Professional Chef & Culinary Arts
Cook Pakistani, Asian and continental dishes to a professional standard, safely, consistently and on cost.
25% theory · 75% practical
- For: Young people who want a career in kitchens; Home cooks turning professional
- You'll produce: Knife skills and mise en place
- Duration3–6 months
- Modules8 modules
- Learning modeOn campus
- EligibilityMiddle or Matric, or equivalent
- AssessmentPractical cooking assessment
- Next batchDates coming soon
On Campus and Hybrid: Our Centres for This Training
Centres for this training are being confirmed. Ask a counsellor for the nearest one.
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About This Training
ZEF's Professional Chef & Culinary Arts training is a practical programme of 3–6 months covering kitchen safety, knife skills, food preparation, Pakistani and Asian cuisine, continental cuisine, costing and menu planning. Most time is spent cooking in a training kitchen.
Why 3 to 6 months? Every batch covers the same modules, practical work and assessments. Full-time weekday batches finish in about 3 months; part-time evening or weekend batches, and learners who need extra practice before the final assessment, take up to 6 months.
Benchmarked against NAVTTC’s competency-based Cook and Chef de Partie curricula and the City & Guilds Diploma in Food Preparation and Cooking units.
Training Outline
- 8 modules
- 8 hands-on tasks
1Food Safety and Kitchen Hygiene4 topics
Topics
- Food hazards and contamination
- Temperature control and storage
- Personal hygiene and cleaning schedules
- HACCP basics
You Will Be Able To
- Prepare and store food safely
- Keep a kitchen clean and compliant
Hands-on
- Food-safety practical and HACCP log exercise
2Kitchen Operations and Equipment4 topics
Topics
- Kitchen brigade and roles
- Equipment use and care
- Mise en place and workflow
- Working safely under pressure
You Will Be Able To
- Organise a station and work efficiently in a team
Hands-on
- Station set-up and service simulation
3Knife Skills and Preparation3 topics
Topics
- Knife care and sharpening
- Classic cuts: julienne, brunoise, chiffonade
- Preparing vegetables, meat, poultry and fish
You Will Be Able To
- Prepare ingredients with correct, safe knife technique
Hands-on
- Timed knife-skills practical
4Cooking Methods, Stocks and Sauces3 topics
Topics
- Boiling, steaming, frying, grilling, roasting, baking
- Stocks, soups and mother sauces
- Seasoning and taste
You Will Be Able To
- Apply core cooking methods consistently
- Make stocks and classic sauces
Hands-on
- Produce stocks and the five mother sauces
5Pakistani and South Asian Cuisine4 topics
Topics
- Spices and masalas
- Curries, karahi, biryani and pulao
- Breads: roti, naan, paratha
- BBQ and tandoor
You Will Be Able To
- Cook signature Pakistani dishes to a consistent standard
Hands-on
- Prepare a regional Pakistani menu
6Continental and International Cuisine4 topics
Topics
- Pasta and Italian basics
- Grills, roasts and accompaniments
- Chinese and fusion dishes
- Plating and presentation
You Will Be Able To
- Prepare international dishes with professional plating
Hands-on
- Cook and plate a three-training continental menu
7Baking and Desserts3 topics
Topics
- Breads and doughs
- Cakes, pastry and cookies
- Traditional sweets and desserts
You Will Be Able To
- Produce basic breads, pastries and desserts
Hands-on
- Bake a bread and pastry selection
8Menu Planning, Costing and Practical Exam4 topics
Topics
- Menu design for different outlets
- Recipe costing and portion control
- Stock control and waste reduction
- Final cooking assessment
You Will Be Able To
- Cost recipes and plan a profitable menu
- Cook a full menu under assessment conditions
Hands-on
- Final practical: plan, cost and cook a menu for service
Who It's for and Eligibility
Who It's For
- Young people who want a career in kitchens
- Home cooks turning professional
- Kitchen helpers aiming for commis chef roles
- People preparing for hotel and restaurant work abroad
Eligibility
- Middle or Matric, or equivalent
- Good health and hygiene for food handling
- Ability to stand and work in a busy kitchen
Your Path Through This Training
- LearnKitchen safety, hygiene and cooking methods
- PracticeDaily cooking in the training kitchen
- ProveA timed practical cooking assessment
- PrepareCV, kitchen trial preparation and portfolio photos
- ProgressCommis chef and line cook roles here and abroad
What You'll Produce
Knife Skills and Mise En Place
Standard cuts and preparation assessed for speed and accuracy.
Costed Recipe Cards
Standard recipes with portion costs.
Capstone: Three-Training Menu
Plan, cost, cook and present a menu under time pressure.
Tools and Equipment You'll Use
- Commercial ranges and ovens
- Chef knives and prep tools
- Food thermometers
- Recipe costing sheets
- HACCP hygiene checklists
How You're Assessed
An assessor observes you prepare, cook and present dishes to time, with hygiene and consistency checked, and reviews your costed menu. Your result is Competent or Not yet competent, with a chance to reassess.
