Top 10 Grill Cook Certifications

Certifications for a grill cook are important in the job market because they demonstrate a certain level of knowledge and skill that employers look for when hiring. Certifications provide proof of an individual’s ability to handle the complex tasks associated with being a successful grill cook, such as food safety, sanitation, and proper cooking techniques. Employers value candidates who have earned certifications as these individuals are more likely to produce high-quality dishes and be better equipped to handle the demands of the job. Certifications also make it easier for employers to identify potential employees with the skills required to succeed in their position.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the top certifications for Grill Cooks and how they can contribute to a successful career in the field.

What are Grill Cook Certifications?

Grill cook certification is a program that prepares individuals to become certified professional grill cooks. Through this program, individuals learn the basics of grilling, including proper techniques and methods for cooking food on a grill. This training helps aspiring grill cooks gain the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a professional kitchen or catering environment.

By becoming certified, grill cooks can demonstrate to employers that they have the necessary skills and knowledge needed to safely and efficiently prepare food on a grill. Certification also provides an edge over other applicants who may not have any formal training in grilling. Additionally, certification can help instill confidence in customers by demonstrating that grill cooks are knowledgeable and experienced with grilling.

Overall, obtaining a grill cook certification can benefit aspiring professionals by providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge needed for successful work as a professional cook or caterer. It also helps demonstrate their expertise in grilling to employers and customers alike, giving them an edge over other applicants.

Pro tip: When considering a grill cook certification, make sure to look for one that is accredited by a reputable national organization. This will ensure that your certification is recognized and respected in the foodservice industry.

Related: What does a Grill Cook do?

Top 10 Grill Cook Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Grill Cooks today.

1. Certified Professional Grill Cook (CPGC)

Certified Professional Grill Cook (CPGC) is a certification program designed to recognize and promote professional grill cooks who demonstrate a high level of expertise in the art of grilling. The CPGC program is administered by the National Barbecue Association (NBBQA).

The CPGC certification requires applicants to pass an online exam that covers topics such as food safety, grilling techniques, and menu planning. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. Upon successful completion of the exam, applicants will receive their CPGC certification.

To become certified, applicants must first register with the NBBQA and pay a fee of $75. Once registered, applicants can access the online exam and take it at their own pace. After completing the exam, applicants will be notified via email or phone within five business days if they have passed or failed. If successful, applicants will receive their CPGC certificate in the mail within four weeks.

The cost for taking the CPGC exam is $75 plus applicable taxes. There are no additional fees associated with becoming certified or maintaining your certification status.

2. Certified Barbecue Judge (CBJ)

A Certified Barbecue Judge (CBJ) is a person who has been trained and certified to judge barbecue competitions. In order to become a CBJ, one must take the Barbecue Judging Certification Course offered by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). The course is an 8-hour class that covers topics such as judging criteria, scoring systems, sensory evaluation techniques, and other important information related to judging barbecue competitions.

The cost of the course is $75 per person and includes all materials needed for the class. Once you have completed the course, you will be registered as a CBJ with KCBS and will receive a certificate of completion. You will also be eligible to judge sanctioned KCBS events.

To maintain your certification, you must judge at least two events per year or attend one refresher course every three years. Refresher courses are offered in various locations throughout the year and cost $25 per person.

3. Certified Grilling Instructor (CGI)

Certified Grilling Instructor (CGI) is a certification program offered by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). The program was designed to provide comprehensive training for individuals who want to become professional grilling instructors. It is an 8-hour course that covers topics such as safety, grilling techniques, and food preparation. The course also includes hands-on demonstrations of various grilling methods.

To get Certified Grilling Instructor (CGI) certification, you must complete the 8-hour course and pass a written exam with a score of 80% or higher. The cost of the course is $200 and it can be taken online or in person at one of KCBS’s approved locations. After completing the course, you will receive a certificate of completion and your name will be added to the KCBS database as a Certified Grilling Instructor.

The CGI certification is valid for two years and can be renewed by taking an additional 8-hour refresher course and passing another written exam with a score of 80% or higher.

4. Certified Outdoor Chef (COC)

Certified Outdoor Chef (COC) is a certification program offered by the National BBQ Association (NBBQA). It is designed to recognize and reward individuals who demonstrate a high level of knowledge, skill, and expertise in the preparation of outdoor cooking. This certification is ideal for chefs, caterers, restaurateurs, and other foodservice professionals who want to take their outdoor cooking skills to the next level.

The COC program consists of an online course that covers topics such as proper grilling techniques, food safety practices, menu planning, and more. Upon successful completion of the course and passing the final exam with a score of 80% or higher, participants will receive their Certified Outdoor Chef designation.

