Culinary Training Apprenticeship
Begin your culinary journey, learning the skills you need to excel in a professional kitchen.
About the Program
At Kitchens for Good we believe everyone deserves access to a quality job. We offer California State-Certified apprenticeship training in Culinary Arts, designed to help individuals facing barriers to employment gain the skills needed to create sustainable careers.
Our tuition-free apprenticeship training programs provide hands-on training and expert instruction from experienced professionals.
As an apprentice, you will learn valuable skills and receive the support and resources needed to launch a sustainable career in the industry. So why wait? Join us and start your apprenticeship journey today.
300+
Job Seekers Served
Through our apprenticeship program.
72%
Completion Rate
Training portion completed.
$20.00
Per Hour
+$2.25 above San Diego’s
minimum wage.
287
Job Placements
Apprentices assisted
in finding a job.
Who Do We Serve?
- Justice-impacted individuals
- People who have experienced homelessness
- Former foster youth and TAY
- Individuals in recovery
- People navigating mental health challenges
- Veterans
- Adults facing barriers to employment and seeking a culinary career
This Program is right for you if you are:
- Motivated and ready to work hard
- Interested in building a career in the food service industry
- Able to commit to a full-time training schedule during the initial training period (4 to 11 weeks, depending on your program)
- Ready to participate in hands-on learning, professional development workshops, and real-world work experience
- Committed to completing all phases of the apprenticeship program, including classroom training and employer-based on-the-job training*
*Training schedules vary by program and are subject to change with notice. Initial training takes place at our Linda Vista campus, followed by paid on-the-job training with a food service employer in San Diego County.
Benefits of Our Apprenticeship Training
- Tuition-free, hands-on apprenticeship training from industry professionals
- Weekly stipends of $40 per training day attended, (approximately $160 per week) during initial skills training
- Transportation support for 12 months
- Uniforms and tools needed to perform professionally
- San Diego Food handlers’ certificate
- Paid on-the-job training in the San Diego area
- With Kitchens for Good Employer Partners or through,
- Supported Job Search
- 12 months of career coaching and customized support services
- A career with starting compensation well above minimum wage + possible benefits
What We Provide
Full-time culinary training
Expect to spend about 6 hours each day in a commercial kitchen learning from professionally trained chefs. You’ll work both on your own and in a team to learn professional techniques while also learning the ins and outs of the kitchen.
Career readiness classes
Navigating the unspoken expectations of a professional kitchen can be a challenge for many individuals. That’s why every day you show up to our program, you’ll spend 1-2 hours in the classroom learning about the unspoken expectations and how to meet them.
Supplemental culinary training
Once you start working, you’ll still come back to campus on a regular basis to take culinary classes to hone your skills. If coming to campus doesn’t work for your schedule, we have online classes you can do instead.
In-person check-ins and ongoing career service support
Every new job has its challenges. KFG staff will reach out on a regular basis to see how you are doing and provide support. And you are always welcome to stop by campus if you’d prefer to talk through a challenge in person.
Skills You Will Learn
Application and Training Timeline
Apply
Once eligibility is established and if the program seems to be a good fit you, applicant will be asked to complete a Try Out and Phone Interview.
A Try Out is a 2.5-hour process. It consists of a 1-hour Info Session and 1.5-hour Physical Activity. We do not assess on culinary skills; we assess on how well an applicant works with others and how they take instructions and feedback from our team of instructors.
Initial Foundational Skills Training
If accepted, you’ll attend free, full-time, foundational skill training at our Linda Vista campus. Apprenticeship training also covers essential career skills such as effective communication, résumé writing, and interviewing techniques.
Kitchens for Good provides an educational stipend, transportation support, and individual resource navigation to help you stay on track to complete the 12+month program.
4-Week Training Schedule
Already have a little culinary experience? This schedule covers the basics of our program over four weeks. Then, you’ll move into on-the-job training and return to Kitchens for Good ~4 times per month to finish your on-campus training.
10-Week Training Schedule
Want to focus on your classroom training before starting work? With this schedule, you’ll have a chance to spend more time with your instructors and classmates before you start on-the-job training, gaining more hands-on skills sooner.
On-The-Job Training
9-11 months – After completing foundational skills training and demonstrating your grasp of key concepts, you’ll move into on-the-job training. We’ll assist you in securing a paid, full-time or part-time position with a food service employer in San Diego County.
Kitchens for Good staff will check in with you monthly to provide ongoing support. We’ll help ensure that you remain employed, your wages increase, and you take advantage of opportunities for career advancement.
Earn Your Certificate
Once you complete 360 hours of on-campus training, 9-11 months of on-the-job training with an eligible Employer Partner, and pass a competency test, you will receive a Certificate of Completion from the State of California’s Division of Apprenticeship Standards (DAS).
This certification is an important accomplishment that improves your future employability and earning potential.
Apprentice Testimonials
Testimonials for the carousel below (hidden on the live site). Edit the text and photos here. To add one, duplicate a blue card. Keep the order: quote, role line, name, photo.
“Kitchens for Good has made an impact on me by building my self-confidence. They gave me the support I never had on the outside. It’s so easy to talk to the people here, and getting to know everyone helped me come out of my shell.”
Culinary Apprentice | Cohort 37
Brandice
“[I was surprised] that I am still able to come on campus for anything – even though I graduated I still get treated like I am in school even though I finished.”
Culinary Apprentice | Cohort 35
Bernard
“Since the moment I was accepted into the KFG program, the outpouring of support I have received has been by far outmatched by anything I ever expected.”
Culinary Apprentice | Cohort 26
Emmy
“Kitchens for Good has given me confidence – the ability to believe in myself and the endurance to believe in myself. It’s given me so much grace as well as knowledge and taken away my fears.”
Culinary Apprentice | Cohort 27
Annahlisa
Frequently Asked Questions
Campus Location
Address
Door of Hope 2799
Health Center Drive
San Diego, CA 92123
