Culinary Schools
Best Culinary Schools In Albuquerque | Cost, Requirement & How To Apply
Culinary arts programs and schools in Albuquerque are the most common and typically provide students with intensive exposure to the industry.
Courses typically cover food handling techniques, nutrition and food science, cooking, kitchen management, food purchasing and internships to gain hands-on experience.
Culinary schools in Albuquerque most commonly offer an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, while some offer a Bachelor of Science degree.
Baking and pastry courses can be included in the degree or added as an optional certificate option. At Santa Fe Community College, students earn an AAS in Culinary Arts and a Certificate in Baking and Pastry separately.
Are There Culinary Schools in Albuquerque?
Albuquerque, New Mexico offers six culinary and hospitality management programs in the state for people with life ambitions in the food service industry.
The state offers Culinary Arts, Hospitality Management, and Food and Nutrition programs at public universities, colleges, and trade schools. Certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor’s degrees are available to students.
Culinary arts programs are the most common and typically provide students with intensive exposure to the industry.
Courses typically cover food handling techniques, nutrition and food science, cooking, kitchen management, food purchasing and internships to gain hands-on experience.
Culinary arts programs most commonly offer an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, while some offer a Bachelor of Science degree.
Baking and pastry courses can be included in the degree or added as an optional certificate option. At Santa Fe Community College, students earn an AAS in Culinary Arts and a Certificate in Baking and Pastry separately.
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How Much Do Culinary Schools Cost in Albuquerque?
A certificate or diploma program in culinary arts typically costs $17,550 to $47,000 and lasts seven to 12 months with 600 to 1,000 hours of classroom and hands-on training.
For example, the Culinary Institute of San Diego offers a seven- to nine-month culinary diploma program for $23,408, which includes additional costs such as uniforms, knife sets, baking kits, textbooks and fees.
The International Culinary Center’s eight-month program includes classes held in New York and Italy, a restaurant internship in Italy, and more than 1,000 hours of hands-on and classroom training.
An associate degree in culinary arts typically costs $35,000 to $56,000. For example, a two-year culinary arts associate program at Le Cordon Bleu schools located across the country costs $35,050.
The 2.5-year associate degree program at The Culinary Institute of America costs $55,670 and lasts five semesters.
One of these semesters includes a paid internship, during which the student does not pay for tuition, but works in the kitchen and continues learning on the job. The price also includes one meal, as well as all expenses and program fees.
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What Are The Requirements For Culinary Schools In Albuquerque?
Education requirements differ for each intended career. The American Culinary Federation lists a number of certifications available and the applicable educational requirements that accompany each.
Certifications such as a certificate or diploma (can be earned in a few months), an associate’s degree (two years), or a bachelor’s degree (four years).
For example, someone who earns a certificate can become an entry-level chef, while a student who earns an associate degree can become a personal chef or executive sous chef, overseeing various stations in a professional kitchen.
A bachelor’s degree plus years of experience can qualify a chef for a career as a culinary educator.
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What Are The Best Culinary Schools In Albuquerque?
Central New Mexico Community College
This certificate program provides you with the skills you need to find an entry-level food service supervisor or manager position.
You must complete courses in culinary skills, fundamentals of food production, beverage and food service, nutrition, hospitality management and principles of sanitation.
It is also possible to gain additional skills in this field by enrolling in courses in accounting, French, Spanish or marketing.
Santa Fe Community College
In this program, you will learn how to set up a sanitary and safe kitchen, how to use knives correctly, how to prepare nutritious meals, and how to properly use basic kitchen appliances and equipment.
You will take core courses in cooking basics, international cuisine, nutrition, procurement, sanitation and safety, as well as externships.
Other courses include a sugar and chocolate workshop, dessert on plates, vegetarian cuisine and cake making.
SouthWestern Indian Polytechnic Institute
After completing this program, you can pursue an entry-level position in food service management or continue your studies at the bachelor’s level.
Courses cover merchandising, marketing, sales promotion, customer relations, supervisory practice, baking and catering. You also do lab work and do an internship.
Luna Community College
Located in Las Vegas, New Mexico, this school offers a culinary arts curriculum that ensures compliance with all American Culinary Federation standards and guidelines for culinary skills and knowledge.
The program focuses on the hands-on experience of students using cutting-edge kitchen innovations. Each class emphasizes professional food service skills in a modern kitchen and prepares students for positions in the culinary field.
Students will gain knowledge of basic and advanced refrigeration skills, culinary professionalism, and food safety and sanitation.
How Much Do Chefs In Albuquerque Earn?
Chefs and cooks in New Mexico earned an average of $20.92 an hour and $43,510 a year in 2017, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Those in the top 10 percent for their careers earned $71,140, so there’s plenty of opportunity for growth. Non-management restaurant chefs earned an average of $23,430 per year, which shows how you can get a better, higher-paying job in this industry.
The growth of the culinary industry in New Mexico is mostly positive, but slightly slower than in other states. For head chefs and line cooks, the increase is currently 7.9 percent.
The growth for bakers is 9.9 percent, and for restaurant chefs and catering managers, 11.2 and 8.5 percent, respectively.
How Do I Become A Chef In Albuquerque?
In Albuquerque, there are no requirements for people who work as chefs and cooks. There are no licenses or certifications, and no training or education requirements.
Employers are free to determine what credentials or experience their new hires should have, usually a high school diploma or equivalent as a minimum.
Some restaurants hire people with no culinary experience or training. If you choose this career path, expect to start at the bottom, even washing dishes, and work your way up to cook and chef through on-the-job training.
Alternatively, you can start by completing a culinary program at a higher education institution, which will help you land a job and start a little higher up the kitchen ladder.
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What Are The Best Paying Culinary Arts Jobs in Albuquerque
You’ll find the best culinary opportunities in New Mexico’s largest cities. Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio Rancho and Santa Fe are the largest population centers with many restaurants and vibrant culinary establishments.
Most culinary program graduates will work in restaurants, resorts, hotels, and cafeterias, but you can also consider working in hospitals or schools, or start your own business as a caterer, food truck, or personal chef.
Graduates are likely to find work to their liking at any of New Mexico’s thousands of restaurants, resorts, schools, and hotels. The typical salary in the food industry in New Mexico varies by position, city, and experience.
A restaurant hostess will earn an average of $24,010; a restaurant manager will earn about $55,320; a chef will earn approximately $51,530; and a registered dietitian earns about $61,270.
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Best Culinary Schools In Albuquerque FAQs
Culinary programs offered near Albuquerque are typically found at 2-year institutions. You can earn a Certificate in Food Service Management by completing approximately 28 credits or a 16-credit Pastry Chef Certificate in approximately 1 year.
You do not need a license or certification to work as a chef or cook in New Mexico. However, ACF offers nationally recognized certifications in 16 areas that can help you be more employable and earn a higher salary. To become certified in one of the areas offered, you will need some experience or education to pass a written and practical exam.
The growth of the culinary industry in New Mexico is mostly positive, but slightly slower than in other states. For head chefs and line cooks, the increase is currently 7.9 percent. The growth for bakers is 9.9 percent, and for restaurant chefs and catering managers, 11.2 and 8.5 percent, respectively.
Conclusion
If you’re interested in a career in the culinary arts, you can earn a certificate or an associate’s degree at various culinary schools in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
You can also gain hands-on experience while learning entry-level professional skills with a 2-year Associate in Culinary Arts degree, including a possible internship. Check out the programs below to decide which might be the best fit for you.
References
learn.org – Which Culinary Colleges Are in the Albuquerque, New Mexico Area?
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