How to Become a Chef in India: The Top Courses and Career Paths in 2025

In India, the culinary industry is growing impressively, and the demand for chefs with expertise has come to a record high. Be it the rich tradition of regional cuisine or the modern fusion trends that take the food scene by storm, being a chef in India is a sweet amalgamation of business with art to create an unforgettable dining experience. This guide will take you step by step on how to become a chef in India, collating practicable advice and insights for impassioned culinary practitioners.

In this guide, you will learn about the chef’s core role and day-to-day activities, walk through available courses for becoming a chef, necessary skills, career progression opportunities in the culinary world, chef courses, hotel management courses for chefs, qualifications requirements, and instructions on how to become a chef in India. Let us embark on our path, targeting one of today’s most creative and rewarding careers.

Who is a Chef, and What Skills Are Required?

A chef is someone who not only cooks and prepares food but also oversees other kitchen staff. To be a successful chef requires more than raw ability and a few hours in the kitchen. It takes apprenticeship training and experience to achieve the art of perfection. Proper qualifications and skills would enable a chef to establish a stepping stone in his career. One might do several chef courses in India to become a professional in the food sector.

Yet, with the qualification, one would require the necessary chef skills. It is not all about selecting the correct course to become a chef in India but also about learning the skills needed. Let us explore the skills required to become a chef in India:

1. Organization: It is the ability to provide multiple functions and carry out different duties. For instance, a chef working in an enormous hotel must be able to handle equipment maintenance and inventory management. Organizational abilities allow one to do a variety of jobs in a short time. Learning to be a chef in India involves at least some competence in management, which is imperative to perform satisfactorily in a busy kitchen.
2. The ability to multitask: In a professional kitchen, chefs should handle all the juggling and hassle. This means they should know how to execute different responsibilities within the kitchen while handling customer service.
3. Knowledge plus Flexibility: Knowledge is crucial for chef qualification in the culinary world. Their knowledge includes spice balance, elegant plating, knife skills, and ingredient judgment. Also, they tend to be somewhat flexible with hours because big kitchens run practically all the time.

Types Of Chefs In India

Chefs are responsible for running the back of the house. They are the culinary wizards who create the restaurant’s menu. While in training, a person learns to organize and handle different tasks. When learning how to become a chef in India, one should also know about the various types of chefs in India and the average salary of an Indian chef.

• Executive Chef: The kitchen is operated solely by executive chefs who command the kitchen. Executive chefs, also known as head chefs, support creating the menu with the owner. A head chef gets a salary ranging between rupees 2 lac and 20 lac. They also make decisions for the equipment in the kitchen and oversee kitchen expenses. For those interested in learning how to become a chef in India, it is of utmost importance to know about the role of executive chefs and what is anticipated out of them.
• Sous Chef: The sous chef works directly under the supervision of the executive chef and often instructs the cooks in several other parts of the kitchen. He/she is sometimes responsible for replacing executive chefs. There can be more than one sous chef in a kitchen. Their pay usually ranges from 1.76 lakh rupees to 10 lakhs.
• Pastry Chef: A pastry chef bakes all kinds of breads, desserts, and pastries. Pastry chefs in restaurants work on the dessert menu, set the prices for dishes, and design the menu. Pastries, in general, can vary somewhere between IN 7k to 26k per month.
• Roast Chef: The roast chef is responsible for preparing meat in the ovens and following the directions for preparation-related marinades, which must, indeed, be furnished to the cooks. The roast chef may sometimes be the assistant to the cook. The roast chef should know wholesome meat and seafood; if he does not, he cannot expect the best products and prices. The pay scale of a roast chef varies considerably, between11000 and 120000 dollars.
• Pantry Chef: Pantry chefs should be masters of inventory management strategies. They are responsible for all the supplies kept in the refrigerator. Another name for a pantry chef is garden manager; he is responsible for decorating cold dishes and appetizers. The pay scale is 243000 rupees.

