Birmingham Culinary School at the Culinard
Any important decision is accompanied by important questions, and attending culinary arts school is no different. How much will it cost? How long does it take? How do I start? Can I get financial aid? Get the information you need, and the answers you're looking for.
If you are interested in attending cooking school at Culinard - Alabama campus, we recommend you look at the information below and see if this school is the right fit. If it is, click on the Request School Info button, fill out the short questionnaire and a representative from the school will contact you to answer any additional questions about the school, costs, financial aid and how to apply.
Culinard (in affiliation with Virginia College)
436 Palisades Blvd
Birmingham, AL 35209
About Culinard - The Culinary Institute of Virginia College
Committed to providing students with a superior education in the culinary arts, Culinard - The Culinary Institute of Virginia College provides the skills, knowledge, and foundation in the culinary arts needed in order to develop a career in the hospitality industry.
Focusing on the passion to create, and operating under the guiding principle that fine cuisine is an art, and not just "good food", the faculty and staff at Culinard - The Culinary Institute of Virginia College are committed to sharing their skill, knowledge, and passion for the culinary arts with each student, helping graduates develop a taste for success.
Culinary Programs
Culinary Arts Diploma - Designed to provide you with a complete education in culinary arts so you can find an entry-level job in the food industry upon graduation. The program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation and provides hands on realistic training. You will receive a solid background of practical training in various culinary courses including fundamental, intermediate and advanced food production skills, baking skill, garde manager and mixology.
Pastry Arts Diploma - Designed to give you a diversified education in the field of pastry arts. By using a hands on approach, you will learn the practical training necessary to work in the pastry service industry. Besides learning the fundamental skills and intermediate & advanced pastry production, you will be trained in several aspects of food service management.
Culinar Arts Caeer Services - The intensive 36-week culinary arts program at Culinard is designed to prepare students for careers in restaurants, hotels, resorts, casinos, cruise ships, catering companies, hospitals and many other places where a love of cooking and the proper training can take them.
Culinary Arts Associate Degree (Online) - Designed for students who already have formal training in culinary skills at a post-secondary level but who want an associate degree and a broader skill base in order to increase opportunities for employment and advancement. The program offers a broad, practical curriculum and real-world instruction using convenient, on-line classes that give students the education they need for a successful career in the culinary arts.
Note: This program is offered in the online format but to qualify for admission, candidates must have successfully completed a diploma program that offers training in cooking and kitchen skills comparable to the one offered by Culinard, the Culinary Institute of Virginia College. Prospective students should speak with an Admissions Associate to determine acceptability of earned credits or degrees from other institutions.
Culinard Cooking School Accreditation
Culinard/Virginia College is a senior college accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools to award certificates, diplomas, associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees.
The Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools is listed as a nationally recognized accrediting agency by the United States Department of Education and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.
This program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation and follows the guidelines prescribed by the American Culinary Federation Accrediting Commission.
The American Culinary Federation, Inc, (ACF) is the premier professional chefs' organization in North America, with more than 230 chapters nationwide and 19,000 members.
Financial Aid
Culinard - The Culinary Institute of Virginia College participates in a wide variety of financial aid programs, including scholarships, Pell Grants, and student loans. The financial aid department at Culinard is ready to answer any financial aid questions you might have.
Accreditation
Faculty
Known for their creative and innovative methods of instruction, the faculty and staff at Culinard - The Culinary Institute of Virginia College are world-class chefs in their own right. In addition to small class sizes, students will gain real-world insight via hands-on training.
Facilities
The kitchen labs at the Culinard include a Garde manger lab, two savory culinary labs and one Bakeshop for pastry cookery. Each lab can accommodate sixteen students and are equipped with four six burner gas cook tops and ovens, braising kettles and deck ovens . These learning centers are state of the art and modeled from professional kitchens. They provide you with the best equipment and real life situation to learn your skills.
Going to Culinary School in Birmingham, Alabama
The Birmingham - Hoover Metropolitan Area offers a great quality of life. The housing market and cost of living are among the most affordable in the Southeast. Area schools are nationally recognized among the nation's best. And even though the state's largest city is a bustling metropolitan city, Birmingham still holds its southern roots.
Birmingham also offers the best in weather. Blessed with a great climate, Birmingham is a terrific place to not only visit, but to live. You can golf practically the year-round and enjoy the outdoors through all of our four magnificent seasons. Our sunny climate dovetails beautifully with the sunny Southern hospitality of our people. You'll find the city is a warm and cheerful place filled with people who will go out of their way to make your time here memorable.
Recreational opportunities are abundant with all the cultural attributes of a much larger metropolitan area. Moreover, Birmingham is nestled in the hills and valleys of one of the most beautiful areas of the country. With four seasons, Birmingham is a great place to go play outdoors whether it's hiking in Oak Mountain State Park, smelling the flowers at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens or canoeing down the Cahaba River.
Other Schools of Interest In Alabama
Culinard - Mobile
What Do You Need To Know to Get Into Culinary School?
As the Reluctant Gourmet, I have never been to cooking school, but I keep telling myself it's never too late. The best way for you to learn more about becoming a chef is to visit my new Culinary School Resource Center. Here you will find articles, books, school resources and many other useful resources.
Also, try reading as much as you can about going to cooking school and what it is like to be a professional chef. One book I highly recommend to anyone thinking about culinary school is, The Making of A Chef, by Michael Ruhlman. It will really help you understand what you may be getting yourself into. For a complete list of Books For Cooks.
