Certifications can be a powerful tool to show employers you know your stuff. However, not all certifications are created equal.

We've compiled a list of the most common certifications for line cooks, prep cook. Not only will obtaining these certifications give you a leg up for job hunting, they will also increase your overall value.

16 Best Line Cook, Prep Cook Certifications

1. OSHA Safety Certificate

This 40-hour program covers both the Construction 1926 and General Industry 1910 Standards, how to effectively interpret the Federal Register, health issues related to a work environment, recognition of physical hazards related to the violation of OSHA standards, and employer implementation of their own pro-active safety and health procedures.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? No
  • Renewal Required? No
Certifying Website
OSHA Safety Certificate
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
OSHA Safety Pro: Trenching Excavation & Soil Mechanics
udemy
4.5
(662)

2. ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification

The ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification is nationally recognized and accredited. ServSafe has always set the standard in food safety training and certification.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)

3. Certified Food Manager (CFM)

These certifications test beyond culinary skills, but rather, focus on the skills needed for the food service professional seeking a management and executive career. These certifications test your knowledge from basic cooking to menu design, management, human resources, accounting and marketing.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)

4. Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS)

The Certified Professional - Food Safety is for food safety professionals and is designed for individuals within the public and private sectors whose primary responsibility is the protection and safety of food. The exam for this prestigious credential integrates food microbiology, HACCP principles and regulatory requirements into questions that test problem solving skills and knowledge.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 2 year(s)

5. Food Safety Manager Certification

The National Registry's Certified Food Safety Professional examination has been developed following the strictest test development procedures. The Certified Food Safety Manager examination is accredited by the American National Standards Institute using standards set by the Conference for Food Protection.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying Organization
National Registry of Food...
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
Fun food safety and sanitation course
udemy
4.5
(411)

6. EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification (EPA)

A comprehensive, equipment specific safety program designed to provide operators and their employees with a thorough understanding of best risk management practices. Industry accidents, which serve to put a spotlight on potential issues, can often be avoided through the utilization of proper risk management techniques.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? 
Certifying Organization
Event Planners Association

7. Certified Fundamentals Cook (CFC)

The purpose of the certification examinations is to assess and objectively measure the knowledge and skills of a candidate to determine if they meet ACF standards. Certification will expire in 3 years with no opportunity for recertification; however, we do encourage you to consider upgrading your certification at that point.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Fundamentals Cook
Certifying Organization
American Culinary Federation, Inc.

8. Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS)

Certified Nutrition Specialist professionals are on the front lines battling the epidemic of obesity and chronic disease, and the BCNS supports these efforts and certifies nutrition professionals who maintain the highest standard of nutrition competence.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying Organization
Board for Certification of...

9. First Aid, CPR and AED Instructor

Knowing how to respond to a first aid or CPR emergency is one of the most important skills a person can possess. The Standard First Aid, CPR and AED course meets the OSHA requirements and is your tool for training employees or the general public on the latest skills, techniques and expertise in life-saving procedures. The practice and feedback of using related skills in a realistic situation is integrated into the actual teaching experience.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? No
  • Renewal Required? No
Certifying Organization
National Safety Council
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
First Aid & CPR - An in Depth Guide to CPR, AED and Choking
udemy
4.6
(333)

10. Certified Food Protection Professional (CFPP)

A certified dietary manager, certified food protection professional (CDM, CFPP) has the education, training, and experience to competently perform the responsibilities of a dietary manager and has proven this by passing a nationally-recognized credentialing exam and fulfilling the requirements needed to maintain certified status.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 3 year(s)

11. Flagger (Instructor)

In the Flagger Training Instructor Course, you'll learn to teach work zone crews standard flagging procedures and how to provide safe passage in and around work areas. Get certified to deliver the Flagger Training Course to your work zone crews. No prerequisites required.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? No
  • Renewal Required? No
Certifying Website
Flagger (Instructor)
Certifying Organization
National Safety Council