Courses Required To Become a Chef

How can one become a chef, and what courses are required to attain that professionalism? A chef is among the most fascinating professions worldwide and enjoys great prestige and status, increasing course demand.

While anyone wishing to enter that field should know how to become a chef in India, we have mentioned a few courses one can take.

1. Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) in Culinary

One could try becoming a chef by pursuing a bachelor of hotel management. This is a three-year program that one gets when doing the course at the undergraduate level. Various issues in culinary arts and hotel management are considered during this course. It contributes to gaining culinary experience, abilities, business knowledge, and leadership.

2. BSc in Hospitality and Hotel Management

One of the best-selling chef qualifications is a BSc in hospitality and hotel management. This three-year full-time undergraduate program imparts comprehensive knowledge in food and beverage services, nutrition, human resources, and other related fields. Candidates passionate about food preparation and front office operations may opt for the course.

3. BSc in Catering Science and Hotel Management

This is the appropriate course if one is considering becoming a chef. It is a three-year undergraduate management course dealing with all segments of the catering business. The candidates learn in detail about marketing, housekeeping, food and beverage management, hotel administration, etc. The course is completed in three years, and candidates can apply after their 10+2.

4. Certification in Food Production and Patisserie

Food production and patisserie certification would be useful if one prepares to be a chef. The course is two semesters long, with 17 weeks of classes and 20 weeks of training each semester. The course involves practical and theoretical courses. It is a short course that takes approximately one and a half years to finish.

5. PG Diploma in Culinary Arts

Having worked in one industry and now considering how to become a chef, I believe the PG diploma in culinary arts is for holders who want to re-align themselves with the culinary industry. It educates the candidate in food preparation and cooking. The full-time postgraduate course equips candidates for a career as a chef.

6. BA in Culinary Arts

Pursuing a degree in BA in culinary arts could be the solution to how to become a chef. It is a three-year program that examines culinary arts in the kitchen. The program enables students to study culinary arts practice. The program also allows candidates to utilize the contemporary trends in food services.

Chef Certifications

Chef certifications are essential for aspiring culinary professionals looking to enhance their skills, credibility, and career prospects in the culinary industry. These certifications can vary based on specialization, level of expertise, and the type of cuisine. Here are some notable chef certifications available in India:

Certification	Description	Offered/Focus
Culinary Arts Diploma	Provides foundational skills in cooking techniques, food safety, and kitchen management.	Offered by various culinary schools
Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC)	Recognizes chefs with advanced culinary skills and in-depth culinary knowledge.	Awarded by the Indian Culinary Forum (ICF)
FSSAI Certification	It focuses on food safety practices and regulations essential for chefs working in commercial kitchens.	Offered by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI)
Pastry Chef Certification	Specializes in baking and pastry arts, helping chefs master the art of desserts and confections.	Offered by specialized culinary programs
Wine and Beverage Certification	Covers wine knowledge, service, and food-beverage pairing techniques.	Offered by specialized programs
Specialized Cuisine Certifications	Provides training and certification in specific cuisines, such as Italian, French, or Indian.	Offered by various culinary schools
Management Certifications	Focuses on kitchen management, restaurant operations, and hospitality management for aspiring chef leaders.	Offered by hospitality management institutes

How to Become a Chef In India?

There are multiple steps and courses to becoming a chef in India. But of all the professions, one of the most exciting and independent is this one. It gives people the opportunity to utilize their talent and creativity. Besides cooking and preparing food, chefs must remain on good terms with the kitchen staff and perform other duties.

Eligibility

Although a degree is not mandatory to become a chef, taking culinary art school would give you the basic training to start preparing food for clients. It’s a job in which experience weighs more. To comprehend how to become a chef in India, students must usually have a 10+2 pass to secure a degree in hotel management or culinary arts.

