Frequently Asked Questions

Attend culinary school from the convenience of your own kitchen. Our online courses can be completed day or night, on your own schedule.

Plan on spending roughly 30 minutes watching each demonstration from your laptop or phone. You will be provided a minute-by-minute timeline for how to complete each lab. Your Chef Instructor will provide feedback and professional tips on how to get the results you want. Get your questions answered by an experienced Chef who is dedicated to your success. 

Professional Certificate in the Culinary Arts

• 192 hours
• 5-16 weeks

Cuisine Certificate

• 96 hours
• 5-8 weeks

Pastry & Baking Certificate

• 96 hours
• 5-8 weeks

On-campus programs are GI Bill® Eligible

Our courses are created for everyone, including all ages and all levels of experience!

We have had students of all ages from under 18 to over 60. When our founder attended culinary school in France, they wouldn’t give her a student visa because she was “too old” to be a student. So was Julia Child! At Park City Culinary Institute, all ages are welcome.  You’ll become part of a great alumni network of like-minded people.

Our youngest student to date was age 11.

Students under age 18 can attend with a waiver from a parent or guardian. Students without a high school degree or GED can also sign a waiver. The waivers are required by the State since we can’t offer a “professional” education to minors or students who haven’t completed high school yet. That said, you can attend the same course as professionals. Once you turn 18 and/or earn your high school degree or GED you can turn in your non-professional Certificate for a Professional Certificate!

The founder of Park City Culinary Institute, Laurie Moldawer, went to culinary school because she didn’t know how to cook. Her friends in college would tease her for eating out every night and to this day, she still eats out! But she loved attending culinary school, and learning how to cook. For her, cooking lessons are cathartic and relaxing. She’s taken cooking classes all over the world, and wants nothing more than to attend her own culinary school one day.

Over the years we’ve had many students with over 10 years of experience cooking professionally take our courses. They’ve loved the culinary school experience and it has helped them make sense of recipes they’ve been using. Understanding the proper techniques will also help you tweak recipes to get better results. (Sad but true – many recipes are just plain wrong).

We are dedicated to help you succeed!

The Professional Certificate in Culinary Arts Program is designed to prepare students for both a career or to start their own business. The shorter certificates in Pastry and Baking, and Cuisine, prepare students for more specific roles in the Food & Beverage industry. Serious amateurs and food enthusiasts also attend.

Students interested in professional training must possess a high school diploma, or GED (General Education Development) Certificate, and be beyond the age of compulsory high school attendance, as prescribed by Utah law per Rule 152-34-4(3) of the Utah Administrative Code (generally 18 years old by the first day of class). Those not meeting those requirements can still attend the same courses without the “Professional” designation. See how to use a waiver to attend in FAQ 4.

The Certified Mixologist training requires that students be 21 or older to attend, and not have a DUI in the prior five years.

Applicants will be evaluated based on their dedicated interest in the program and the seriousness with which they intend to broaden their skills. Work experience in the profession will be considered, but is not required. As the program is designed to challenge both entry-level students as well as those with some work and educational experience, no prior credit, reduced hours or tuition discount is available for any previous education. The only exception to this policy is for Veterans attending on the GI Bill®. Eligible veterans must submit a transcript of all related education and military training, and coordinate with the Director of Admissions to schedule a Skills Assessment with one of the Chef Instructors. The decision to grant any prior credit is at the discretion of the Chef Instructor. Any hours credited will not require attendance, and a pro-rata adjustment to tuition will be made.

To apply for one of our courses, you would need to fill out our online application which takes about 15 minutes.

We will ask questions to learn whether you’re a novice or experienced cook, and what your goals are for your program. This is so that we can tailor the course to you! Our admissions Committee will review your application and generally get back to you within a day or two.

Apply Now!

To view the pricing for on-campus classes, click here.

To view the pricing for online classes, click here.