12. Certified Healthcare Safety Professional - Fire Safety Management (CHSP-FSM)

The International Board for Certification of Safety Managers, also known as BCHCM, is proud to announce the new healthcare Fire Safety Management (FSM) designation. The FSM is a specialty endorsement designation to the existing Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP) credential. Applicants for the new FSM designation must hold the CHSP and be in good standing with the Board. Any CHSP member can apply to sit for the FSM exam by completing an on-line application and paying the current examination fee of $150. There is currently no application fee. The Board does not need any supporting documentation such as reference forms or transcripts. The FSM exam is comprehensive in scope and contains from 80-100 multiple choice questions. The exam is challenging but does not contain questions requiring math or engineering calculations. The exam content has been developed with the assistance of practicing professionals and subject matter experts. The Board statistically analyzes each exam to ensure the validity of all questions. The Board also uses analytical techniques to ensure the reliability of each exam version to access the competency of each candidate. Each exam may contain 5 to 10 "trial questions" that are being validated for use on future exam forms.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Course That Help You To Prepare For Certification
Basic Fire Safety Awareness
udemy
4.4
(346)

13. Computer Service Technician (CST)

The following can be expected to identify the major areas of training-study-knowledge and skills which the Computer Service Technician needs in order to perform the job of servicing the hardware and the systems software for personal computers: Computer Assembly-Disassembly; Motherboards; Buses; System Resources, Processor Characteristics; Memory Characteristics (Physical & Electronic); Secondary Storage Devices; Peripheral Devices; I/O Ports; Power Concepts and Power Supplies; Basic Networking Concepts; Portables; Digital Concepts; Troubleshooting/Preventive Maintenance; current Operating Systems; File Management; Safety Procedures/Handling; and Workplace Practices.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 4 year(s)
Certifying Website
Computer Service Technician
Certifying Organization
ETA International

14. Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE)

The Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE) is the most prestigious certification available to a food and beverage executive. It is part of an elite group of hospitality professionals who by combining education and experience with dedication to the industry have achieved a high level of expertise.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? Yes
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying Organization
American Hotel and Lodging...

15. Certified Restaurant Server

Today's successful resuarant servers must have effective cost control and sanitation standards as well as expertise, sound judgment, and practical skills. They must keep pace with change, improve their knowledge, and share their experience with others. The Hospitality Skill Certification for Restuarant Servers designation provides recognition for these skills.

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? No
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 5 year(s)
Certifying Website
Certified Restaurant Server
Certifying Organization
American Hotel and Lodging...

16. Certified Instrumentation Specialist (CIS)

Technology changes. Standards update. Instrumentation evolves. The learning curve for Central Service professionals is steep and ever-changing, and the demands placed on them ever-growing. To help professionals stay abreast of rapidly changing medical technology, IAHCSMM offers the Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) exam, which tests knowledge and recognition of medical instruments, as well as reviewing instrumentation practice skills. The CIS exam will test your proficiency in the identification and cleaning of medical instruments, and upon completing and passing the exam you will hold the designation of Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS).

Certification Details
  • More than two years of education or training after high school required? Yes
  • More than two years of work experience required? No
  • Oral or Written Exam Required? Yes
  • Renewal Required? Every 1 year(s)

What is the best certification for a Line Cook, Prep Cook?

The OSHA Safety Certificate certification is most common among line cooks, prep cook. This certification is awarded by the Delaware Technical Community College. To become a certified line cook, prep cook with OSHA Safety Certificate , you don't need to pass the exam. This certificate requires more than two years of work experience. No renewal for certification, if you earn it once it is valid all time.

What Certifications Can Impact a Line Cook, Prep Cook Career and Salary?

Line cooks, prep cook are most often promoted to a line cook position. A line cook average salary is $27,579 whereas line cooks, prep cook make an average salary of $32,982. The Food Safety Manager Certification certification could help you to get a line cook position in your career path.

Best Certifications

Line cooks, prep cook are most likely to hold a combination of the following certifications: OSHA Safety Certificate , ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, and Certified Food Manager (CFM).

online courses for Line Cook, Prep Cooks that you may like

If you are not ready to pass the certification program but still want to improve your skills, these online courses may help.

Advertising Disclosure

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

5. Stanford Introduction to Food and Health

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8. Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certification

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14. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

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

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

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

16. HACCP - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Certification

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Food Safety Preventive System (HACCP System) for ISO 22000...

17. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

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

18. Complete Health and Safety Auditor Course. OHSAS 18001.

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How to implement and audit a health & safety management system and obtain certification to OHSAS 18001 Standard...

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A quick yet detailed certification in OSHA safety with a focus on Trenching, Excavation, & Soil Mechanics...

20. Eat Real Food: How to Eat a Whole Food, Plant-Based Diet

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Learn how to be a healthy vegan or vegetarian in a holistic way for best health, weight, and wellbeing...

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