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Culinary specialist education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
2 min read
Usually, culinary specialists don't need a college education. The most common degree for culinary specialists is high school diploma with 37% graduates, with only 26% culinary specialist graduates earning associate degree. Culinary specialists who decided to graduate from college often finish University of Phoenix or Johnson & Wales University. Some good skills to have in this position include kitchen equipment, culinary and food safety.

Popular culinary specialist certifications include Certified Culinary Administrator (CCA), Certified Food Manager (CFM), or Food Safety Manager Certification. To improve culinary specialist qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in culinary specialist education paths.

What education do you need to become a culinary specialist?

What degree do you need to be a culinary specialist?

The most common degree for culinary specialists is high school diploma, with 37% of culinary specialists earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 26% and associate degree degree at 23%.
  • High School Diploma, 37%
  • Associate, 26%
  • Bachelor's, 23%
  • Diploma, 6%
  • Other Degrees, 8%

What should I major in to become a culinary specialist?

You should major in culinary arts to become a culinary specialist. 28% of culinary specialists major in culinary arts. Other common majors for a culinary specialist include business and general studies.

Best majors for culinary specialists

20 best online courses for culinary specialists

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1. Sustainable Food Production Through Livestock Health Management

coursera

Learn about the impact of infectious disease on sustainable animal-based food production by understanding the science of growth, immunity, and infection and by learning the problem-solving skills needed to advance animal health and food production through optimal management practices. There is a growing global need in agricultural production for a workforce that is capable of integrating knowledge of animal health and production with an understanding of consumer preferences in the context of...

2. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

udemy
4.4
(976)

Understand the requirements for a food safety management system applicable for any organization in the food chain...

3. Fun food safety and sanitation course

udemy
4.6
(539)

The food safety course will help prepare you for safely working in a kitchen and food handler tests like Servesafe...

4. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

udemy
4.3
(489)

The Highfield Food Safety Level 3 syllabus presented in two hours of video tutorials. Boost your food safety knowledge...

5. ISO 22000 (HACCP and PRPs) for Food Safety

udemy
4.4
(618)

Standards, analysis, control points, and risk management related to ISO 22000 for food industry professionals...

6. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

udemy
4.7
(3,133)

With DIY Food Photography, you'll be taking better photos in no time with what you have in your own kitchen!...

7. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma

udemy
4.5
(3,019)

Best course to learn about Blockchain Business Applications in Pharma, Food Safety, Healthcare and Insurance Industries...

8. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

udemy
4.5
(1,881)

Impress management or get that job with you your ability to display life and dollar saving work place safety practices...

9. Cook Real Food: How to Make Simple Plant-Based Meals

udemy
4.6
(1,644)

Learn how to cook whole plant foods to make quick, easy, and healthy vegan meals for practical everyday eating...

10. Basic Food Photography

udemy
4.2
(1,349)

Learn how to take delicious food photos from scratch...

11. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

udemy
4.7
(18,204)

Master Customer Service using this practical customer care course...

12. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

udemy
4.5
(941)

Learn Customer Service Skills & Provide Excellent Customer Support, Customer Experience & How To Manage Upset Customers...

13. OSHA Workplace Safety (General Industry 6 Hr Class)

udemy
4.5
(2,583)

Learn the requirements and standards associated with OSHA and workplace safety. Safety best practices for the workplace...

14. How to Read Financial Statements: Build Financial Literacy.

udemy
4.5
(811)

Read financial statements and speak the language of business without the drudgery of a traditional accounting course...

15. You Found It! Foodies Ultimate Food Photography Masterclass

udemy
4.9
(571)

Beautiful Food Photography with any smartphone, iphone or digital camera. See Progress Quickly. Fundamentals matter!...

16. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

udemy
4.6
(2,666)

Customer service, customer support, and customer experience training. Loyal clients through world-class customer service...

17. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

udemy
4.5
(958)

A Brief Safety Management Course for Current and Aspiring Safety Professionals...

18. Financial Accounting-Debits & Credits-Accounting Transaction

udemy
4.5
(781)

Masterclass: Learn Accounting Principles, Financial Statements, Transactions & More in this Comprehensive Course...

19. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

udemy
4.6
(601)

Master Customer Satisfaction & Astonish Your Customers With A+ Customer Service...

20. OSHA Safety Training: Heat Stress Management

udemy
4.6
(465)

A Workplace Safety Management Course for Current and Future Safety Professionals...

Average culinary specialist salary by education level

According to our data, culinary specialists with a Associate degree earn the highest average salary, at $44,695 annually. Culinary specialists with a Bachelor's degree earn an average annual salary of $44,390.
Culinary specialist education levelCulinary specialist salary
High School Diploma or Less$39,012
Bachelor's Degree$44,390
Some College/ Associate Degree$44,695

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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