The foodservice industry isn’t just cooking up delicious meals – it’s also serving up a wealth of job opportunities. As the in the world, the food and beverage industry generates over annually in the United States alone.
To help learners turn their passion for food into rewarding culinary careers, Certiport is proud to announce the launch of the new Hospitality and Culinary Arts Careers - Culinary Foundations certification, developed in collaboration with the World Associations of Master Chefs (WAMC). The certification is designed to prepare learners for entry-level positions in professional kitchens, giving them the skills and knowledge needed to stand out in the competitive culinary world.
Dive into the culinary and hospitality-focused certification below.
What is the World Associations of Master Chefs?
WAMC is an international organization made up of some of the world’s top culinary professionals, from renowned chefs to hospitality leaders. With a network spanning the globe, WAMC is dedicated to elevating the standards of culinary excellence. This partnership helps ensure that this certification will shape tomorrow’s chefs by equipping candidates with the foundational skills needed to succeed in the kitchen.
Why should learners get certified?
The culinary industry is sizzling with opportunity. Restaurants are hiring, and the sector is U.S. jobs by the end of 2024, for a total of 15.7 million industry employees. The Culinary Foundations with the World Association of Master Chefs certification, prepares learners to step into professional kitchens as cooks, ready to make an impact from day one. Additionally, demand for cooks is forecasted to grow by , faster than many other professions. Earning an industry-recognized certification gives candidates the clout they need for promotions as well.
By earning this certification, candidates can serve up more than just great dishes – they can communicate to employers that they’re ready for the demands of a professional kitchen.
What topics are covered in the exam?
Like any great dish, a successful culinary career starts with the right ingredients. The exam certifies proficiency in areas that are critical for success, including:
Food storage
- Determine appropriate food storage for ingredients
- Describe how to correctly label stored items
Setup procedures
- Define mise en place
- Differentiate between types of knives and the primary uses for each
- Recognize basic knife cuts and the primary uses for each
- Identify common kitchen tools and equipment, and the primary uses for each
- Identify common ingredients
- Given a recipe, point out the methods, ingredients, equipment, process, and outcome
- Calculate quantities to scale recipes and convert between measurements
Food safety and sanitation
- Identify correct times and temperature controls
- Explain basic food segregation for safety
- Explain correct sanitation in a food operation
Kitchen environment, including hierarchy, safety risks, etc.
- Describe the kitchen hierarchy
- Identify equipment safety risks
- Explain basic equipment maintenance
- Outline basic workplace safety practices
Cooking methods and terminology
- Explain preparation methods
- Define wet heat cooking methods
- List dry heat cooking methods
- Explain combination heat cooking methods
- Describe methods for making stocks, sauces, and soups
Clean up procedures
- Recognize chemicals and chemical storage and their primary uses
- Identify waste management and recycling methods
- Describe different types of cleaning equipment and their primary uses
- List types of sinks and their primary uses
These are the essentials that every employer expects in a cook, and with this certification, learners can prove they’ve got what it takes.
What are the prerequisites to certifying?
Learners who earn the Culinary Arts Foundations certification should have completed at least 150 hours of instruction and hands-on experience prior to taking this exam. No additional exam prerequisites are required to sit for the certification exam.
Is there courseware available for the exam?
To help candidates prepare to earn their certifications, Certiport has partnered with several learning courseware developers with proven track records of increasing pass rates. The exam currently has learning material available through our partners, Moore Solutions, Inc. (MSi) and ÌìÃÀ´«Ã½, with more coming soon from LearnKey. Learn more about curriculum options for your classroom here.
Are there practice tests available for the exam?
Yes. Certiport offers CertPREP Practice Tests, powered by GMetrix, that will prepare students for their certification exam. You can get more details about practice tests here.
Have additional questions about the certification program? Reach out to your Certiport Territory Manager here or get more details here.