line cook Career Center

Boards, Associations and Professional Groups as a Line Cook

Working as a line cook is often the first step to a long and rewarding career in the culinary arts. It is common to find budding chefs in these positions, either during their culinary school studies or after graduation. If you’re trying to get your foot in the door in the restaurant industry, it’s a great way to get real-world experience while networking and marketing yourself.

Another great way to network and market yourself is by joining a professional association. There are numerous culinary associations, professional groups and boards that provide a wealth of resources to line cooks, chefs and other professionals working in this industry. The following organizations are among the most widely recognized.

• American Culinary Federation, Inc. – The American Culinary Federation is based in St. Augustine, Florida, although the nonprofit organization was founded in New York City in 1929. The federation promotes culinary education for all professionals working in this field, from apprentices and line cooks to executive chefs and other culinary masters. More than 23,000 people belong to the ACF in the United States and the Caribbean. 
• International Association of Culinary Professionals – The International Association of Culinary Professionals is a nonprofit organization that has more than 4,000 members in 35 countries. IACP members gain access to a wealth of resources, including career development and continuing education. In addition to chefs and cooks, culinary educators and communications professionals also belong to the association, providing a unique opportunity for networking and idea exchange among culinary professionals around the world.     
• Professional Chef’s Association – The Professional Chef’s Association is a national organization for chefs and other food service professionals. The association offers a wide range of resources to members, including trade shows, certification programs, job postings, industry news, health and safety information and more.
• World Association of Chefs’ Societies – The World Association of Chefs’ Societies is an international organization that encompasses various boards, associations and professional groups for chefs and other culinary professionals around the world. The association was founded in 1928, and today there are 93 different chef associations that belong to the global network. The WACS is run like a government body, with a president, vice president and so forth, and with committees on culinary competitions, education and marketing.

Belonging to one of these culinary associations is a great advantage for line cooks, apprentices, food preparers and other budding professionals who are new to the culinary industry. Many seasoned professionals working in the most prestigious establishments in the world also belong to these types of professional organizations, so it provides an excellent opportunity for networking with and learning from the best of the best. Most chef associations only require a nominal fee, and there are many benefits that come in return for the cost of membership.