Line Cook, Prep Cook Education Requirements And Courses

Line cook, prep cook education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, line cooks, prep cook don't need a college education. The most common degree for line cooks, prep cook is high school diploma with 43% graduates, with only 24% line cook, prep cook graduates earning associate degree. Line cooks, prep cook who decided to graduate from college often finish Johnson & Wales University or University of Phoenix. Some good skills to have in this position include kitchen equipment, food handling and culinary.

Popular line cook, prep cook certifications include OSHA Safety Certificate , ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification, or Certified Food Manager (CFM). To improve line cook, prep cook qualification and skills, we prepared some online courses to help in line cook, prep cook education paths.

What education do you need to become a line cook, prep cook?

What degree do you need to be a line cook, prep cook?

The most common degree for line cooks, prep cook is high school diploma, with 43% of line cooks, prep cook earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are associate degree degree at 24% and associate degree degree at 14%.

High School Diploma, 43%

Associate, 24%

Bachelor's, 14%

Diploma, 12%

Other Degrees, 7%

What should I major in to become a line cook, prep cook?

You should major in culinary arts to become a line cook, prep cook. 42% of line cooks, prep cook major in culinary arts. Other common majors for a line cook, prep cook include business and general studies.

Culinary Arts, 42%

Business, 13%

General Studies, 8%

Criminal Justice, 4%

Other Majors, 33%

Best majors for line cooks, prep cook

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Culinary Arts	42.4%
2	Business	12.5%
3	General Studies	7.9%
4	Criminal Justice	3.9%
5	Hospitality Management	3.6%

Show more common line cook, prep cook majors

20 best online courses for line cooks, prep cook

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1. Cooking for Busy Healthy People

Cooking is one of the most powerful ways in which we can optimize our enjoyment of great quality food while protecting our health. Even on a tight budget, cooking can be a cost-effective, joyful and rewarding way to love the food that will love us back for a lifetime. In this course, you’ll learn some basic recipes from a home cook and two professional chefs who prioritize healthful eating. You’ll also learn some of the fundamentals of principle-based cooking that can help you break free from...

2. Child Nutrition and Cooking

Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children...

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

4.6

(1,644)

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

4. Fun food safety and sanitation course

4.6

(539)

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

Around the world, we find ourselves facing global epidemics of obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and other predominantly diet-related diseases. To address these public health crises, we urgently need to explore innovative strategies for promoting healthful eating. There is strong evidence that global increases in the consumption of heavily processed foods, coupled with cultural shifts away from the preparation of food in the home, have contributed to high rates of preventable, chronic disease. In this...

6. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

4.3

(489)

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

7. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

4.4

(976)

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

8. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

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!...

9. Vegan Nutrition Health Coach Certification

4.6

(2,112)

Become a Vegan Nutrition Certified Health Coach, Learn Vegan Cooking, Embrace a Holistic Approach to Food...

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

4.4

(618)

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

11. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma

4.5

(3,019)

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

12. Basic Food Photography

4.2

(1,349)

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

13. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

4.5

(3,822)

Learn Logistics, Supply Chain and Customer Service. 3 Courses in 1...

14. OSHA Safety Pro: Personal Protective Equipment

4.5

(1,881)

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)

4.5

(2,583)

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

16. OSHA Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

4.5

(958)

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

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

4.5

(2,235)

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

18. OSHA Safety Pro: Deadly Concrete Dust. Crystalline Silica.

4.4

(478)

OSHA's General, Construction, and Maritime Industries Hazard Prevention and Safety Standard...

19. Basic Fire Safety Awareness

4.3

(776)

Basic Fire Safety Awareness - Your Gateway towards Career in Fire Safety...

20. Occupational Health & Safety Training

4.4

(1,198)

Workplace Health and Safety Course For Employees & Managers...

Average line cook, prep cook salary by education level

According to our data, line cooks, prep cook with a Bachelor's degree earn the highest average salary, at $34,892 annually. Line cooks, prep cook with a Associate degree earn an average annual salary of $34,181.

Line cook, prep cook education level	Line cook, prep cook salary
High School Diploma or Less	$33,518
Bachelor's Degree	$34,892
No Education	$33,174
Some College/ Associate Degree	$34,181