Chef

You can study for a higher education qualification in:

• culinary arts
• professional cookery
• bakery and patisserie technology
• food and nutrition

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 1 or 2 A levels, or equivalent, for a foundation degree or higher national diploma

• 2 to 3 A levels, or equivalent, for a degree

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• student finance for fees and living costs|https://www.gov.uk/student-finance
• university courses and entry requirements|https://www.ucas.com/

You could take a college course to get into this industry. Courses include:

• hospitality and catering
• professional cookery
• culinary skills

Entry requirements

Entry requirements for these courses vary.

You could get into this career by doing an apprenticeship. There are several available for this role, including:

• Catering and Hospitality Level 2 Foundation Apprenticeship
• Production Chef or Commis Chef Level 2 Intermediate Apprenticeship
• Chef de Partie Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Pastry Chef Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship
• Senior Culinary Chef Level 4 Higher Apprenticeship

These take between 1 and 2 years to complete.

You can also train to be a chef by doing an apprenticeship in the armed forces:

• Army
• Royal Air Force
• Royal Navy

Foundation apprenticeship

You can apply for a foundation apprenticeship if you're aged 16 to 21.

If you're aged 22 to 24, you can apply if you:

• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
• are in care or have been in care
• are in prison or have been in prison

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• no specific qualifications or experience to apply for a foundation apprenticeship

• some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship

• 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) and A levels, or equivalent, for a higher or degree apprenticeship

More Information

• equivalent entry requirements|https://www.gov.uk/what-different-qualification-levels-mean/list-of-qualification-levels
• guide to apprenticeships|https://www.gov.uk/apprenticeships-guide
• Army apprenticeships|https://jobs.army.mod.uk/regular-army/what-you-get/apprenticeships-skills/
• RAF apprenticeships|https://recruitment.raf.mod.uk/apprenticeships
• Royal Navy apprenticeships|https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/careers/joining-options/apprenticeships

You could start work as a kitchen assistant or trainee commis chef in a restaurant or catering company and work your way up while learning on the job.

Career Tips

You'll need a food safety certificate as a chef. Training courses last 1 to 2 days and are widely available through local authorities, colleges and private training providers.

Further Information

You can find out more about how to become a chef from Caterer.com.

As a chef, you would:

• develop recipes, plan menus and create new dishes
• research new ingredients and suppliers
• prepare and cook dishes and desserts
• control stock and inspect deliveries
• maintain food safety and hygiene standards
• supervise kitchen staff to make sure food is of high quality, presented well and served on time

You could work at a restaurant, in an NHS or private hospital, at a school, at a college or on a cruise ship.

Your working environment may be hot, humid and physically demanding.

You may need to wear a uniform.