Trade test*
*Please note that the student will only be eligible to participate in the QCTO Trade Test once a completed Portfolio of Evidence and Industry Logbook has been externally verified and approved by the QCTO.
OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATE: CHEF, NQF5 (3 YEARS) – INCLUDES QCTO TRADE TEST
The ultimate pathway to your dream job as a chef
This programme is perfect for…
…anyone who knows the title ‘Chef’ belongs in front of their name. This programme is your ticket to conquering the hospitality industry. Not only will you acquire the knowledge and skills needed to plan, organise and execute food preparation with confidence, but you’ll also be trained in more advanced aspects of chef services, supervision, finances and other organisational requirements.
What to expect
A learning pathway is embedded within the qualification which will allow for a learner to work as a Kitchen-hand or Commis/Cook during their first and second year, and Commis/Cook during their second and third year to qualify as a Chef. Once qualified as a Chef, and gaining sufficient working experience it may lead to promotion and further career advancement as a Sous Chef and/or Executive Chef. These occupations are registered designations with the Professional Body. This qualification will professionalise the industry and is applicable to all sectors of Professional Cookery.
Need to know
During this programme, students will broaden their overall knowledge of operating successfully within the wider hospitality industry. This programme also unlocks the potential for further career advancement as a Sous Chef and/or Executive Chef.
Programme structure
Semester 1
- Personal hygiene and workplace standards
- Quality assurance in safety and food safety
- Numeracy, units of measurement and computer literacy
- Environmental awareness
- Healthier food preparation and dietetics
- Hospitality and the catering industry
- Basic ingredients and introduction to kitchen equipment
- Moist heat methods of cooking
- Boiling, poaching and steaming
- Braising and stewing
- Dry heat methods of cooking
- Baking, roasting and grilling
- Deep frying and shallow frying
- Cold food presentation principles
- Personal development within hospitality and catering
- Implement food production processes
Semester 2
- Menu planning and recipe costing
- Providing a guest service
- Theory of food production and commodity resource management
- Dishes for cold presentation
- Preparing, cooking and finishing fruit dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing vegetable dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing potato dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing pulses, grains (including rice) and vegetable protein dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing pasta and other fabricated farinaceous starch dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing meat, poultry, game and offal dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing fish and shellfish dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing egg dishes
- Preparing, cooking and finishing stocks, sauces and soups
- Preparing, cooking and finishing basic pastry dishes and bakery products
- Preparing, cooking and finishing basic hot and cold desserts
- Maintaining food production systems
Semester 3
- Theory of safety and food safety supervision
- Environmental sustainability
- Gastronomy, basic scientific principles, flavour construction and global cuisines
- Theory of food-production supervision
- Theory of staff resource management and developing opportunities for progression in the culinary industry
- Theory of production facility and equipment resource management
- Operational cost control and menu planning
- Managing and maintaining resources
- Implementing and maintaining cost control
Semester 4, 5 and 6
- Workplace integrated learning
The nitty gritty
Duration
36 months
Accreditation
This is a dual national QCTO and international City & Guilds qualification
Mode of delivery
On-campus training, extensive workplace integrated learning and a trade test
You will graduate with the following certification
- Occupational Certificate: Chef, NQF5
- City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Diploma in Culinary Arts and Supervision (8064-06)