How to Become a Chef in New Hampshire

People working in the field of culinary arts can work in anything from fast food restaurants to fine dining destinations. Most start off as cooks and are responsible for prepping ingredients, cooking and cleaning up. Those interested in advancing their careers can eventually become chefs. At this point, they will supervise kitchen staff and plan menus. [En Español]

Find Schools in New Hampshire

Requirements for Becoming a Chef in New Hampshire

Chefs in New Hampshire do not have to meet any official requirements in order to begin work. However, having a high school diploma or GED, previous cooking experience and American Culinary Federation (ACF) certification can give applicants a competitive advantage.

New Hampshire Schools for Chefs

Aspiring chefs have several options when it comes to formal culinary training in New Hampshire. Here are some programs to consider:

  • Southern New Hampshire University. SNHU’s unique culinary program includes on year of on-campus instruction and training followed by a second year spent completing an internship in a restaurant or other dining establishment. Students will graduate with an associate’s degree in culinary arts.
  • New Hampshire Culinary Institute at White Mountains Community College. The New Hampshire Culinary Institute is the oldest culinary arts program in New England. It offers associate’s degrees in culinary arts and in baking and pastry arts, and students in both programs will have the opportunity to work at college-affiliated restaurants off campus.

Certifications for Becoming a Chef in New Hampshire

Cooks who would like to become chefs or simply refresh their training and skills on a periodic basis should consider becoming ACF certified. The organization offers nine levels of certification, from Certified Fundamentals Cook to Certified Master Chef. To successfully achieve the final level of certification, applicants must have a high level of culinary education and significant work experience.

In certain cases, food handlers may be required to attend a ServSafe course or a similar food handling training, depending on their employer’s preferences and local regulations

Career Outlook and Salary Expectations

Jobs for chefs and head cooks on a national level are expected to grow by 9.6 percent from 2016 to 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. Cooks in other areas will likely see job growth of about 4.2 percent. In New Hampshire, chefs’ jobs are projected to grow at a rate of 10.2 percent, while cooks’ jobs will increase by about 5.6 percent.

New Hampshire chefs and head cooks have an average salary of $49,130 per year, while cooks typically average a salary of $26,412.

Working as a Chef in New Hampshire

Working in the culinary arts provides people with a large amount of flexibility and mobility. They can work anywhere in the state, though jobs in fine dining restaurants and roles with higher salaries are more likely to be available in larger cities.

Chefs and cooks can work in a wide range of establishments, including butcher shops, bakeries, fast food restaurants, casual dining spots, fine dining restaurants and institutional settings. While work environments will differ from place to place, chefs and cooks can typically expect their work to be fast-paced, with new challenges each day and a high level of collaboration with their coworkers.

Popular Colleges

College Programs

Manchester, NH Area

Nashua Community College

505 Amherst St, Nashua, New Hampshire 03063-1026
(603) 578-8900
Culinary Arts – Associate Program

The Associate’s program in Culinary Arts at Nashua Community College can be taken at their campus in the city of Nashua. The majority of of the school’s 2,056 students are on 2-year programs. The college is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Tuition fees for in-state students are generally around $6,912 and for out-of-state students approximately $15,072 annually. Study materials can cost around $1,400, depending on the program chosen.

Southern New Hampshire University

2500 North River Road, Manchester, New Hampshire 03106-1045
(603) 668-2211
Culinary and Baking Arts – Associate Program, Culinary and Baking Arts – Certificate Program

Southern New Hampshire University offers multiple training options, including an Associate program and a Certificate program. Classes are taken at their campus in the city of Manchester, New Hampshire. Of the 61,285 students, about 28% are postgraduates. The university is institutionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The cost of tuition is generally in the order of $31,136 yearly. Books and supplies can cost about $1,200, although this will depend on the program.

Northern New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area Area

White Mountains Community College

2020 Riverside Drive, Berlin, New Hampshire 03570
(603) 752-1113
Baking and Pastry Arts – Certificate Program, Baking and Pastry Arts – Associate Program

White Mountains Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are taught at their campus in the town of Berlin. Most of the school’s 1,001 students are on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Fees for tuition for in-state students are in the order of $7,344 and for students from outside the state likely to be about $15,504 yearly, while books and supplies may cost about $1,400, although this varies from program to program.

Other New Hampshire nonmetropolitan area Area

Lakes Region Community College

379 Belmont Road, Laconia, New Hampshire 03246
(603) 366-5221
Pastry Arts – Certificate Program, Pastry Arts – Associate Program

Lakes Region Community College offers multiple training options, including a Certificate program and an Associate program. All programs are imparted at their campus in the town of Laconia, NH. This public college has roughly 1,170 students in total, with the majority of students on 2-year programs. The college is institutionally accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. Tuition fees for in-state students are around $6,642 and for out-of-state students around $14,802 for each academic year, while study materials may cost roughly $1,400, depending on the program.

Rochester-Dover, NH-ME Area

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus

105 Main St., Thompson Hall, Durham, New Hampshire 03824-3547
(603) 862-1234
Culinary Arts – Associate Program

The Associate’s program in Culinary Arts at University of New Hampshire is offered at their Main campus in Durham in Strafford County, NH. This is a full, 4-year public college with 15,351 students, of which 85% are undergraduates. The University of New Hampshire-Main Campus has institutional accreditation from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Commission on Institutions of Higher Education. The retention rate of full-time students at this college is 85%. Tuition fees for in-state students are generally in the order of $17,624 and for students from outside the state approximately $31,424 annually, while study materials may cost around $1,200, depending on the program.

* Tuition fees and accredition status are correct at the time of writing, according to the National Center for Education Statistics (http://nces.ed.gov/). Confirm with college before applying.

Neighbor States

Residents of New Hampshire may also wish to review their options in Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and New York.