How to become a chef in India after high school
Many kids love to cook. While some stigma was attached to the profession of chefs earlier, it is now accepted and even coveted. If a kid has the ability and dedication to cook up yummy dishes, this is what she can do for a living. However, before joining a course on cooking, it’s better to have a direct hands-on cooking experience.
Eligibility criteria to become a chef
To become a chef, a candidate should first complete Class XII board exam from any recognised board in India. There are certificate courses in cooking after Class X, but they do not offer an industrial value. After Class XII, an aspiring chef can opt for a Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in cooking. A Post Graduate Diploma or Professional / Executive Bachelor’s and Certificate programmes can also be options if one aims to become a chef later in life. Many students club hospitality studies with cooking qualifications for a more rewarding career.
Chef degrees available in India
The following certifications are awarded in Indian institutes:
- BA in Culinary Arts
- Postgraduate Diploma in Culinary Arts
- Diploma in Food and beverage services
- Diploma in bakery and Confectionaries
- Diploma in Kitchen Management
- Diploma in bakery and patisserie
- Diploma in culinary arts
- Craft certification course in food production
- Craftsmanship course in food and beverage services
- Craftsmanship course in food production and patisserie
A candidate needs to fulfil the eligibility criteria we mentioned to obtain these distinctions.
Career opportunities as chef
Most students get placed as interns and then junior employees in the hospitality industry on completing their course. Many opt to start their own business. Opportunities for higher qualifications are available abroad, and Indian chefs are prized internationally in the hotel and travel industries. Chefs work in airlines, cruise, hotels, restaurants, cafés, spas, hospitals (yep, they need quality food too), corporate houses (some companies take employee meal management seriously), and of course, they can also open their own eateries. Many famous chefs like Tarla Dalal, Sanjeev Kapoor and Ranveer Brar become celebrities, and they run food shows on TV, write blogs and publish books. In fact, heath and food coaching is becoming a lucrative career option for chefs.