Hospitality & Food

How to become a Chef

Starting from line cook. Here is the whole route — what each step is, roughly how long it takes, and the credential it earns you.

Time to get there

3–6 years

Typical pay

$52k–$78k

Starting from

Line cook

The steps

1. 1

   Put in the line years

   There is no route to running a kitchen that skips cooking in one.

   3–5 years

   Course that covers thisHospitality and Culinary Arts Careers – Culinary FoundationsUdemy · around $19.99 →
2. 2

   Learn food cost and ordering

   The difference between a good cook and a chef is the spreadsheet.

   Course that covers thisUltimate Microsoft Excel Bundle from Beginner to AdvancedUdemy · around $19.99 →
3. 3

   Get ServSafe Manager

   Required for the person in charge in most jurisdictions.

   ServSafe Manager

   Course that covers thisServSafe Exam Prep: Reviewer and Mock Exams | Review CentralUdemy · around $19.99 →
4. 4

   Run a kitchen as sous

   Scheduling, ordering and discipline before you own the menu.

   2–3 years

Course links are Udemy affiliate links — we earn a commission if you buy, at no extra cost to you. Licences and exams named above are issued by state boards and certifying bodies we have no relationship with; we list them because they are what the job actually requires.