ACF Pastry & Culinary Arts Training

This American Culinary Federation (ACF) culinary arts course combines comprehensive pastry arts instruction with ACF-aligned culinary coursework designed to help you develop foundational baking, pastry, food safety, nutrition, and foodservice skills. Through 150 hours of self-paced online culinary training, you will build practical knowledge in pastry production, sanitation practices, nutrition principles, and hospitality operations.

This baking course incorporates instructional videos, hands-on...

SHARE
6 Months / 150 Course Hrs
Open Enrollment
Offered in partnership with your preferred school

CSU Channel Islands

Change School
Learning method

for additional information

ACF Pastry & Culinary Arts Training

Enroll Now

Course code: GES633

What you will learn

  • Understand the role of key pastry ingredients, including flour, fats, sweeteners, and eggs
  • Master foundational baking, pastry, and cake decorating techniques
  • Prepare a variety of desserts, including cakes, cookies, and other sweet treats
  • Apply professional food safety, sanitation, and HACCP principles in food preparation environments
  • Practice proper food handling, storage, workplace safety, and emergency procedures
  • Understand basic nutrition concepts, dietary guidelines, food labeling, and common food allergies
  • Adapt recipes to accommodate dietary needs and current nutrition trends
  • Explore the history, structure, and career opportunities within the hospitality and foodservice industry
  • Evaluate industry trends, professional standards, and customer service best practices
  • Develop the knowledge and skills needed for success in commercial baking and pastry settings

How you will benefit

  • Complete the ACF-aligned RTI coursework associated with the ACF Certified Fundamentals Pastry Cook (CFPC) pathway; additional ACF requirements, including exams and certification eligibility criteria, apply
  • Accumulate official training value recognized by national culinary employers and apprenticeship boards, mapped directly to global commercial standards and integrated professional ethics
  • Graduate with a robust digital portfolio of technical milestones—from precision knife work and mother sauces to specialized pastry arts—backed by 18 practical baking evaluations manually critiqued by professional chef instructors
  • Master specialized skills in candy making (chocolate truffles, caramels), churned frozen desserts, therapeutic menu modeling, allergen alternatives, and metabolic nutrition matrices
  • Gain high-level operational and kitchen design experience through a rigorous Capstone project focused on formatting and executing a live brunch showcase event
  • Access a comprehensive pastry and culinary foundation featuring 20 interactive units and 100 deep-dive video lessons via a 100% cloud-based, self-paced delivery track designed to fit around active work or school schedules

How the course is taught

  • Self-paced, online course
  • 6 Months to complete
  • Open enrollment, begin anytime
  • 150 course hours

ACF Pastry & Culinary Arts Training

Lesson 1: Pastry Arts

  • Introduction to Pastry Arts
  • Introduction to French Pastry and Baking
  • Prepare Your Kitchen
  • Kitchen Basics
  • Basic Baking and Pastry Skills
  • Cookies: Basic
  • Quickbreads & Breakfast Items
  • Sweet Snacks: Pound Cake
  • Sweet Snacks: Bars
  • Cookies: Decorated
  • Introduction to Bread: Loaf Pan Bread
  • Breads: French Breads and Italian Breads
  • Breakfast Pastries: Yeasted Enriched Doughs, Yeasted Laminated Doughs, Laminated Doughs
  • Tarts and Pies: Fruit Pies, Apple Tarts, Almond Cream Tarts
  • French Pastries: Crepes & Chouquettes
  • Cookies: Macarons
  • French Pastries: Dark Chocolate Mousse & Vanilla Crème Brulé
  • Frozen Dessert: Vanilla Ice Cream
  • Candies and Confections
  • Brunch Celebration Buffet and Final Assessment

Lesson 2: ACF Fundamentals Cook (CFPC) Courseware

  • Safety and Sanitation
  • Nutrition

Rouxbe

This is not an instructor-facilitated course; however, the program’s curriculum is authored and guided by an elite team of world-class chefs, educators, and food anthropologists with a combined total of over 125 years of professional foodservice and academic leadership experience. The development team features executive-level instructors and former administrators from elite traditional brick-and-mortar institutions, including Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).

Prerequisites:

There are no perquisites to take this course. 

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

  • This course can be taken on either a PC, Mac, or Chromebook.

Software Requirements:

  • PC: Windows 10 or later.
  • Mac: macOS 10.6 or later.
  • Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox is preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
  • Microsoft Word Online
  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
  • Software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

  • Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

About Certification: American Culinary Federation (ACF) with NOCTI

For over 45 years, the ACF has been the premier certifying body for cooks and chefs in America. Culinarians achieve certification based on education, experience, and successful completion of written and practical exams. The ACF’s certification program is the only culinary program with stackable credentials and is recognized throughout the industry as the standard for excellence in professional skills and knowledge.

ACF certification is the only culinary program with stackable credentials and is recognized throughout the industry and by the Department of Labor. ACF certifications validate knowledge, skills and experience in industry-relevant competencies and are earned based on education, experience and successful completion of both a written and practical exam. The ACF Certified Fundamental Cook and Certified Fundamental Pastry Cook credentials are the first steps on a ladder of certifications and do not require any work experience.

According to Lightcast labor market data, the median advertised salary for bakers is $38,500 per year as of June 2026. A baker's salary can vary based on factors such as experience, location, employer, and specialization. Bakers working in commercial production facilities, hotels, or management roles may earn more than those in entry-level or retail bakery positions.

According to the Culinary Institute of America, a baker is a skilled professional who creates a wide variety of baked goods, including breads, rolls, bagels, muffins, and doughnuts. The role encompasses a range of responsibilities, from preparing dough and monitoring ovens to managing production teams, developing recipes, and operating bakeries. Bakers are often versatile professionals with expertise in producing breads, cakes, pastries, and other sweet or savory baked goods. While some specialize in specific products, the profession is rooted in understanding the science and artistry of baking, including fermentation, texture, flavor development, and ingredient functionality. Depending on their training and work environment, bakers may develop expertise in areas such as artisan bread production, cake decorating, pastry creation, or commercial-scale baking operations.

After you register, you will receive 6 months to complete the course. The time allotted for completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours.

This course is open enrollment, so you can register and start the course whenever you are ready. Access to your course can take 24-48 business hours.

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact the student advising team to see what options you may have available to work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

Our courses are designed to accommodate various learning preferences. Depending on the course structure, you may get different forms of support. Self-paced courses are designed to be user-friendly and independent, minimizing the need for external support. In courses with instructors, our direct platform support feature includes opportunities for questions, discussions, and remediation, with email and phone support available for select courses. Our student advising team is available to guide you on program requirements and administrative requests, but they do not provide assistance with course content. Our goal is to provide you with the necessary support for success, whether it's through self-paced exploration, direct communication, or guidance from our advising team.

Upon successfully passing the final exam, you will be awarded a certificate of completion from the school or organization that you registered through.

ed2go courses will help you gain the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. However, you should always research the job market in your area before enrolling.

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid, FAFSA, and Pell Grant. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards may provide funding to take our courses. Additionally, you may qualify for financial assistance if you meet certain requirements. Learn more about financial assistance.

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, representatives are available via LIVE chat. You can also call us at 1-877-221-5151 during regular business hours to have your questions promptly answered. If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please send us a question using the “Contact Us.”