Validate Your Program’s

Academic Quality with

ACFEF ACCREDITATION

Accreditation is the primary public symbol of legitimate higher education. Accreditation agencies regularly review and evaluate
an institution and/or program providing a “stamp of approval” that standards of the highest quality are being met. Currently, the
American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEF AC) is the only accrediting commission
for culinary arts and baking & pastry education programs at postsecondary institutions and secondary programs.
Postsecondary and Secondary Accreditation by the ACFEF AC assures a program is meeting at least a minimum of standards
for faculty, curriculum and student services and also assures future culinarians and bakers are learning and obtaining relevant
industry skill competencies.

Institution Benefits of Postsecondary and Secondary Accreditation

• Increases program prestige at a national level.
• Strong marketing tool for recruiting students.
• ACFEF accreditation acts as a third-party endorser for federal funding and helps to obtain additional Perkins funding and
Federal grants.
• Accredited program status is the most reliable verification of the quality of an educational program for the student and the public.
• Increases the ACF certification rate of graduates.

Student Benefits of Postsecondary and Secondary Accreditation

• Earn industry-recognized, stackable ACF certification upon graduation with digital badges to verify qualifications.
• Take advantage of special ACF membership opportunities providing students and graduates with regional and national
networking opportunities.
• Provides knowledge level standards for student employers.
• Employers recognize and favor hiring prospective employees from accredited programs because of the high-level of
knowledge based on competencies being taught
American Culinary Federation, Inc. • Attention: Accreditation • 180 Center Place Way • St. Augustine, FL 32095 • Toll-free: (800) 624-9458 • www.acfchefs.org

Eligibility for Postsecondary and Secondary Programmatic Accreditation

In order to achieve accreditation, a school must meet the following eligibility requirements, complete a self-study and have
a team of ACFEF AC trained evaluators visit your institution to determine whether your program meets or exceeds the
standards of quality set by the Commission. Accreditation is based on the successful outcome of the on-site evaluation.

1. Program must be offered at an institution which is legally authorized under

applicable state law to provide secondary or postsecondary education.

2. Programs must have a minimum of one year of graduates and a

graduation rate that is acceptable by the institution or accrediting body.

3. The facility must offer the technical phase of the student’s

culinary education in a professional, industry-standard kitchen.

4. The program will have an advisory committee that meets twice a year to
advise the program and respond to the changing needs of the industry.

5. All program faculty in the technical phase of the program must:

Secondary Programs:
a. Meet the qualifications of an ACF Certified Sous Chef
(CSC) or Certified Culinary Educator (CCE), or,
b. Have an Associate Degree or higher in a related discipline.

Postsecondary Programs:
a. Meet the qualifications of an ACF Certified Sous Chef
(CSC) level with 50% of fulltime faculty certifiable at the
Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) level. Certified Culinary
Educator (CCE) levels are encouraged, or,
b. Have an Associate Degree or higher in a related discipline

ACFEF AC accreditation standards and policy and procedures are available on the ACF website, www.acfchefs.org/accreditation.
The ACFEF AC Required Knowledge and Skills Competencies are proprietary and only shared with those programs accredited or
having applied for accreditation. Required Knowledge Areas are listed below as reference.

Culinary Arts Baking and Pastry

1. Introduction to Food Service 1. Intro to Hospitality and Baking and Pastry
2. Sanitation and Safety 2. Sanitation and Safety
3. Business and Culinary Math Skills 3. Business and Culinary Math Skills
4. Food Preparation 4. Basic Baking
5. Garde Manger 5. Bakery Planning (secondary only)
6. Beverage Management (post only) 6. Baking Preparation (secondary only)
7. Basic Baking 7. Advanced Baking, Pastry and Confections
8. Purchasing and Receiving 8. Purchasing and Receiving
9. Nutrition 9. Nutrition
10. Dining Room Service 10. Supervisory Management
11. Menu Planning 11. Environmental Sustainability (post only)
12. Supervisory Management
13. Environmental Sustainability
American Culinary Federation, Inc. • Attention: Accreditation • 180 Center Place Way • St. Augustine, FL 32095 • Toll-free: (800) 624-9458 • www.acfchefs.org

Cost of ACFEF Accreditation

The accreditation cost listed below covers the ACFEF AC application fee, self-study review fee and the site visit team evaluator
expenses (air travel, ground transportation and meals) for both initial and renewing programs. The fees do not include the site
visit hotel accommodations. Hotel accommodations must be arranged by and directly billed to the program. Confirmation
numbers and proof of payment will be submitted to the ACF Accreditation department 30 days prior to the site visit.
*Please note initial programs, will be invoiced for the purchase of the ACFEF AC proprietary Required Knowledge and Skills
Competencies prior to the application process. Once payment is received, the initial program will receive the RKSC pertaining to
your programs and the ACFEF AC accreditation application. When the application has been reviewed and accepted by the ACF
national office, a date selection sheet for your on-site visit and your self-study template will be sent to the program coordinator.

Postsecondary School Initial Accreditation Fee $5,250

• 4,500 Accreditation Fee
• $750 purchase of ACFEF AC Required Knowledge and
Postsecondary renewal fee $4500
Skill Competencies
• First renewal 3 years from initial
ACFEF accreditation
• Every renewal forward if preformed
every 5 years unless deemed am
Exemplary Program

Secondary Initial Accreditation Fee $3000

• 2,500 Accreditation Fee
• $500 purchase of ACFEF AC Required
Knowledge and Skill Competencies

Secondary renewal fee 2,500

• First renewal 3 years from initial ACFEF accreditation
• Every renewal forward if preformed every 5 years

For more information and to start the process, please contact the ACFEF Accreditation Team at accreditation@acfchefs.net or
(800) 624-9458.