How long does it take to become a chef?

A culinary diploma takes one to three years. If you train in a kitchen instead, you learn as you work. It then takes years of experience to reach head chef.

Do I need a degree to become a chef?

No. You need cooking skill, a qualification (like a City & Guilds diploma or a TVET cookery certificate), and kitchen experience. No degree is needed.

How much does a chef earn in South Africa?

Junior chefs start low, sometimes R8,000 a month. Sous chefs and head chefs earn more, and executive chefs and those overseas earn well.

What qualifications do I need to be a chef?

A professional cookery or culinary arts qualification, from a TVET college or a private culinary school. City & Guilds diplomas are common and recognised overseas.

Can I become a chef without matric?

Sometimes. Some culinary schools take Grade 10 or 11. But matric helps, and you can also start in a kitchen and learn on the job.

Can I become a chef by working in a kitchen?

Yes. Many chefs start as kitchen hands or juniors and learn by doing, while studying part-time. Skill and experience matter most.

How to become a chef in South Africa

A chef cooks food and runs a kitchen in a restaurant, hotel, lodge, or their own business. In South Africa you do not need a degree. You study professional cookery at a culinary school (often with an international City & Guilds qualification), or you train in a real kitchen through an apprenticeship. What matters most is your skill, speed, and experience. You start at the bottom and work your way up.

What does a chef do?

Chefs prepare and cook food, and keep the kitchen running. In a day, you might prep ingredients, cook dishes for many customers at once, plate food nicely, keep everything clean and safe, and work fast under pressure. Kitchens are hot, busy places, and you work as a team. You often work evenings, weekends, and holidays, when people eat out.

Where you can work

Restaurants
Hotels and game lodges
Catering companies
Cruise ships
Coffee shops and bakeries
Your own business

Kinds of this work

Restaurant cookingHotels and game lodgesPastry and bakingPrivate and event cateringFood on ships or overseasYour own restaurant or food business

Is this job right for you?

This job is good for you if

You love food and cooking
You work fast and stay calm under pressure
You are creative and neat
You are clean and careful with food safety
You can stand and work long hours
You can take orders and work in a team

The hard parts

Long hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays
Hot, busy, and stressful kitchens
You start on low pay
The work is physical and tiring
It can take years to reach head chef

How you can grow

Your job can get bigger over time. This is a common path.

1
Commis (junior) chef
You start with basic prep and cooking.
2
Chef de partie
You run one section of the kitchen.
3
Sous chef
You are second in charge of the kitchen.
4
Head chef
You run the whole kitchen and menu.
5
Executive chef or owner
You lead across a hotel group, or open your own place.

Steps to become a chef

1
Finish school (matric helps)
Matric helps you get into a good school, but some take Grade 10 or 11. Hospitality Studies is a bonus.
2
Choose a route
Study at a culinary school or TVET, or get a job in a kitchen and study part-time.
3
Learn to cook, fast and clean
You cook a lot, and do a work placement in a real kitchen.
4
Get a kitchen job and build experience
Start as a commis chef and learn every section.
5
Work your way up
With skill and years, you rise to chef de partie, sous chef, and head chef.

Questions people ask

Written and checked by the NavyBlue Editorial Team. Last updated 2026-07-16. Pay numbers are a guide only. Where we got this: City & Guilds (international qualifications), South African Chefs Association