If you like to bake pies, cakes, cookies, and bread, you may consider a career as a pastry chef.  Culinary cooking schools can help you to achieve a degree in the pastry arts.  Pastry chefs must be organized, yet creative.  If you would like to become a pastry chef, there are several different educational paths to choose from.  You could work toward a Baking and Pastry Certificate, an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts, or a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Culinary Arts.

All culinary training offers hands-on baking practice.  The certificate program will prepare you for an entry level position and usually takes less than a year to complete.  An Associate program typically lasts for two years and a Bachelor program lasts for four.  Both programs will include cooking and general education questions, giving you a well-rounded education.

Make sure that the program that you choose has qualified instructors who are certified by the American Culinary Federation.  You may also want to consider checking to see if the school offers scholarships or financial assistance.

If you are currently working full-time, many programs allow for part-time enrollment and flexible schedules.  Keep in mind that you will probably also be required to do an internship or apprenticeship during the course of your studies. 

During your pastry education, you will learn how to keep your kitchen clean, how to handle your ingredients safely, how to properly store foods and how different flavors and textures affect taste.  You will also learn about the history of baking and cooking.  You will gain hands-on experience with many basic and advanced baking techniques.

Upon graduation, you will be able to apply for many different jobs in various environments, including restaurants and hotels.  Pastry chefs work about 60 hours a week and make an average of $50,000 per year.  If you are creative and love to bake, a career as a pastry chef may be in your future.

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