If you are contemplating the career of personal chef you will reach a point where getting a personal chef education is viable. Finding one which will suit your particular personality and meets your needs might prove a little trickier. There are many options for personal chef education and all will offer something unique. Be careful with your choice because most personal chef organizations offering education represent a rather substantial money investment.
First off check out as many organizations as you can, such as for instance the US Personal Chef Association and browse through all the information there is available. Always consider personal chef education a personal chef organization can offer. No matter how experienced you are, a refresher is crucial to success. A career as a personal chef is a new way to operate in the culinary field. It is entirely different to catering, restaurants and other branches of the hospitality industry. There are many courses and informational seminars a chef can take to ensure safe and successful cooking. Highly recommended is the education in at least food handling and safety before embarking on a personal chef career.
The American Personal Chef Institute (APCI), headquartered in San Diego, functions as the education branch of the American Personal Chef Association (APCA) and offers members opportunities to start or improve personal-chef businesses based on highly effective, proven techniques. The external validation of personal chefs was required before they could achieve stature among their culinary peers. That recognition has occurred. At the ACF 2002 national convention in Las Vegas a certification agreement between APCA and ACF led to announcement of ACF's two new certification designations for personal chefs: Personal Certified Executive Chef (PCEC) and Personal Certified Chef (PCC).
Both are built upon APCA training programs developed and taught since 1995. Seeing greater demand for personal-chef training from within the ranks of existing and aspiring chefs who have attended culinary schools, ACF validation opens new teaching opportunities that culinary educators can utilize as early as the fall semester. Created to enhance the industry and recognize those who are truly outstanding in their profession, the US Personal Chef Association constantly monitors, evaluates and regulates the CPC program to preserve the integrity and uphold the highest of standards associated with this honor.
The designation of US Personal Chef Association's Certified Personal Chef (CPC) is the industry's highest mark of excellence, indicating a recognized endorsement of demonstrated expertise. Personal Chef's honored as CPC's have earned this designation through personal chef education, experience and professionalism. Clients can be assured the personal chefs with a CPC designation represent the upper tier within their profession and are committed to excellence.
The CPC designation is the only certification for personal chefs listed in the Federal Governments employee certification database.