If you are looking for a training program for your staff or students, implement an ACF apprenticeship or training program. You will have access to knowledge and skills competencies that are industry-approved. Trainees and apprentices will qualify for ACF certification at the end of the program.

Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction. ACFEF Apprenticeship was started in 1974 by Jack Braun, CEC, AAC, HOF, Ferdinand Metz, CMC, WGMC, AAC, HOF, and L. Edwin Brown, HAAC, HHOF. ACFEF created a set of national guidelines for apprenticeship standards that were originally registered with the U.S. Department of Labor in 1979 and are continually updated to remain pertinent. In 2012, the program received the 21st Century Registered Trailblazers and Innovators Award by the U.S. Department of Labor for its partnership with the U.S. Army.

Apprenticeship is a combination of on-the-job training and related classroom instruction and requires no previous experience to enroll. Here are some benefits of enrolling in an ACFEF apprenticeship program:

• “Earn while you learn”
• Training from qualified professional chefs
• Develop documented culinary skills that are transferable within the industry
  • Learn skills by rotating through different stations
• Develop basic principles of nutrition and dietetics
• Understand the requirements for proper food handling, sanitation and hygiene
• Gain an understanding of management and supervisory knowledge in preparation for a progressive career in the culinary industry
• All ACFEF Apprentices are members of the ACF

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Find a program and contact the program coordinator of the apprenticeship program you are interested in joining. For more information, email apprenticeship@acfchefs.net or call (904) 484-0217.

When you start an apprenticeship, you are learning a skilled trade from a qualified expert while getting paid. Upon completion, you will have the skills and job experience needed to earn higher wages and have better job opportunities. As an ACFEF apprentice, you will be eligible for ACF Certified Culinarian®, Certified Pastry Culinarian®, Certified Sous Chef® or Certified Working Pastry Chef® credential. You will also enjoy the many benefits of an ACF membership, including access to ACF’s online Career Center, networking opportunities with top industry professionals and a free e-subscription to The National Culinary Review.

You will learn and master cooking and baking skills through coursework and on-the-job training under the direction of a chef. You will understand the requirements for proper food handling, sanitation and hygiene. You will gain an understanding of management and supervisory knowledge in preparation for a career in the culinary industry. You will acquire a professional work ethic necessary for success in the hospitality industry. You will be prepared for ACF professional CC®, CPC®, CSC®, or CWPC® certification testing.

You will work under a supervising chef in an establishment known as a “place of employment” This may be a restaurant, hospital, adult living community or other foodservice facility. Your program coordinator should provide you with a list of approved local “place of employment”, but you will be responsible for securing employment. You will receive wage increases during the course of your apprenticeship, based on your increased skill.

It depends on the apprenticeship program. The required related instruction can be taught in various ways, including classroom, qualified in-house instruction and online courses. Each program develops its own approach to offering related instruction in the apprenticeship stations. Educational institutions will often enroll apprentices in the institution’s certificate or degree program.

As an apprentice, you will be employed by a “place of employment” and will work their required hours. Depending on how the program operates, you will take classes or be responsible for completing online classes on your own time. Apprenticeship is a full-time commitment, at work and at home.

Again, it depends on the apprenticeship program. There is a national ACFEF apprenticeship registration fee of $125 and an ACF apprenticeship membership fee of $50 for each year of the program. There may be additional costs to consider, such as uniform, knives, and related instruction, as well as testing fees for certification. These costs may be included in the apprenticeship program cost or they may be your responsibility.

ACFEF apprenticeship programs take from two to three years to complete.