do you need to go to cooking school to become a chef?

Question

I am a cook now but I want to now if I need a degree to become a chef

Answer 1

A chef is also a manager of the kitchen. (Purchsing, budgeting, personel management, etc) A degree will be helpful in areas beyond cooking and assist in "fast tracking" your career. It is worth the investment if food/hospitality is your career path.

Answer 2

Back in the old days you can become a chef without going to school. I am a better cook than most chef and never walk into a cooking school. I have been called chef in many of my jobs. Now days learning on your own dose not seem to count.

Answer 3

NO. But it will take you two to three times as long to achieve your objective. My son-in-law just obtained an Executive Chef position at the age of 37. His talent was finally recognized after years of being a cook. The investment of time and money is well worth the effort if you are dedicated and have the ambition and talent. You can spend lots of years spinning your wheels as a cook going from kitchen to kitchen before you find someone who recognizes your abilities.

Answer 4

No you dont need a degree to be a Chef...but as the others suggested it does come in handy.

Did you watch either two seaosn of Bravo's Top Chef? there were indeed contestants on there who did not goto Culinary school and were still competiting.

Answer 5

Yep, you do need to go and get the degree to call yourself chef. I don't have a degree so I call myself a cook. (OK, except for my screen name, but I could have whizzed through culinary school.) After that you go for your Master Chef designation.

It's like you can't call yourself a Realtor unless you've passed the classes and have that certificate.

Answer 6

You don't NEED to do anything, however a degree would come in handy when applying for jobs