Culinary Career Essentials

Technical Certificate

Learn culinary basics and training for entry-level food service jobs. The program is the core of other certificates and the Culinary Arts program.

Program Outline
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Term 1
Course #	Course Title	Credits
1031612500	Culinary Principles Description Food science principles applied to professional culinary food preparation. Units include professional kitchen operation, recipe terminology, and cooking techniques for various food categories.	3.00
1031612600	Culinary Applications Description Provides practical experience applying food science principles in food preparation, analysis, and evaluation of preparation techniques. Prerequisites: 1031612500 Culinary Principles (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed) and 1031612100 Sanitation and Safety Fundamentals (C or better) (concurrent enrollment allowed).	3.00
1031612200	Sanitation and Safety Basics Description Learn basic principles of sanitation and safety in order to maintain a safe and healthy food service environment. The course presents laws and regulations related to safety, fire, and sanitation and how to adhere to them in the food service operation. Successful completion of the course enables students to take a national sanitation certification examination.	1.00

At A Glance

How You'll Learn

On Campus

Online Classes

Term Starts

Summer 2025
May 19 - 12-Week Summer Term Start

Fall 2025
August 25 - 16-Week Fall Term Start

Spring 2026
January 12 - 16-Week Spring Term Start

Start dates represent the beginning of a new term. Certain programs or courses may not be available to start every term. Please view the course schedules for a list of upcoming classes or contact the Welcome Center at 715-365-4493.

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Program Tuition*

$1,352

Books & Supplies*

$276

*Total cost for degree completion is estimated by current course requirements, books, and supplies. Tuition and fees are set by the Wisconsin Technical College System and subject to change.

Potential Indirect Costs

You may experience these additional costs, not charged by Nicolet, estimated based on length of program.

Transportation

$1,150

Food/Housing

$1,144

Personal Expenses

$1,146

What You'll Learn

Apply safety and sanitation codes to conditions and operations in food service kitchens
Prepare recipes and formulas to industry standards
Demonstrate attributes of a culinary professional