American Culinary Federation (ACF)

Certified Culinarian (CC)

Credential: Certified Culinarian (CC)  GI Bill resource
Credentialing Agency: American Culinary Federation (ACF)

Renewal Period: 1 year

The American Culinary Federation (ACF), Certified Culinarian (CC) credential validates the culinary competency of professionals working in the food service industry. Certified Culinarians must demonstrate working knowledge of nutrition, food safety and sanitation, and supervisory management. Candidates must meet a combination of experience and education requirements. Candidates must pass a written and practical exam.

More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.

Certified Culinarian (CC)

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

Attainability:    high

Eligibility Requirements (View Details)

  • Credential Prerequisite
  • Experience
  • Education: Semester/Course Hours
  • Training
  • Membership
  • Other
  • Fee

Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required. To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.

Exam Requirements (View Details)

  • Exam
  • Written Exam
  • Oral Exam
  • Practical Exam
  • Performance Assessment

Exam Administration (View Details)

  • In-person exam
  • Remote proctored on-line exam
  • Third-party test vendor

RECERTIFICATION SUMMARY

Renewal Period: 1 year

  • Continuing Education
  • Exam
  • Continuing Education OR Exam
  • Fee
  • Other

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

American Culinary Federation (ACF)

180 Center Place Way
St. Augustine, FL  32095

Phone: (904) 824-4468

Fax: (904) 940-0741
Email: helpdesk@acfchefs.net

Education/Training and/or Experience REQUIREMENTS

Option 1:

  • High School Diploma/GED with two years of entry-level culinarian experience. Candidate must document education through formal or continuing education hours.

Option 2:

  • 100 Continuing Education Hours (CEH) with two years entry-level culinarian experience

Option 3:

  • Culinary Arts program Certificate with one year of entry-level culinarian/pastry experience.

Option 4:

  • An Associate's degree in Culinary Arts or successful completion of an ACFF Apprenticeship Program require no experience.

In addition, each candidate must complete three mandatory courses, 30 hours each:

  • Culinary Nutrition
  • Food Safety and Sanitation
  • Culinary Supervisory Management

Candidate must document the completion of an eight-hour refresher course for any one or all of the courses, if taken more than five years prior to the date of initial certification or renewal.  

Written Exam

  • Basic Cooking (35%)
    • Product Identification
    • Cooking Methods
    • Equipment
    • Fabrication
    • Presentation
  • Safety and Sanitation (39%)
    • Personal Hygiene
    • Food and Product Handling
    • Laws and Regulations
    • HACCP Documentation
  • Baking and Pastry (5%)
    • Baking Methods and Techniques
    • Equipment and Ingredients
  • Nutrition (9%)
    • Allergies
    • Dietary Considerations and Guidelines
  • Basic Culinary Math (8%)
    • Converting Recipes
    • Weights and Measurement
  • Ethics and Professional Issues (4%)
    • Ethics and Professional Issues

Practical Exam

  • Safety & Santitation Skills: Ability to work within established guidelines for food safety and sanitation at all times
  • Organization Skills
    • Organization
    • Work flow
    • Proper utilization of all ingredients
    • Timing of service and follow-up
  • Craftsmanship Skills:
    • Cooking techniques and skills
    • Butchery and boning skills
  • Finished Product Skills:
    • Overall presentation
    • Overall nutritional balance
    • Ingredient compatibility

Exam Preparation Resources

There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Culinarian (CC) examination:

An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.

Testing Information

  • Exam Administration

    Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Certified Culinarian (CC) credential where checked:

    • In-person exam
    • Remote proctored on-line exam
    • Third-party test vendor

  • For more information on the American Culinary Federation (ACF) testing process, visit the agency website.

RECERTIFICATION

Certified Culinarian (CC)

Renewal Period: 1 year

The Certified Culinarian (CC) credential has the following recertification information:

  • ACF recertification is required annually. ACF sets specific guidelines to meet recertification requirements, see the agency website for details.
  • Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current year, no arrears will be paid. Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand. The U.S. Department of Labor sponsored CareerOneStop's analysis indicates the certification is frequently mentioned in online job postings.

Click for external link to CareerOneStop's Credentials Center.

COOL Bucks

See your installation Education Service Officer for credential exam information and coordinating instructions.

COOL Summary

Click to go to the COOL Summary page for this MOC.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the military occupation (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

CA Eligible

This certification is eligible for CA.

Star

Star credentials are MOS enhancing, as designated by the Proponent. MOS enhancing credentials are directly related to an MOS or ASI, are taught either partially or completely as part of a Program of Instruction (POI), and improves the MOS technical proficiency.

Skill Level

The Skill Level reflects the level, based on MOS training and/or experience, the Soldier should be the most prepared to successfully earn the credential. See the Table Legend for details about each level.

Navy Bucks

Credential voucher or reimbursement for credential exam, re-certification, or maintenance fee has been approved for payment through the Navy's Credential Program Office. To get a voucher request form, click Menu at the top of any page, then click "2 Complete Voucher and Apply" under Credentialing Steps.

CG Bucks

Current Coast Guard policy states all credentials listed on CG COOL may be reimbursed assuming the enlisted service member meets the eligibility requirements as outlined in the Coast Guard Voluntary Credentialing Program Policy (COMDTINST 1540.1(series))

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted E1 through E4

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E5 through E6

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E7 through E9

Early Career

1-3 years experience; Enlisted “A” School through E5

Mid Career

4-10 years experience; Enlisted E6 through E7

Late Career

10+ years experience; Enlisted E8 through E9

Early Career

1-6 years experience; Officer O1 through O2

Mid Career

6-12 years experience; Officer O3 through O5

Late Career

12+ years experience; Officer O6 and Above

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click to go to the external link for GI Bill licensing and certification information.

ANAB (ANSI)

This credential has been accredited by ANAB (ANSI).

Click to go to the external ANAB web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC.

Click to go to the external ICAC web site.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC.

Click to go to the external ABSNC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA.

Click to go to the external NCCA web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS.

Click to go to the external IAS web site.

Low

May be difficult to attain: minimum education requirement is a Bachelor's degree, and/or minimum experience is 10 or more years.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

Medium

Moderate ease of attainment: minimum education requirement = Associate's and/or prerequisite and/or minimum experience = more than 2 years and less than 10 years of experience.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

High

Highly attainable: minimum education requirement = HS or less and/or minimum experience = 2 years or less experience and no additional requirements.

Note: In some cases “years of experience” refers to time actively on duty or while holding a certain occupation or prior certification and not always in consecutive calendar years. Additional years required for certain preliminary stages may not be included in this classification. For requirements measured in hours, 1080 hours was considered a year. For days, 365 days was considered a year. Please review all prerequisites and requirements for eligibility, and additional information for details.

MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
Functional Area
Branch

Army e-learning

State-of-the art Computer Based Training available for free to the Army Workforce. Click for more information.

Click here for more information.

NKO e-learning

$$ELEARN_NKO_DESC$$

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Registered Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship program is registered with the U.S. Department of Labor. Go to the Apprenticeship Finder and enter career path or location to find apprenticeship opportunities.

Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria

Click here for External link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Cooks, Restaurant
Click here for External link to: My Next Move salary info for Cooks, Restaurant

Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job

Click here for external link to: My Next Move for Veterans State Map for Cooks, Restaurant

This is an official U.S. Marine Corps website
Updated: February 26, 2021
Top