Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality is a Certificate program offered by Treasure Coast Technical College in Vero Beach, FL. The program takes 1,200 clock hours — 11 months to complete, with a total tuition of $3,504.
Program Overview
Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality. The Culinary Arts program offers students the theoretical and practical knowledge required to work in the industry. Students will learn to create, prepare, and attractively present dishes using various cooking methods. Students will learn the practical application of cooking, food service management, customer service, and explore the career world of Culinary Arts. This program offers courses that provide coherent and rigorous content aligned with challenging academic standards and relevant technical knowledge and skills.
The mission of the Culinary Program is to enhance our community by offering high quality, innovative training so that students enter the food industry with the skills they need for success.
Designed for students who are interested in learning about the culinary field from employability skills, food preparation, safety, sanitization, menu planning, care of commercial tools/equipment and culinary operations. Students in the course will take the ServSafe certification.
Students will learn employability skills as well as roles within teams, work units, departments and organizations. Safety and environmental management systems in organizations and their importance to organizational performance and regulatory compliance will be taught. Students will learn and practice food preparation fruits, vegetables, stocks, soups, sauces, meats, poultry, seafood and baked goods.
Persons having successfully completed the Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality course will be eligible to complete a ServSafe industry certification.
What sets this Program apart
Industry certification. ServSafe Manager.
Completion. Upon completion with an overall average of 70% in the program, students will receive a Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality career certificate.
Admission Requirements and Process
Applicants must be at least 16 years of age and should be academically, physically, and emotionally capable of meeting the essential tasks of the chosen program. Each career program has its own admission requirements. Our mission includes serving all community members; therefore, all students are considered for admission.
Applicants without a high school diploma. All adult applicants are encouraged to earn a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to admission. However, the college will accept students without a diploma in some programs; these students are not eligible for federal financial aid until they have earned a standard high school diploma from an accredited high school or its equivalent recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Basic skills. Students enrolling in a post-secondary career program with 450 hours or more are required to take a basic skills exam unless an exemption is met. Applicants who have earned a standard State of Florida high school diploma, 2007 or later, or possess a documented degree (AA, AS, AAS, BA or BS) may be exempt, as may applicants who earned a GED in 2014 or later.
Florida residency. Each student has to submit documentation that he/she has been a Florida resident for at least 12 consecutive months prior to the first day of class for which the student is enrolling, for example a voter ID, car registration, lease, homestead exemption card, tax return, or state issued ID or driver license.
All career programs are clock-hour; TCTC does not award credits.
This program's admission requirements.
- Complete registration
- Meet with a career advisor
- Take the basic skills examination, if required
- Complete student orientation
Program requirements and other costs.
- Uniforms: Chef uniform and knife set
- Book and workbook
General Requirements
- At least 16 years of ageApplicants must be at least 16 years of age and should be academically, physically, and emotionally capable of meeting the essential tasks of the chosen program.
- State issued IDBring a state issued ID or driver license to apply to TCTC.
- Florida residencyProvide two forms of Florida residency proving one year of residency in Florida to receive the Florida-resident tuition rate.
- TranscriptsBring transcripts or proof of high school or college; a high school diploma or its equivalent may be required for some programs.
- Basic skills test, if applicablePrograms of 450 hours or more require recent (2 years) test scores or a basic skills exam ($20) unless an exemption is met.
Application Process
- 1Apply to TCTCFill out the application, bring a state issued ID or driver license, and pay the $30 application fee.
- 2Apply for financial aidFill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the scholarship on TCTC's website; all documents must be completed and submitted prior to the first day of class for a deferment.FAFSA Code for Vero Beach: 041940Complete the FAFSA
- 3Gather your enrollment documentsBring two forms of Florida residency, a state issued ID, transcripts or proof of high school or college, and recent test scores or a basic skills exam if applicable.
- 4Meet with a career advisorBook an appointment with the career advisor and complete the enrollment documents; if all requirements have been met you will be scheduled or placed on a waitlist.
- 5Purchase books and attend orientationPurchase books and supplies and complete student orientation before the program begins.
Program Schedule
Length. 1,200 clock hours; estimated completion time 11 months.
2026-2027 class dates. 8/10/2026 – 6/8/2027, M – F, 8:40AM – 2:40PM.
Start date. The program page gives the next start date as August 10, 2026.
Location. Treasure Coast Technical College, 4680 28th Court, Vero Beach, Florida 32967.
Classes that do not meet the minimum enrollment requirements may be canceled or postponed.
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name |
|---|---|
| HMV0100 | Food Preparation |
| HMV0184 | Cook - Restaurant 1 |
| HMV0185 | Cook - Restaurant 2 |
| HMV0171 | Head Cook / Lead Cook |
| HMV0126 | Food Service Management |
| Totals |
Campus Location
Why Accreditation Is Important
This school: Treasure Coast Technical College is accredited by the Council on Occupational Education (COE). It is operated by the School District of Indian River County; the state agency is the Florida Department of Education, Career and Adult Education.
