Certified Pastry Culinarian® (CPC®)

Current and recent ACFEF Accredited Post-Secondary Program Graduates, please visit the student page.

Certified Pastry Culinarian® Candidate Handbook
Download Handbook
Education Requirements with Work Experience:
Work experience must be within the past ten years.
  • High School Diploma/GED with two years entry level culinarian experience
        OR
  • 100 Continuing Education Hours (CEH) with two years entry level culinarian experience
        OR
  • Culinary Arts Program Certificate (1 year) with one year entry level culinarian experience
        OR
  • Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts, no work experience
        OR
  • ACFEF Apprenticeship Program, no work experience
Mandatory Course Requirement:
  • 30-hour course in Nutrition
  • 30-hour course in Food Safety & Sanitation
  • 30-hour course in Supervisory Management
Courses completed more than five years ago will require an 8 hour refresher in each topic. Courses are available through ACF approved providers or any academic institution.

Exam Requirement: Successful completion of written and practical exams.

Application Process

There are three steps in the application process:

Step 1
Initial Application
Submit initial application with proof of education, 30 hour courses and work experience. Employment verification can be submitted on the Employment Documentation Form or employer letterhead. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing applications.

Step 2
Schedule Written & Practical Exams
Upon receiving approval for the Initial Pre-approval application, you are eligible to schedule your written and practical exams. Please visit the written exam and practical exam pages for scheduling information. For assistance in preparing for the written and practical exams, review the CPC® Candidate Handbook.

Step 3
Final Application
After successful completion of the written and practical exams, submit the Final application with exam pass sheets and application fee. Please allow 2-3 weeks for processing. Upon approval, certificate will be mailed.

Recertification Information

CPC® Certification requires renewal every five years. For more information, visit the recertification page.

Fees

CPC Fees
Type Cost
Members: $250
Nonmembers:  $490

Group pricing is available through our concierge programs for 6+ certificants from the same property. Please submit a request form or send an email to certify@acfchefs.org.

Have questions or need more information? Contact the ACF Certification Department.