not be able to walk straight into the position of head chef, you will be able to find mentors willing to guide you. It will also help you find a position in a more well-known and higher class restaurant, if that is what you are looking for.
Culinary Arts Schools – There are also a variety of certified apprenticeship programs by professional culinary arts schools. These schools not only offer a curriculum packed with useful classes, but generally include tours of working kitchens, and a work placement with professional chefs to guide you. Depending on the reputation of the culinary arts school you attend, it could be favored above some culinary colleges.
Other Types of Training – Some of the larger hotels and restaurants offer their own in-house chef training programs for staff, generally using it as a bonus incentive or having it lead towards promotional prospects.
There are over 500 different cooking schools in the U.S. but the renowned American Culinary Federation has accredited only about 100 of them. It generally takes 8-15 years of working as a cook before becoming a chef, so if you are serious about pursuing your chef training, it would be wise to research apprenticeship training programs carefully to give you a good advantage and help your resume stand out.
So as you can see, you have a lot of options on the road to becoming a chef. The key will be to think long term about the kind of chef you would like to be, as well as the type of establishment you want to work in, and then match these goals to the appropriate chef training curriculum.