Anyone with a passion for food and a fantastic work ethic can meet the requirements to become a chef. Although there are some credentials you have to have, they are not that stringent. All you need is a food handlers card, a high school education, and you can begin your culinary school training.  That, however, is where the work begins.

You see, I have seen a lot of people try becoming a chef for a variety of different reasons. Some people do it because they think they will make a lot of money. Almost all of these folks burn out pretty quickly. Some people do it because of a love of food, but are unable to work under the pressure of the kitchen.

These folks do not do very well either. If you want to become a chef, you have to combine a passion for food, an ability to work well with others, an uncanny level of skill at keeping cool under pressure, and a willingness to Initially work very hard for very little money.

Don't get me wrong – the top chefs make a killing. If you become a personal chef in a wealthy household or get a posting in a gourmet restaurant, you can make a very good living indeed. These types of jobs, I am sorry to say, are the exception more than the rule. Anyone who wants to become a chef can make it to the top, but it takes hard work and perseverance year after year after year.

Of course, how you do in culinary school can make a big difference. Training to become a chef has a lot more to do with connections and demonstrated skill than it does with certificates. If you can impress your teachers, you can get letters of recommendation to some very fine dining establishments right out of school. That will help your career tremendously. Everyone likes a hard worker with good taste in food, and the best chefs advance the quickest. You have to be diligent, however, and you have to be smart.

Then again, if you aren't into the high pressure, competitive in environments of gourmet cooking, you might want to become a pastry chef. Pastry chefs can still make good money, and they do it in a much more relaxed way. You don't have to worry about being slammed by dinner service. You can take your time and get the job down in a steady, relaxed manner. For many people, this is the perfect way to become a chef.