American Culinary Federation (ACF) Certification Apprenticeship Information

ACF Philadelphia General Meeting:

The ACF Philadelphia holds their monthly meetings on the second Tuesday of each month, September through June. Meeting places vary throughout the Philadelphia area. There are no meetings in July or August. Students are encouraged to become active members and attend meetings. Please remember that these meetings are geared toward professional chefs—please dress accordingly. All members are expected to wear business attire; however clean chef’s whites are also appropriate. For meeting information either contact Chef Philip Pinkney at 267-295-2358 or visit ACF's website.

LOG BOOKS: 

Don’t be left out!  Students are reminded to keep their ACF logbooks updated on a regular basis.  (The big white binder that you should have picked up from the Purchasing Center)  Any Certified Executive Chef or Executive Pastry Chef might sign your logbook to verify your hours of training.  (See Chefs Scanlan, Bast, Pinkney, Patton or Gallagher) Completion of the ACF logbook and your Associate degree program are eligible for points toward your Certified Culinarian or Certified Pastry Cook Certification.  The exam is given during your fourth semester—you will register for the exam during semester three.

ACF/Certified Cooks Exam:

All students seeking certification from the ACF much be a current member the entire time of the Apprenticeship, including at the time of graduation. 

To obtain your first level of ACF certification you will need to meet the following requirements:

-Verification of apprentice hours

-Successful completion of ACFEI training logbook

-Completed college transcript

-ACF membership (valid)

-Succesful completion or literary test

If you have the above requirements and wish to register for the next scheduled ACFEI written exam please call Chef Philip Pinkney at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College at 267-295-3058 to confirm your request for examination. There is a $25 fee for the exam, and it must be paid for in advance, because each exam is ordered from ACF Headquarters in Miami, FL, specifically for you.

Answers to Frequently Asked Questions.
Schedule of activities broken down by semester.

For more information visit the Apprenticeship Fundamentals page on the ACF website.

American Culinary Federation home page
ACF Philadelphia

Other hospitality-related organizations:

Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association

American Hotel and Lodging Association
American Personal Chefs Association
United States Personal Chef Association
Women Chefs and Restaurateurs
National Restaurant Association