- Assessment 1After modules 1–3
- Assessment 2After modules 4–6
- Final assessmentAfter all 8 modules, for your certificate
Career Pathway
Roles in Pakistan
- Commis Chef
- Line Cook
- Kitchen Assistant
- Catering Assistant
International
- Pakistan hotels/restaurants
- Saudi/UAE/Qatar/Oman
- International hotels/restaurants
Subject to employer, licensing, visa and qualification-recognition requirements.
Opportunities in Pakistan and Abroad
- 727,381Pakistanis registered for jobs abroad in 2024Source: BE&OE
- $38.3 billionsent home by overseas Pakistanis in 2024-25Source: State Bank of Pakistan
- 62%of workers going abroad in 2024 went to Saudi ArabiaSource: BE&OE
Where the Jobs Are
Live listings for “chef”. Opens the job site.| Country | Demand | Find jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | See live listings | Rozee.pk LinkedIn Indeed |
| Saudi Arabia | 452,562Pakistani workers who went there in 2024 | Bayt LinkedIn Indeed |
| Oman | 81,587Pakistani workers who went there in 2024 | Bayt LinkedIn Indeed |
| United Arab Emirates | 64,130Pakistani workers who went there in 2024 | Bayt LinkedIn Indeed |
| Qatar | 40,818Pakistani workers who went there in 2024 | Bayt LinkedIn Indeed |
| Bahrain | 25,198Pakistani workers who went there in 2024 | Bayt LinkedIn Indeed |
Overseas figures: all occupations, 2024, Bureau of Emigration & Overseas Employment (BE&OE). They show where Pakistani workers find jobs abroad, not vacancies for this training.
What the Same Job Pays Abroad
Official pay figures for chef roles in four countries that recruit skilled workers.
| Country and job | Pay (local) | ≈ US$ a year | ≈ Rs a month |
|---|---|---|---|
| USAChefs and head cooks | US$62,470 a year (median)US Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2025 | ≈ US$ a year: $62k | ≈ Rs a month: Rs 1,447,000 |
| CanadaCook | C$18 an hour (median)Job Bank, Government of Canada, 2023-2024 | ≈ US$ a year: $26k | ≈ Rs a month: Rs 609,000 |
| AustraliaChefs | A$1,423 a week (median, full time)Jobs and Skills Australia, May 2025 | ≈ US$ a year: $52k | ≈ Rs a month: Rs 1,197,000 |
| United KingdomChef | £22,000–£40,000 a yearUK National Careers Service, 2026 | ≈ US$ a year: $29k–53k | ≈ Rs a month: Rs 677,000–1,230,000 |
Employee pay before tax: medians, or starter-to-experienced ranges (UK). Hourly and weekly medians are shown for a full-time year (2,080 hours or 52 weeks). Converted at European Central Bank reference rates (6 Oct 2026) and Rs 278 per US dollar. Living costs abroad are much higher than in Pakistan. Working abroad is subject to employer, licensing, visa and qualification-recognition requirements.
Jobs in Each Country
Chef: how many people do this job, openings, the outlook and the usual way in, from official labour statistics.
- USAChefs and head cooks
- People employed (2025)
- 220,300
- Openings a year
- 25,200
- Average pay a month
- US$5,210≈ Rs 1,447,000
- Outlook
- 7% (Much faster than average), 2025–35
- Experience
- 5 years or more in a related job
- Usual entry
- High school diploma or equivalent
- CanadaCook
- People employed (2023)
- 171,700
- Average pay a month
- C$3,120≈ Rs 609,000
- Outlook
- Moderate risk of shortage, 2024–2033
Counts are for the whole occupation in that country, not vacancies for ZEF students. Average pay is the official median (or the middle of the UK range) shown above, per month before tax.
Employers in This Field
Examples of organisations in Pakistan and abroad that employ people in this role. This is not a list of current vacancies: check each company’s careers page.
- Serena HotelsPakistan
- Pearl-Continental HotelsPakistan
- JumeirahUAE
- Emirates GroupUAE
- Marriott InternationalInternational
- HiltonInternational
- AccorInternational
Company websites, checked October 2026.
These are published national figures and market benchmarks to help you plan, not a promise of a job or income. What you earn depends on your skills, experience, employer and city. Subject to employer, licensing, visa and qualification-recognition requirements.
Questions
Are ingredients included?
Ingredients for practical sessions are included in the training fee. This is one reason culinary trainings cost more than classroom trainings.
Which cuisines will I learn?
Pakistani and Asian cuisine, plus continental and international basics, so you can work in local restaurants, hotels and international kitchens.
Can this help me work in Gulf hotels?
Hotels and restaurants in the Gulf recruit cooks, usually after a practical kitchen trial, and subject to employer, visa and qualification-recognition requirements. The training prepares you for those trials.
Register Your Interest
Leave your details and a counsellor will call or WhatsApp you to answer questions, confirm fees and batch dates, and check this training fits your goals.