To get started on the COC program, you must first register for the online course through the NBBQA website. The cost of registration is $150 USD. Once registered, you will have access to all course materials which can be completed at your own pace within 90 days from registration date. After successfully completing all course requirements and passing the final exam with a score of 80% or higher, you will receive your Certified Outdoor Chef designation along with an official certificate from NBBQA.

5. Certified Grill Master (CGM)

Certified Grill Master (CGM) is a certification program offered by the National Barbecue Association (NBBQA). It is designed to provide a comprehensive education in the art and science of outdoor cooking. The program consists of an online course, hands-on training, and a final exam.

The online course covers topics such as safety, food handling, equipment selection and maintenance, grilling techniques, and other related topics. The hands-on training includes demonstrations on how to use various grilling tools and techniques. After completing the online course and hands-on training, participants must pass a final exam in order to become certified.

It typically takes about six months to complete the Certified Grill Master program. To get started, you will need to register for the program through the NBBQA website. Once registered, you will be able to access the online course materials and begin your studies.

The cost of becoming a Certified Grill Master varies depending on which package you choose. The basic package costs $199 USD while the premium package costs $299 USD. This fee includes access to all course materials as well as lifetime membership with the NBBQA.

6. Certified BBQ Pitmaster (CBPM)

Certified BBQ Pitmaster (CBPM) is a certification program offered by the Kansas City Barbeque Society (KCBS). It is designed to recognize and reward those individuals who have achieved a high level of knowledge, skill, and proficiency in the art of barbeque. The CBPM program consists of three levels: Certified Barbeque Judge, Certified Barbeque Instructor, and Master Certified Barbeque Pitmaster.

To become a Certified Barbeque Judge, applicants must complete an online course and pass an exam administered by KCBS. The course covers topics such as judging techniques, barbeque history, and food safety. Upon successful completion of the course and exam, applicants will receive their certification. This certification must be renewed every two years in order to remain valid.

The next level is Certified Barbeque Instructor. To qualify for this certification, applicants must have completed the Certified Barbeque Judge course and passed the exam with a score of 80% or higher. They must also have at least one year of experience teaching barbeque classes or workshops. Upon successful completion of this level, applicants will receive their instructor’s certificate from KCBS. This certification must be renewed every two years in order to remain valid.

The highest level is Master Certified Barbecue Pitmaster (MCBPM). To qualify for this certification, applicants must have completed both the Certified Barbecue Judge and Certified Barbecue Instructor courses with a score of 80% or higher on each exam. They must also have at least five years of experience teaching barbeque classes or workshops and demonstrate outstanding skills in all areas related to barbecuing including cooking techniques, presentation skills, flavor profiles, food safety practices, etc. Upon successful completion of this level, applicants will receive their master pitmaster certificate from KCBS. This certification does not need to be renewed but may be upgraded with additional training if desired.

The cost for each level varies depending on where you take the courses but typically ranges from $50-$200 per course/exam combination for the judge and instructor levels; however there may be additional fees associated with obtaining your master pitmaster certificate depending on what type of training you choose to pursue beyond the initial requirements outlined above.

7. Certified Charcoal Grill Specialist (CCGS)

A Certified Charcoal Grill Specialist (CCGS) is a certification program offered by the National Barbecue Association. It is designed to give individuals who work with charcoal grills the knowledge and skills required to properly operate, maintain, and troubleshoot charcoal grills. The program includes an online course as well as an in-person hands-on training session.

The online course takes approximately 8 hours to complete and covers topics such as charcoal grill safety, fuel types, assembly and disassembly of grills, temperature control, cleaning and maintenance, and troubleshooting common problems. After completing the online portion of the course, participants must attend an in-person training session that lasts for one day. During this session, participants will learn how to safely use charcoal grills in a variety of settings.

To become a CCGS certified individual must register for the program on the National Barbecue Association website. Registration costs $199 USD and includes access to both the online course and in-person training session. Upon successful completion of both components of the program, participants will receive their CCGS certification card which is valid for three years from date of issue.

8. Certified Smoker and Grill Technician (CSGT)

A Certified Smoker and Grill Technician (CSGT) is a certification program offered by the National Barbecue Association (NBBQA). It is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of competency in the design, construction, operation, maintenance, and repair of smokers and grills. The CSGT program provides an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates expertise in the field.

The CSGT certification requires applicants to successfully complete an online course and pass a written exam. The course covers topics such as safety, fuel types, temperature control, smoke management, and cleaning techniques. The exam consists of 50 multiple-choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes.