Upon clearing the 12th exam, candidates are qualified for degree courses such as BA in culinary arts, bachelor of catering technology and culinary arts, and bachelor in hotel management. Few colleges award certificates and diplomas to candidates who have newly cleared the 10th standard. The major points to remember for how to become a chef in India

• Finish the 10+2 school education or equivalent course.
• Obtain a diploma in the chef management course.
• Also, one may obtain a degree as a chef in hotel management and catering technology.
• Obtain on-the-job training from a head chef.
• Obtain a career in the food sector, either in an international hotel or public or private sector.

Entrance Exam

Are you curious about how to become a chef in India? You must qualify for the entrance exam and obtain a three-year management diploma. Meanwhile, those who have graduated in cuisine technology and hotel management can be entry-level chefs. They can take the course from a reputed hotel management institute and begin a career in leading restaurants.

To enter a hotel management institute, an individual must clear the NCHM JEE entrance test. NTA administers the widely popular test to give students admission in several undergraduate and postgraduate level hotel management courses. All the courses are associated with the National Council of Hotel Management and Catering Technology. To understand becoming a chef in India means knowing that this test provides entry to various IHMs and state government PSU-linked institutions.

Admission

The entry procedure for becoming a chef in India is an online process that involves passing the entrance exam by the candidate. Following the passing of the entrance exam, the candidates must:

• Open the websites of the colleges of interest
• Fill out the admission form
• Now affix the necessary documents
• Pay the requisite amount and tender

Once the form is submitted, one must wait for the results, attend the GD-PI round, and wait for the results. Each university has its acceptance rate for the culinary arts. However, one must clear the entrance exam to be admitted to the desired college.

Top 5 Culinary Colleges In India

1. Indian School of Hospitality, Gurgaon

As part of Sommet Education, the worldwide leader in hospitality management and culinary arts education, the Indian School of Hospitality delivers a global education for the leaders of tomorrow. Discover our hospitality management and culinary arts programs with two leading higher education institutes – École Ducasse and Les Roches.

Courses offered by ISH Gurgaon

i)  Diploma in Culinary Arts
ii)  BA. (Hons) Culinary Arts

2. Culinary Academy of India, Hyderabad

Culinary Academy of India is the first professional training institute for higher education in culinary arts to be established in India. Since its foundation in 1996, Brand CAI has kept pace with the standards of leading American and European culinary chef institutes. CAI is now India’s leading culinary arts and catering technology institution and one of the finest colleges for budding chefs across the globe.

Courses offered by the Culinary Academy of India

i)   Bachelor’s Degree in Catering Technology and Culinary Arts
ii)   The Post Graduate Diploma in Culinary Arts (PGDCA)
iii)  Advanced Diploma in Culinary Arts

3. IHM PUSA, New Delhi

The Institute of Hotel Management Catering and Nutrition, Pusa, is one of the leading hospitality schools in India. It offers quality hospitality education at undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate levels. The institute is under the wing of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.

4. International Institute of Culinary Arts, New Delhi

International Institute of Culinary Arts, New Delhi, established by Chef Virender S Datta, with more than 50 years of hospitality experience, has been instrumental in opening up Culinary Arts as a career option and a Knowledge Hub to offer complete industry support.

5. Welcome Group Graduates School, Manipal

Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration (WGSHA) is a constituent college of Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, and was set up in 1986 as a unit of Dr. TMA Pai Foundation in collaboration with the Hotels Division of ITC Ltd. WGSHA is now India’s leading hotel management school and it has been ranked 26th among the Best Hospitality and Hotel Management Schools in the world 2020 by CEOWORLD Magazine. Courses by Welcome Groups Graduates School

i)   BA in Culinary Arts
ii)  MA in Indian Cuisines and Food Culture

Conclusion

A chef is a professionally trained kitchen professional who organizes menu preparation, kitchen function, and equipment maintenance. They are responsible for food quality, managing the staff, and innovating new recipes, all of which require passion, creativity, and commitment. In India, a career as a chef starts with qualifying entrance tests and enrolling in a reputable culinary school, where systematic training imparts necessary cooking skills, kitchen management, and food sanitation. With the right education and training, future chefs can build fulfilling careers in the culinary industry in their home countries and overseas.

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