PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Community College (BCC) announces a new culinary apprenticeship program that combines instruction in the classroom and in a teaching kitchen with professional work in the field. The certificate program begins this fall, and applications are being accepted now. 

 

Student apprentices are paid — and, thanks to the Commonwealth's MassEducate program, students of all ages can qualify for free tuition and fees.  

 

The Culinary Arts apprenticeship program blends hands-on, practical training with systematic accompanying education, combining instruction in the classroom and teaching kitchen with professional work in the field. After seven weeks of foundational coursework, focusing on core culinary skills, students will apply their knowledge and receive further practical training while working professionally with BCC's educational partners. 

 

Successful program graduates will be awarded the industry-recognized ServSafe Food Handler Certificate and will be job-ready for a wide range of food service employment opportunities, from school cafeterias and hospital kitchens to restaurants and private households. 

 

"The culinary apprenticeship program is a great way to get a certificate quickly and be ready to enter the workforce with real-world, hands-on experience," said BCC President Ellen Kennedy. "By working with professionals in the field, our students can learn from the best in the business — and they can fill a need in the Berkshires. Even better, apprentices are paid, and the program can be completely free. We encourage everyone to apply." 

 

Upon successful completion of the program, students should be able to demonstrate professional knife skills, correctly choose and use kitchen equipment and hand tools, maintain food safety and kitchen sanitation requirements, understand basic preparation techniques for a variety of foods, manage production of simple baked goods and participate in a fast-paced professional kitchen environment, among other skills. 

 

To apply to BCC, visit www.berkshirecc.edu/apply.