- A reliable indicator of educational quality
- Reviewed against independent standards
- Recognized by employers and licensing boards
Accreditations
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid Information
Estimated program cost. The 2026-2027 program brochure (dated 6/21/26) gives an estimated program cost of $5,959.00 for a Florida resident, matching the program page's Total Cost. Prices are subject to change without notice.
Tuition. Florida-resident tuition is $3,504.00 for 1,200 clock hours at $2.92 per hour.
Fees and other costs on the brochure.
- Material & Lab Fee: $1,800.00
- Registration Fee $30 per semester (non-refundable): $60.00
- ID (annual): $5.00
- Parking (annual) (if applicable): $15.00
- Culinary Knife & Uniform Set: $210.00
- Non-Slip Shoes (approx): $60.00
- Basic Skills Exam: $20.00
- Student Activity Fee: $50.00
- Graduation Fee: $25.00
- ServSafe Book & Test: $98.00
- Professional Cooking textbook & study guide: $112.00
Tuition rate. Florida residents are assessed tuition by the clock/clinical hour at the current rate set by the Florida Legislature. The current tuition rate for Career and Technical Education programs is $2.92 per clock hour; tuition includes a 10% financial aid fee, a 5% technology fee, and a 5% capital improvement fee. Tuition for non-Florida residents is $11.71 per clock hour. Students pay a non-refundable $30.00 registration fee.
Paying. Tuition is payable in full upon enrollment. Treasure Coast Technical College offers a convenient, interest free payment plan with a $50 non-refundable enrollment fee.
Aid the college accepts. Federal Pell Grant (for career certificate programs of at least 600 clock hours), Florida Bright Futures, the Florida Student Assistance Grant for career education (programs of 450 or more clock hours), the Florida Farmworker Student Scholarship, veterans benefits, and third-party billing to sponsoring agencies.
Money-Back Guarantee. Through the Florida Department of Education's Money-Back Guarantee Program, eligible students enrolled in designated TCTC workforce education programs may qualify for a refund of tuition if they are unable to obtain employment in their field of training within six months of completing their program. Employment is not guaranteed.
Refund policy. If TCTC cancels a class, or a class does not open as scheduled, 100% of all tuition and eligible fees will be refunded. Withdrawal through the closing of the third day of class receives 100% of all tuition and eligible fees; no fees will be refunded after the closing of the third day of class. Registration fees are non-refundable.
Curriculum
To receive a career certificate, students must earn a passing grade in all courses listed below. Each program is a planned sequence of Occupational Completion Points (OCPs).
Required Courses
| Subject # | Name | Total |
|---|---|---|
| HMV0100 | Food Preparation | 300 |
| HMV0184 | Cook - Restaurant 1 | 150 |
| HMV0185 | Cook - Restaurant 2 | 150 |
| HMV0171 | Head Cook / Lead Cook | 300 |
| HMV0126 | Food Service Management | 300 |
| Totals | 1,200 |
Career Outcomes
Credential. ServSafe Manager.
Upon completion with an overall average of 70% in the program, students will receive a Professional Culinary Arts & Hospitality career certificate.
Treasure Coast Technical College offers short-term career training that prepares students for in-demand jobs; all programs incorporate work-based learning and provide the opportunity to earn recognized industry certifications and or licenses.
What to expect as a Treasure Coast Technical College student
Attendance. Due to the intensity and hands-on nature of our career programs, absenteeism and tardiness should be limited to emergency situations only. A student missing (6) consecutive scheduled classes will be withdrawn on the 7th day, and students who do not attend during the first three days of the program are removed as no-shows.
Grades. There is no probationary period nor conditions for re-entry for those students who are dismissed for unsatisfactory progress. Students are advised of their averages during the semester and can review their grades through the FOCUS student portal. The final grade is comprised of tests, quizzes, class work, homework, and projects.
Graduation. A Treasure Coast Technical College Career Certificate will be issued when the student has successfully completed the designated number of hours in the classroom and/or clinical settings, and has completed all OCPs with the necessary passing scores for the program.
Student expectations. Students are expected to attend school regularly and be punctual, come to class with all necessary materials and be prepared to learn, follow classroom and lab rules, treat other people and property with respect, and present a clean and neat appearance.
ID badges. All students must wear their TCTC identification badge, visible at all times while on campus; IDs are required to gain access to campus.
Other Programs at Vero Beach
Treasure Coast Technical College in Vero Beach, FL also offers these 9 programs at 4680 28th Court, Vero Beach, FL 32967.
- Baking & Pastry ArtsCertificate · 600 clock hours — 5 months
- Commercial Class B DrivingCertificate · 150 clock hours — 2-3 months (part-time)
- Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning/Refrigeration (HVAC/R) 1Certificate · 750 clock hours — 9 months
- Medical AssistingCertificate · 765 clock hours — 7 months
- Nursing AssistantCertificate · 165 clock hours — 2-4 months
- Patient Care TechnicianCertificate · 600 clock hours — 6 months
- PhlebotomyCertificate · 165 clock hours — 2-4 months
- Practical NursingCertificate · 1,350 clock hours — 12 months
- Welding TechnologyCertificate · 1,050 clock hours — 10 months