Certificate
Culinary Arts
Take a look at what you’ll learn in our Culinary Arts Certificate program.
The talented Chefs in AACA’s focused certificate program have the experience and knowledge to equip you with the skills and techniques you’ll need to enter today’s culinary industry.
Career Skills
- Develop knife skills.
- Understand food safety, sanitation, and kitchen safety.
- Learn fundamental baking procedures.
- Grasp the skills needed to work with fish, shellfish, and animal proteins.
- Design and price a nutritional menu.
- Maintain kitchen equipment.
- Present creative plates.
Employers of PTC Graduates*
You’ll be prepared for entry-level careers in:
- Restaurants
- Catering operations
- Country Clubs
- Cafes, diners, and more
Program Courses
The program consists of four quarters. For course descriptions, visit our catalog.
Program Requirements (45 credits)
- *Sanitation
- *Basic Knife Skills
- *Baking and Pastry Fundamentals
- *Introduction to Culinary Arts
- *Introduction to Fish, Shellfish, and Meats
- Purchasing and Cost Control
- Culinary, Hospitality, and Supervision
- Fundamentals of Classical Cuisine/Garde Manger
- Nutrition and Menu Planning
Career Readiness Requirements (3 credits)
- Steps to Career Success
- Career Development
*Successful completion of this course requires a grade of “C” or better.
Program Highlights
Accreditation
Our Certificate program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation.
Certifications
You’ll be prepared to sit for certification exams in a number of key areas, including sanitation and food safety, nutrition, hospitality & supervision, and purchasing.
Memberships
PTC is a member of the American Culinary Federation, Les Amis d’Escoffier Society of Chicago, La Chaine des Rotisseurs, and the Honorable Order of the Golden Toque.
Extracurricular Opportunities
Culinary Arts students participate in cooking contests, networking events, chef demonstrations, and community service projects through the AACA Culinary Club.
Those opportunities include Light Up Night in downtown Pittsburgh and fundraisers for the Zelienople Library, the Bradley House, and the Pediatric Brain Tumor Ride For Kids; students also create a ginger bread house every year for area hospices. You can also participate in several Chaine des Rotisseurs Young Chef competitions and events throughout the year, and Culinary Club competitions during each open house.
Program Outcomes
The American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) requires institutions to publish graduation rates, job placement rates, and entry-level ACF certification by graduation for each of the previous two-years for all ACFEF accredited programs. Click here to view.
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