{"id":17514,"date":"2023-09-14T07:00:43","date_gmt":"2023-09-14T12:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/?p=17514"},"modified":"2025-08-21T18:00:17","modified_gmt":"2025-08-21T23:00:17","slug":"how-long-does-it-take-to-become-a-chef","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-a-chef\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Can It Take to Become a Chef?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em><strong>Listen to This Article:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"elevenlabs-audionative-widget\" data-height=\"90\" data-width=\"100%\" data-frameborder=\"no\" data-scrolling=\"no\" data-publicuserid=\"d443feec80bf8c8f2e009e26dafa4118e6eb9f14056a5516af577c77d4404c4e\" data-playerurl=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/player\/index.html\" data-projectid=\"njS9iXbwZ53A7rO3ObaJ\">Loading the <a href=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/text-to-speech\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Elevenlabs Text to Speech<\/a> AudioNative Player&#8230;<\/div>\n<p><script src=\"https:\/\/elevenlabs.io\/player\/audioNativeHelper.js\" type=\"text\/javascript\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>If you plan to become a lawyer, your path could seem clear. First, you\u2019d complete your undergraduate degree, and then you\u2019d apply to a three-year law school. After graduating from law school, you\u2019d study for the bar, and if you passed, congratulations! You\u2019d likely be a qualified lawyer.<\/p>\n<p>But in the culinary world, the path to becoming a chef isn\u2019t as clear-cut. There\u2019s no final exam, no set number of work hours, no one-size-fits-all education that all chefs MUST have. Becoming a chef can take anywhere from a few years to over a decade\u2014depending on factors like education, training, and hands-on experience.<\/p>\n<p>Let\u2019s take a closer look at how long it can take to become a chef!<\/p>\n<h2>The Definition of a \u201cChef\u201d<\/h2>\n<p>It may seem obvious, but it\u2019s not as simple as it seems!<\/p>\n<p>Some students may enter culinary school thinking they\u2019ll graduate as full-fledged chefs. But that\u2019s not necessarily the case. While education can be a vital component in the designation of chef, it\u2019s not all that might be required. Chefs should consider a combination of education (either through school or learning \u201con the job\u201d), experience, and rank to earn the title.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-cta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"magnet-row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Culinary-Career-Interests-Survey-cover-page-and-internal-page-screenshots.png\" alt=\"Culinary Career Interests Survey cover page and internal page screenshots\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<h3>Take the Culinary Career Survey<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hide\">We\u2019ve compiled a checklist of all of the essential questions into one handy tool: career options, culinary interest surveys, educational opportunities, and more. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"btn-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hide\" escoffier-data-layer-push >Download<\/button>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"form\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<form\n\t\t\tname=\"quick-form-mid\"\n\t\t\taction=\"#process-lead\"\n\t\t\tmethod=\"post\"\n\t\t\tid=\"escoffier-form-p0-f1\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"escoffier-contact general-validation general-js\"\n\t\t\tautocomplete=\"off\">\n\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"campus\" value=\"Escoffier Boulder Online\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"program\" value=\"Culinary Arts\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fields-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-firstname\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"firstname-1\">\n\t\t\t\tFirst Name<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"firstname-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"firstname\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"text\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-lastname\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"lastname-1\">\n\t\t\t\tLast Name<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"lastname-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"lastname\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"text\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-email\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"email-1\">\n\t\t\t\tEmail<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"email-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"email\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"fieldset field-dayphone\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"intl-tel-1\">\n\t\t\t\tPhone<span class=\"red\" aria-label=\"required\">*<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"intl-tel-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"intl-tel\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"tel\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\">\n\t\t\t<input\n\t\t\t\tid=\"dayphone-1\"\n\t\t\t\tname=\"dayphone\"\n\t\t\t\ttype=\"hidden\"\n\t\t\t\tvalue=\"\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-valid=\"false\">\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"submit-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t<input name=\"submit\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Get the Survey Now\">\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"disclosure-tooltip\">\n\t\t\t\t<p class=\"tmm-edu-disclosure-text\">By clicking the <span class=\"btn-text\">&#8220;Get the Survey Now&#8221;<\/span> button, I am providing my signature in accordance with the E-Sign Act, and express written consent and agreement to be contacted by, and to receive calls and texts using automated technology and\/or prerecorded calls, and emails from, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts at the number and email address I provided above, regarding furthering my education and enrolling. I acknowledge that I am not required to agree to receive such calls and texts using automated technology and\/or prerecorded calls as a condition of enrolling at Escoffier. I further acknowledge that I can opt-out of receiving such calls and texts by calling 888-773-8595, by submitting a request via Escoffier\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/optout\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" aria-label=\"website link to the phone and text opt-out form\">website<\/a>, or by emailing <a href=\"mailto:compliance@escoffier.edu\">compliance@escoffier.