Catering Professional

Catering has evolved beyond "deliver food to a venue" into an experience-driven service industry that blends hospitality, logistics, team management, design aesthetics, marketing, and compliance. This course addresses that reality by building skills to produce safe, consistent food at scale, coordinate complex events, and adapt offerings across weddings, corporate events, and social functions—while differentiating through sustainability and technology-enabled operations.

Learners progress...

6 Months / 100 Course Hrs

Open Enrollment

Offered in partnership with your preferred school

CSU Channel Islands

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Learning method

Instructor-led

$1,295USD

Self-paced. Study on your own schedule

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Details + Objectives

Course code: GES624

What you will learn

Plan event menus aligned to guest experience goals, budgets, dietary needs, and production realities
Apply professional food safety and sanitation practices for catering operations
Build staffing plans, timelines, and on-site service workflows for successful events
Create pricing structures grounded in cost control and profit strategy
Use modern techniques and trend-aware differentiation (e.g., plating, beverage service, global cuisine, sustainability/technology)

How you will benefit

Gain the operational confidence to execute events smoothly—even when real-world constraints show up (because they will).
Build a practical, portfolio-ready capstone catering plan you can adapt for real clients
Improve profitability with pricing, budgeting, and cost-control skills aligned to real catering business decisions
Expand into new market segments (weddings, corporate, social) with a clear understanding of service models and expectations
Differentiate your brand with sustainability and modern operations (farm-to-table sourcing, technology adoption, trend positioning)

How the course is taught

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

Outline

Introduction to Catering
Culinary Foundations
Catering Operations
Business Management
Specialized Catering Services
Advanced Techniques
Sustainability and Trends

Instructors & Support

Chef Brooke Preston

Chef Brooke Preston is a pioneer in nutrient-dense, healing cuisine, with more than three decades of experience transforming familiar comfort foods into deeply restorative meals that support the body's innate intelligence. Her work began in 1992 with Tita's Kitchen, one of the Bay Area's first meal delivery services focused on whole, healing foods, well ahead of the wellness movement becoming mainstream. As her work evolved, so did her mission: to empower people with practical, delicious ways to reclaim their health.

Requirements

Prerequisites:

No prior experience required. Basic computer literacy is recommended.

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

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

Software Requirements:

PC: Windows 10 or later.
Mac: macOS 12 or later.
Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
Any word processing application (not included in enrollment).
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.

More About

About Certification: National Association for Catering and Events (NACE)

The Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) designation is a nationally recognized program and shows a mark of excellence for catering and event professionals—empowering you to fast-track your career or business. Obtaining your CPCE certification also shows your employer and clients that you have demonstrated experience and expertise, giving you a competitive advantage.

FAQ

According to Indeed, catering involves designing, cooking, and serving specialty meals to event guests at weddings, anniversary parties, or corporate meetings. They start by meeting with a client to determine the scheduling, menu, and pricing, then develop a price estimate and a contract for the event. Caterers typically cook off-site and transport food, serving pieces, and tableware to the event. This fast-paced industry requires extensive knowledge of food and excellent interpersonal skills.

Indeed reports that the average salary for a caterer is $53,560 per year. The salary for this role often depends on their level of expertise, the services they provide, and their company's location. For example, a catering manager's salary is $57,955 vs. a catering director's salary of $78,475. On the other hand, a catering coordinator's salary is reported at just over $41,000. If you work for a catering company, you might make a different salary than if you provide freelance services. The size of the events you cater for may also influence your average salary.

The average salary for a caterer is $53,560 per year. The salary for this role often depends on their level of expertise, the services they provide, and their company's location. If you work for a catering company, you might make a different salary than if you provide freelance services. The size of the events you cater to may influence your average salary.

Yes. This course helps prepare you for the Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) offered by the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE).

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."

Catering Professional

CSU Channel Islands