Specialty Cook Education Requirements And Courses

Specialty cook education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Usually, specialty cooks don't need a college education. The most common degree for specialty cooks is associate degree with 44% graduates, with only 20% specialty cook graduates earning bachelor's degree. Specialty cooks who decided to graduate from college often finish Spokane Community College or Sam Houston State University. Some good skills to have in this position include food handling, culinary and kitchen equipment.

What education do you need to become a specialty cook?

What degree do you need to be a specialty cook?

The most common degree for specialty cooks is associate degree, with 44% of specialty cooks earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 20% and bachelor's degree degree at 14%.

Associate, 44%

Bachelor's, 20%

High School Diploma, 14%

Diploma, 11%

Other Degrees, 11%

What should I major in to become a specialty cook?

You should major in culinary arts to become a specialty cook. 49% of specialty cooks major in culinary arts. Other common majors for a specialty cook include business and health care administration.

Culinary Arts, 49%

Business, 12%

Health Care Administration, 4%

Hospitality Management, 4%

Other Majors, 31%

Best majors for specialty cooks

Rank	Major	Percentages
1	Culinary Arts	48.5%
2	Business	11.8%
3	Health Care Administration	4.4%
4	Hospitality Management	4.4%
5	Computer Science	2.9%

Show more common specialty cook majors

20 best online courses for specialty cooks

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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. Fun food safety and sanitation course

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

3. Food Safety for Managers and Supervisors

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

4. ISO 22000:2018. Food Safety Management System

4.4

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

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

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

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

4.6

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

7. Food Photography: Capturing Food in Your Kitchen

4.7

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

8. Basic Food Photography

4.2

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

9. Blockchain applications in Food Safety, Healthcare & Pharma

4.5

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

10. Customer Service, Customer Support, And Customer Experience

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

11. Customer Service Mastery: Delight Every Customer

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

12. Customer Service & Support For Customer Service Executives

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

13. 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...

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 Safety Training: Conducting Safety Meetings

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

16. Get to Know Your Food: Claims, Labels & Ingredients

4.4

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Learn how to make the healthiest and best food choices amidst processed and packaged foods...

17. Fundamentals of Logistics, Supply Chain & Customer Service

4.5

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

18. [2023] Customer Service 2.0: Learn Digital Customer Service

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Used by Chase®, Intel®, & more! Learn soft skills, social media customer service, diagnosing user problems, & more...

19. Customer Service: 6 Keys To Exceptional Customer Service

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

20. The Customer: Build a Customer Service Strategy (BITE SIZE)

4.5

(10,168)

For you and your team to be successful in providing great customer service, start by putting your customer first...

Average specialty cook salary by education level

Specialty cooks with a Bachelor's degree earn more than those without, at $36,022 annually. With a Associate degree, specialty cooks earn a median annual income of $35,205 compared to $34,444 for specialty cooks with an High School Diploma degree.

Specialty cook education level	Specialty cook salary
High School Diploma or Less	$34,444
Bachelor's Degree	$36,022
No Education	$34,050
Some College/ Associate Degree	$35,205