Learning to cook - and cook well - usually involves either an apprenticeship with a hotel or a culinary arts program at a vocational school or college.

The American Culinary Federation's Educational Institute sponsors a national apprenticeship training program, whereby apprentices work at fine restaurants and resorts while training to be certified chefs.

The program involves three years or 6,000 hours of on-the-job training at restaurants and resort dining rooms under some of the world's finest chefs. Apprentices typically supplement their hands-on experience with courses in subjects like sanitation, nutrition, menu planning, and food preparation and display. After certification, graduates go on to get full-time chef positions, often at some of the resorts where they apprenticed.

For more information on apprenticeship programs, contact the following:

National Apprenticeship Training Program for Cooks
Educational Institute ACF
P.O. Box 3466
St. Augustine, FL 32085
(904) 824-4468
Fax (904) 825-4758

Canadian Federation of Chefs and Cooks
738A Bank Street, Suite 202
Ottawa, ON K1S 3V4
(613) 563-2433

Also check out Online Degree Zone for a list of culinary schools.

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