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"returntourl\" value=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/thankyou\/culinarycareerguide_popup\/\">\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"redirect\" value=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/thankyou\/culinarycareerguide_popup\/\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"lead_source\" value=\"Website - Inline Form\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"lead_category\" value=\"Website\">\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"gaclientid\">\n\n\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"button\" value=\"Download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"cta_lead_source\" value=\"Website - Blog Inline\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"thanks\" value=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/thankyou\/careersurvey\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<p>At the end of the day, a chef is a supervisor who exudes exemplary leadership skills. A chef not only knows how to cook, but they may be responsible for creating recipes, managing schedules, pricing the menu, and managing costs. So simply graduating from culinary school\u2013while part of the puzzle\u2013is likely not quite enough.<\/p>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"blog-article-callout-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"blog-article-callout-text\">\n<h3>What\u2019s the Main Difference Between a Cook and a Chef?<\/h3>\n<p>The key distinction between a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/the-difference-between-a-cook-and-a-chef\/\">cook and a chef<\/a> is their <em>level of responsibility<\/em>. A cook can follow recipes and complete assigned tasks\u2014utilizing basic to advanced skills to prepare dishes. In contrast, a chef, including the role of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/what-it-takes-to-be-an-executive-chef\/\">executive chef<\/a>, can fully manage a kitchen and holds primary responsibility for the overarching culinary direction of the establishment.<br \/>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<p>Austin <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/food-truck-guide\/\">food truck<\/a> owner Nahika Hillery felt quite uncomfortable being called a chef by the local press, since she didn\u2019t have a culinary education. So she made the decision to attend <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/\">Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts<\/a> while running her food truck to earn those credentials and feel more confident in the title of chef.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cEvery time I was approached by a food blogger or press, I was referred to as chef. I didn\u2019t feel right having that title without the credentials. I was a really good home cook, but I lacked the confidence in my skills in a professional setting. The culinary industry is such a respected field, and I wanted to be on an equal playing ground with other chefs that I had an opportunity to work with.\u201d*\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/Nahika-Hillery-scaled-e1600704680286.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Nahika Hillery\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Nahika Hillery<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEscoffier Austin Culinary Arts Graduate &amp; Chef\/Owner, Kr\u00e9yol Korner Caribbean Cuisine\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2>What Does a Chef Need to Know?<\/h2>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/what-it-takes-to-be-an-executive-chef\/\">executive chef<\/a> is viewed as the top expert in the kitchen. They likely know how to do every job\u2014because they probably have, at some point in their career.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_28241\" style=\"width: 778px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-28241\" class=\"wp-image-28241 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/male-chef-decorating-plate-of-soup-with-flower-in-a-restaurant-kitchen-768.jpeg\" alt=\"male chef decorating plate of soup with flower in a restaurant kitchen\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/male-chef-decorating-plate-of-soup-with-flower-in-a-restaurant-kitchen-768.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/male-chef-decorating-plate-of-soup-with-flower-in-a-restaurant-kitchen-768-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-28241\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Chefs are often responsible for plating food before it reaches guests.<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Chef Responsibilities<\/h3>\n<p>A seasoned chef will likely understand the menu backward and forward since they probably created the recipes themselves. This means they may understand flavor profiles, balance, nuances of food pairing, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/recipes\/contemporary-food-plating-tips-from-professional-chef-instructor\/\">plating<\/a>. They must know how to price and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/menu-design-best-practices\/\">plan a menu<\/a> that can generate maximum profitability, how to create a schedule that doesn\u2019t leave the kitchen over or understaffed, and they need to know all the food safety guidelines and local health codes.<\/p>\n<p>So how can a chef become an expert in all these things? There\u2019s a lot of learning on the job. But with a culinary school foundation that may cover the basics of these topics and more, students may find that the path to earning that title of chef may be a bit shorter.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cI went from washing dishes and cleaning a commercial kitchen to managing my own within a two-year span. Escoffier has given me the culinary and business tools, resources, knowledge, and self-confidence I need in order to make my dream a reality!\u201d*\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Mitchel-Rodriguez.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Mitchell Rodriguez\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Mitchell Rodriguez<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEscoffier Online Culinary Arts Graduate And Sous Chef, Holiday Retirement\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2>The Timeline for Becoming a Chef<\/h2>\n<p>Since there\u2019s no one-size-fits-all approach to a culinary career, every path to the role can look slightly different.<\/p>\n<p>According to this <a href=\"https:\/\/eprints.soton.ac.uk\/457328\/1\/IJCHM_Top_Chefs_as_accepted.