Answered by SarahR Tuesday Nov 8th 2011

Many entry-level, fast-food, and short-order cooks do not require anything higher than a high school diploma. However, if you want a career as a chef you will probably need more education. Those hiring chefs tend to look for at least some education after high school. This can be a certification program of a few months up to a degree in the culinary arts, depending on the restaurant. Many chefs start their careers by getting a degree from a private cooking school. It is also not unusual for larger restaurants and hotels to have their own training programs for their employees.

Culinary training is extremely hands-on so you probably will not find an entire Culinary Arts degree online. However, you can learn some aspects online such as food safety and nutrition basics. I highly recommend looking into these Online Cooking Courses.