The cost of the CSGT certification is $295 USD for NBBQA members or $395 USD for non-members. This fee includes access to the online course materials and one attempt at the written exam. Additional attempts at the exam are available for an additional fee of $50 USD per attempt.

Overall, it typically takes about 8 hours to complete the CSGT certification process from start to finish.

9. Certified Live Fire Cooking Instructor (CLFCI)

Certified Live Fire Cooking Instructor (CLFCI) is a certification program designed to teach individuals the art of cooking with live fire. The program focuses on teaching students how to properly build, maintain and cook with an open flame in a safe and efficient manner. It covers topics such as fire safety, fuel selection, fire building techniques, food preparation and cooking methods.

The CLFCI program takes approximately 20 hours to complete and consists of both online and in-person instruction. The online portion includes lectures, videos, quizzes and activities that cover the basics of live fire cooking. The in-person portion consists of hands-on training where students learn how to build fires, select fuels, prepare food for cooking over the open flame and cook using different techniques.

To become certified as a Certified Live Fire Cooking Instructor (CLFCI), you must successfully complete the program's coursework and pass a final exam with a score of 80% or higher. You must also have at least one year of experience working with live fire cooking or be able to demonstrate proficiency in the subject matter prior to taking the final exam.

The cost for the CLFCI certification program varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $500-$1000 USD.

10. Certified Grilling Expert (CGE)

Certified Grilling Expert (CGE) is an online certification program designed to help individuals become experts in the art of grilling. The program consists of a series of online courses that cover topics such as grilling techniques, safety, and food preparation. The program also includes hands-on practice with a variety of grills and smokers.

The certification process takes about 8 weeks to complete and requires passing an exam at the end of the program. To get certified, individuals must first register for the course on the Certified Grilling Expert website. Once registered, they will receive access to all of the course materials and can begin studying at their own pace. After completing all of the required coursework, participants must pass a final exam that covers all aspects of grilling.

The cost for the Certified Grilling Expert program is $299 USD. This fee covers all course materials, access to online resources, and one-on-one mentoring from experienced professionals in the field. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a certificate that proves their expertise in grilling.

Do You Really Need a Grill Cook Certificate?

The short answer is no. A Grill Cook Certificate is not required to become a grill cook, and many people have been successful in the profession without one. However, if you want to take your career as a grill cook to the next level, then having a Grill Cook Certificate can definitely be beneficial.

Having a Grill Cook Certificate signals that you have taken the time and effort to learn the latest techniques and best practices for grilling food. You will have learned about how different types of grills work, how to safely light and maintain them, how to properly season and marinate meats, vegetables and other items, as well as recipes on how to prepare different dishes. This knowledge can help you stand out from other applicants when applying for jobs or promotions because it shows that you are serious about your career as a grill cook.

Additionally, having a Grill Cook Certificate can open doors for new opportunities in the culinary world. Many restaurants now require their cooks to have certificates before they will hire them for certain positions. A certificate also gives employers assurance that you understand proper health and safety procedures when handling food and equipment. Having this certification may also provide access to higher-paying jobs or specialized positions such as private chef or caterer.

Overall, while it is not necessary to obtain a Grill Cook Certificate in order to become a grill cook, it can be an invaluable asset if you want to take your career further. It provides proof of your knowledge of grilling techniques and safety procedures which could make you more attractive in the job market or even lead to better job opportunities down the road.

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FAQs About Grill Cook Certifications

1. What is a Grill Cook Certification?

Answer: A Grill Cook Certification is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s knowledge, skills and abilities in the art of grilling. It indicates that they have achieved a certain level of proficiency in the subject and are qualified to work as a professional grill cook.

2. How do I get certified as a grill cook?

Answer: To become certified as a grill cook, you must complete an accredited training program or course, pass an exam and receive your certification from the certifying body.

3. What topics are covered in a grill cook certification course?

Answer: Topics covered in a grill cook certification course may include food safety, menu planning, grilling techniques, equipment operation and maintenance, menu costing and pricing, recipe development and presentation techniques.

4. How long does it take to get certified as a grill cook?

Answer: The length of time it takes to become certified as a grill cook varies depending on the specific program or course you choose to enroll in and whether you choose to complete it online or in person. Generally speaking, most programs can be completed within two to three months if studying full-time.

5. Is there an age requirement for becoming certified as a grill cook?

Answer: Generally speaking, there is no age requirement for becoming certified as a grill cook; however some certifying bodies may have age restrictions depending on the program chosen. It is important to check with your chosen program provider before enrolling to ensure eligibility requirements are met.