Prep Cook Certificate Program Fact Sheet

What is a Prep Cook?	The Prep Cook Certificate prepares students for basic employment in the culinary field. The program emphasizes technical and theoretical knowledge, combined with the practical applications of cooking, and sanitation skills. The program also requires students to sit for the National Restaurant Association SERVSAFE Certification. The program is only offered full-time, during the day.
Certificates	Prep Cook, certificate
Prerequisite Courses	Diploma level proficiency in English, reading and math is required to take the CUUL technical courses. Please refer to course descriptions in the online catalog for specific prerequisites. Students must be 16 years of age to be eligible to take some CUUL courses. MATH 1012, Foundations of Mathematics is a pre/corequisite to CUUL 1000, Fundamentals of Culinary Arts and should be completed before or at the same times as CUUL 1000. Students are required to purchase Chef’s uniform, dining room uniform, textbooks and tools to include knives. Students should be able to lift 40 lbs.
Semester Program Begins	Fall and spring semesters
Application Process	Applicants to the Culinary Arts program must meet all admission requirements; complete an application and pay the application fee. Individuals apply to Gwinnett Technical College at GwinnettTech.edu and submit all transcripts from high school and previous college work, and take the ACCUPLACER test, if required. After officially being accepted to Gwinnett Tech, students may contact the Culinary Arts Administrative Assistant, Lisa Masi, at 678.226.6641 or LMasi@GwinnettTech.edu, in order to set up an appointment with the Culinary Arts Program Director, Chef Kerri Crean, to discuss expectations and additional costs. Students must meet with Culinary Arts Program Director and also attend the Mandatory Culinary Seminar, which is held before the spring and fall semesters. This seminar is designed specifically for the Culinary Arts program, to ensure your success in the program. At that seminar, students register for classes and order required supplies. Additional costs are uniform (approximately $140) plus required shoes. A knife kit cost approximately $330.
For more information, contact:	Kerri Crean, program director, KCrean@GwinnettTech.edu, 678.226.6625.
For admission and enrollment, contact:	Enrollment Support Center in Building 100 at the Lawrenceville campus, or Building A at the Alpharetta-North Fulton campus, or email BusinessArtDesignTeam@GwinnettTech.edu.

Quick Facts

(This data was compiled from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.)

Cooks

2016 Median pay	$22,850 per hour/ $10.00 per hour
Typical entry-level Education	See How to Become One
Work experience in a related occupation	See How to Become One
On-the-job training	See How to Become One
Number of jobs, 2016	2,403,000
Job outlook, 2016-26	6% (As fast as average)
Employment change, 2016-26	147,6

Gwinnett Technical College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. Lisa Richardson, Title IX, and Section 504 Coordinator, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Building 100, Room 407, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, 678-226-6691, LRichardson@GwinnettTech.edu.