Can You Become a Chef Without Culinary School

Can You Become a Chef Without Culinary School?

If you love cooking, you may have thought about becoming a chef. After all, making food is such a rewarding and enjoyable part of your daily life, so why not make a living of it? 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. 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 on your own is going to be a much longer and harder road. Look below for four keys to this path and one surprising fact.

1. Be Abundantly Passionate

Do you love food?

Of course, you're reading this article, so you like to cook. But do you love doing it? 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. 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. 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.

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 it actually excites you. If you don't already, spend some time working in a restaurant kitchen. 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.

2. It's a Long Haul

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. Consider the environment you want to work in. Do you want to be a pastry chef? Do you want to work at a hotel? Perhaps in a fine restaurant?

Whatever your desire, you will almost certainly have to work your way up from the bottom. Take a job doing anything that you can, even if it's washing dishes. With enough time and hard work, you may be able to advance into a minor position in the kitchen. It won't be glamorous, but it's the path to becoming a chef. You're in for the long haul here, but the experiences you gain could be worth the time.

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3. Know Yourself

The life of a chef is not an easy one, and you need to be prepared. Ask yourself some very important questions: Are you ready for long hours in hot kitchens? Do you have commitments in your life that are going to make your work difficult? Will your family understand the hours that you are working? If you have children, will you be able to balance your evenings, weekends, and holidays with their needs?

Beyond scheduling, consider the time it will take you to advance to working as a chef on your own. Ten years from now, will you still have the passion, interest, and energy to pursue this role? Are you financially able to support yourself through the years of low-level work it will take you to become a chef? Does working under pressure excite you? How well do you function as a leader? Do you have the endurance to stand on your feet for hours?

4. Get Certified . . . Enroll in Culinary School

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. You'll need to demonstrate that you are appropriately certified to handle food safely. ServSafe is generally considered the gold standard, but there are many other options to pursue. Whichever certification you choose to acquire, be sure that you keep it up to date.

Going to culinary school does not have to be as huge of an endeavor as you may expect. 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! 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. 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. Contact ECPI University today—it could be the Best Decision You Ever Make!

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