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a> from the International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, to become a chef, a unique \u201ctwo-steps\u201d trajectory could be required. This involves education and establishing oneself, followed by moving into a top chef position that likely involves innovation and treating work as an \u201cexperience.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With that in mind, a pathway to becoming a chef could involve\u2026<\/p>\n<h3>Starting With a Culinary Arts Degree or Diploma<\/h3>\n<p>An ideal place to start your culinary career could be by obtaining a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/associate-degree-vs-diploma\/\">degree or diploma<\/a> from an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/accreditation\/\">accredited culinary school<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cWe all hear the word chef everywhere. But nobody can ever say what the definition of a chef is. Everybody thinks that because you\u2019re called a chef, there\u2019s something more to you.\u201d*\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/jesper-jonsson.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Jesper Jonsson\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Jesper Jonsson<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEscoffier Chef Instructor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<p>At Escoffier, you can complete one of our diploma or associate degree programs in just <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-an-online-culinary-arts-degree\/\">60 weeks<\/a>. That timeline includes\u2013depending on your program\u2013one or two six-week <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/what-you-can-learn-from-a-culinary-internship\/\">industry externships<\/a>, where you can get valuable hands-on experience in a commercial food establishment, such as a restaurant. This can be a prime opportunity for rising chefs to not only <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/learning-how-to-cook-a-guide-for-beginners\/\">cook<\/a> professionally but <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/5-important-networking-tips-for-all-chefs\/\">network<\/a> with industry leaders who might provide mentorship or future employment. Also, some externships are paid, so students can start making a living while bettering their craft.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/success-stories\/shai-fernandez-culinary-education\/\">Shai Fernandez<\/a>, an accomplished Escoffier Culinary Arts graduate, embarked on an accelerated journey into the realm of fine dining, courtesy of the externship program. Collaborating closely with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/career\/\">Career Services<\/a>, he secured a coveted externship opportunity at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yolannashville.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Yolan<\/a>, an Italian fine dining establishment nestled in the heart of Nashville, Tennessee.<\/p>\n<p>His culinary odyssey started as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/the-garde-manger\/\">garde manger<\/a>, where he showcased his prowess on the cold station. Then he transitioned to the entremet station, composing protein dishes. With relentless diligence and hard work, Shai&#8217;s capabilities earned him the privilege of curating amuse-bouche renditions\u2014crafting single bites for guests before the dining experience.<\/p>\n<p>So in just six short weeks, Shai experienced an expansive range of chef duties to put on his resume!*<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cI think I\u2019ve used every [Escoffier] class at some point in my career.\u201d*\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Shai-Fernandez.png\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Shai Fernandez\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Shai Fernandez<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEscoffier Austin Culinary Arts Graduate &amp; Sous Chef, Sheraton Hotels &amp; Resorts\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h3>Securing Your First Culinary Job<\/h3>\n<p>Either while you\u2019re in school or shortly after you graduate, you can secure your first job in a professional kitchen. If you\u2019re new to the industry, you may start in an entry-level position. New cooks often begin as prep cooks where they can chop, weigh, and prepare ingredients for the line cooks to turn into finished dishes.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_21022\" style=\"width: 778px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-21022\" class=\"wp-image-21022 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Escoffier-student-in-chef-uniform-plating-meals-in-a-kitchen-with-other-students-768.jpg\" alt=\"Escoffier student in chef uniform plating meals in a kitchen with other students\" width=\"768\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Escoffier-student-in-chef-uniform-plating-meals-in-a-kitchen-with-other-students-768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Escoffier-student-in-chef-uniform-plating-meals-in-a-kitchen-with-other-students-768-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-21022\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Culinary school can prepare students to become a chef.<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Along with externship placement, Escoffier students can get help in their job searches throughout their careers with job search assistance from our Career Services staff. This team offers industry referrals, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/8-tips-for-writing-a-chef-resume\/\">resume writing<\/a> and interview assistance, and access to job listings.<\/p>\n<p>Once you have that first job, it\u2019s time to work your way up!<\/p>\n<h3>Climbing the Ladder<\/h3>\n<p>For many prep cooks, the next big step can be becoming a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/what-it-takes-to-be-a-line-cook\/\">line cook<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"blog-article-callout-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"blog-article-callout-text\">\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/podcast\/70-richard-rosendale-new-breed-of-american-chefs\/\">Listen now<\/a>: Master Chef Richard Rosendale Sees Rise Of A \u201cNew Breed Of American Chefs\u201d<br \/>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<p>Depending on factors like your education, performance, and job availability, you could get your first promotion in a few months, or it could take a year or two. From there, you could be promoted to lead line cook, supervising a station, or managing the line.