How to become a Chef in India
शेफ़
Cook, plan menus and run kitchens in hotels, restaurants, cloud kitchens, airlines and cruise ships.
- Streams
- Any stream
- Time it takes
- 1–3 years of training after Class 10/12, then years of kitchen experience to become a head chef
- Key exams
- NCHM JEE
What you actually do
- Prepare dishes to a consistent standard during busy service
- Plan menus, order ingredients and control food cost and waste
- Follow food safety and hygiene rules and train junior cooks
A day in the life
Checking deliveries in the morning, prepping sauces and vegetables, cooking through a hectic lunch rush, cleaning down the station, and testing a new dish with the head chef.
The path, step by step
- Class 9–10: cook at home, learn basic hygiene and kitchen safetyabout 2 yr
- Class 11–12: any stream; keep cooking and try short food-production coursesabout 2 yr
- Entrance: NCHM JEE for IHM degree; diploma/craft courses at IHMs and food craft institutes have separate admissionsabout 6 mo
- B.Sc Hospitality & Hotel Administration (3 years), a culinary degree, or a diploma/craft course in food productionabout 3 yr
- Industrial training and apprenticeship in professional kitchensabout 6 mo
- First job: Commis (junior cook) in a hotel, restaurant, catering company or cruise lineabout 1 yr
Entrance and recruitment exams
| Exam | Conducted by | How often |
|---|---|---|
| NCHM JEE | National Testing Agency (NTA) for NCHMCT | Once a year |
Exam dates, eligibility and patterns change every cycle. Always read the latest notice on the official website before you apply.
Cost and pay
Government / public route
Government IHMs and food craft institutes: relatively low to moderate fees; PMKVY-style short courses are often free
Private route
Private culinary schools: roughly ₹1–5 lakh per year
Approximate. Fees change every year and differ by state, institute and category (fee waivers and scholarships may apply). Always check the official fee notice.
Salary
Most chefs start as commis and progress through kitchen ranks; pay depends on establishment, city and experience. We do not quote figures.
Skills that matter
Is this for me?
Good fit if…
- You love cooking for others
- You can work fast in a hot, busy space
- You enjoy learning by doing
Maybe not, if…
- You need weekends and festivals off
- You dislike physically demanding work
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Common questions
How do I become a Chef in India?
1. Class 9–10: cook at home, learn basic hygiene and kitchen safety 2. Class 11–12: any stream; keep cooking and try short food-production courses 3. Entrance: NCHM JEE for IHM degree; diploma/craft courses at IHMs and food craft institutes have separate admissions 4. B.Sc Hospitality & Hotel Administration (3 years), a culinary degree, or a diploma/craft course in food production 5. Industrial training and apprenticeship in professional kitchens 6. First job: Commis (junior cook) in a hotel, restaurant, catering company or cruise line
Which entrance exams lead to a career as a Chef?
NCHM JEE (National Testing Agency (NTA) for NCHMCT). Check each official website for current dates and eligibility.
Which stream should I choose after Class 10 to become a Chef?
Any stream.
How long does it take to become a Chef?
1–3 years of training after Class 10/12, then years of kitchen experience to become a head chef
How much does it cost to become a Chef?
Government route: Government IHMs and food craft institutes: relatively low to moderate fees; PMKVY-style short courses are often free. Private route: Private culinary schools: roughly ₹1–5 lakh per year. Approximate. Fees change every year and differ by state, institute and category (fee waivers and scholarships may apply). Always check the official fee notice.
What is the salary of a Chef in India?
Most chefs start as commis and progress through kitchen ranks; pay depends on establishment, city and experience. We do not quote figures.
Sources and last check
We list every rate, limit and date this page relies on, where it comes from and when we last checked it. Rules change: please confirm on the official website before you act. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
- Chef: path, eligibility and costsVerified 13 Oct 2026
Approximate. Fees change every year and differ by state, institute and category (fee waivers and scholarships may apply). Always check the official fee notice.
NCHM JEE (NTA) · National Council for Hotel Management & Catering Technology · Skill India Digital Hub
- Entrance and recruitment examsVerified 13 Oct 2026
Frequency shown is typical; dates, eligibility and patterns change every cycle.
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