How Long is Culinary School? The Answer Depends on These 3 Things
Culinary school isn't a one-size-fits-all experience. Programs are offered year-round, at different times of day and in varying durations — all of which can make it surprisingly tricky to answer a simple question: How long does culinary school take?
One of the easiest ways to estimate your timeline is by answering three key questions about your availability and career plans.
Here’s a guide to each question and the insights that informed my own decision to enroll.
How Much Time Do You Want to Spend?
The length of any formal culinary training program depends on the school. Some programs can take as little as eight months (ICE offers these accelerated programs), while others span multiple years. Ask yourself how much time you can — and want — to invest.
The impetus for my culinary journey was my desire for a dramatic career change. I had a master’s degree in Arts Administration but I wanted to explore an industry that fed my passion.
At the time, I was in my mid-30s and had already spent several years as a full-time student, so I was eager to establish culinary credentials in a short timeframe.
Because I wanted to start working in the industry right away, I looked for a program I could complete fairly quickly. ICE’s Culinary Arts program fit the bill.
I started the program in February and, by October of the same year, had landed a job at Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group.*
How Much Time Can You Commit Each Week?
The second question to consider also focuses on your availability. The total enrollment time of culinary school depends on how much time you can commit to your studies each week.
Some schools have scheduling options to accommodate different lifestyles. For example, here’s what that looks like at ICE:
- Weekday classes: Monday – Friday, 4 hours per day. Offered as a morning (8 a.m. – 12 p.m.) or afternoon (1 – 5 p.m.) class. This course takes 8 months to complete.
- Weeknight classes: Tuesday – Thursday, 4 hours per day from 6-10 p.m. This course takes 8 months to complete.
- Weekend classes: Saturday – Sunday, 8 hours per day from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. (ICE NY only). This course takes 12 months to complete.
While a weekend-only schedule may extend the overall length of culinary school, it can be a practical option for students with full-time jobs. (For those who can’t relocate, some schools, ICE among them, offer online programs.)
I chose the weekday morning class at ICE. I was on campus five days a week and was done by noon every day. Though I had quit my full-time office job to attend school, I was able to supplement my income — and my education — by working a front-of-house restaurant job in the evenings and on weekends during my program.
Several of my classmates began line cook jobs in the afternoons and evenings before the start of their official externship (a core component of many culinary schools where students gain hands-on training at hospitality businesses).
What Are Your Career Goals?
The third (and final) question centers around the type of culinary career you’re aiming for, as this may also impact how long your culinary school experience is.
In some cases, formal culinary training can help land you an interview or trail at a restaurant, catering company, food brand or other culinary business. (For certain business owners, formal education, especially from a top-rated culinary school, signals knowledge across an array of foundational skills.)
An associate’s degree is another option. As these programs also include general education courses, they may take longer to complete than diploma programs. For example, the ICE LA Culinary Arts associate degree program can be completed in about 15 months.
Lastly, many schools offer specializations that can be layered onto a culinary arts curriculum. If, for example, your goal is to open a restaurant, you might consider studying restaurant management, which teaches things like operations, financials and marketing. Depending on the school and scheduling options, this can impact the length of culinary school. (Some schools, including ICE, offer dual diploma discounts for students who enroll in multiple programs — something you may want to ask about when comparing options.)
In short, calculating how long culinary school will take to complete isn’t an exact science. But thinking about these questions can help you narrow your options and find a schedule that fits your life — not the other way around.
Request information on ICE’s Culinary Arts program and the variety of scheduling options here.
* Experience varies by student, with outcomes contingent on factors including graduate aptitude, job market, place of residence and work history, among others.