<\/p>\n<h3>Becoming the Right Hand<\/h3>\n<p>On the path to becoming a chef, most culinarians make a stop as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/what-makes-a-good-sous-chef\/\">sous chef<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>So are you a chef now? While the word \u201cchef\u201d is in the title, and the rest of the staff may respond, \u201cYes, chef,\u201d when you ask them to do something, you\u2019re still not really the boss.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cWe always say in this profession that you need to grow into the position that you aspire to have. So if you want to become a sous chef, as a lead line cook, you need to begin doing sous chef jobs already.\u201d*\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/jesper-jonsson.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Jesper Jonsson\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Jesper Jonsson<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEscoffier Chef Instructor\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<p>The sous chef is viewed as the executive chef\u2019s right hand. They often make schedules and run the day-to-day affairs of the kitchen. It could take as little as three years to become a sous chef, or as many as seven (or more!)<\/p>\n<h3>Moving Into an Executive Chef Role<\/h3>\n<p>Once you\u2019ve been a sous chef for a few years, how do you take that last step?<\/p>\n<p>Some sous chefs can get promoted to executive chef. But that means the existing executive chef has to vacate the role. If your boss is firmly entrenched and doesn\u2019t plan to leave anytime soon, you may need to think outside of the box and seek out a new kitchen to make the leap from sous chef to executive chef. Or if you\u2019re entrepreneurially minded, you could open your own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/how-to-start-a-restaurant-with-little-to-no-money\/\">restaurant<\/a>, food truck, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/food-entrepreneurship\/the-rise-of-ghost-restaurants\/\">ghost restaurant<\/a> where you\u2019re calling the shots.<\/p>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"blog-article-callout-wrap\">\n\t\t<div class=\"blog-article-callout-text\">\nGo deeper! For a complete step-by-step plan for becoming a professional chef, see: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/culinary-pastry-careers\/how-to-become-a-chef\/\">How to Become a Chef: The Complete Guide<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<p>Whatever path you take in your culinary career, you may find\u2014like many chefs before you\u2014that a culinary education could help you to get a head start, add credibility to your name, and may advance your career more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"blog-quote\">\n\t\t<div class=\"the-quote\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"quotes\">\u201c<\/div>\n\t\t\t\u201cHonestly, without [culinary education] I wouldn\u2019t be nearly as successful. The knowledge I gained helped me rise quickly as a chef. I may have still started at the bottom rungs of the ladder, but I certainly wouldn\u2019t be working where I am now.\u201d*\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"author \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/05\/Escoffier-culinary-arts-graduate-Max-Feist-e1590001640858.jpg\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     alt=\"Max Feist\"\n\t\t\t\t\t     width=\"150\" height=\"150\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"text\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Max Feist<\/strong>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoulder Culinary Arts Graduate\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2>Education Can Be Your Next Step<\/h2>\n<p>As you can see, there are several factors that can affect how long it takes to become a chef, so discerning an exact timeline could be challenging. But one thing is certain: starting now with an education might be the best way to begin!<\/p>\n<p>Escoffier\u2019s degree and diploma programs are designed to teach you culinary essentials and help prepare you for the industry. With flexible program options, you can make a big leap forward in a short time. And with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/admissions-aid\/financing-your-culinary-education\/\">Financial Aid<\/a> resources available to many students who apply and qualify, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/\">culinary school<\/a>\u00a0available fully <a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/how-online-culinary-school-works\/\">online<\/a>\u2013with in-person, hands-on industry externships\u2013it\u2019s never been more affordable** or accessible to start working toward becoming a chef!<\/p>\n\t\n\t<h3 class=\"additional-articles-heading\"> CURIOUS ABOUT CULINARY EDUCATION? READ THESE ARTICLES NEXT:<\/h3>\n\n\t\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/how-to-earn-a-culinary-degree-from-home\/\">How to Earn a Culinary Degree From Home<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/how-to-get-into-culinary-school\/\">How You Can Get Into Culinary School<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.escoffier.edu\/blog\/value-of-culinary-education\/what-to-expect-when-you-attend-cooking-school\/\">What to Expect When You Attend Cooking School<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"shortcode-blog-disclosure\">\n<em>This article was originally published on September 22, 2021, and has since been updated.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>*Information may not reflect every student\u2019s experience. Results and outcomes may be based on several factors, such as geographical region or previous experience.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>**Consider your situation and resources to determine what is affordable and on budget, for you.<\/em><br \/>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Passionate about cooking and want to move into the role of chef? Explore the pathway toward this profession! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":23,"featured_media":23935,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1285],"tags":[1299,1300,60],"class_list":["post-17514","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-value-of-culinary-education","tag-career-advancement","tag-career-change","tag-executive-chef"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Long Can It Take to Become a Chef? - Escoffier<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Passionate about cooking and want to move into the role of chef? 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