Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts

An advanced level course, that teaches learners how to prepare, cook and finish a variety of complex dishes, as well as learn other essential skills needed in a professional kitchen.

CTH, Tante Marie and Gordon Ramsay collaboration logo for CTH Level 4 Culinary Arts qualification

Programme Overview

The CTH Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts was carefully developed in partnership with Gordon Ramsay's Tante Marie Culinary Academy, to provide students with an excellent advanced set of skills for food preparation in a professional environment - a perfect first step to a rewarding culinary career.

It has since been updated further in collaboration with our industry partners Ashburton Chef Academy and Leiths School of Food and Wine.

The qualification is a mix of practical and theoretical sessions but with a strong emphasis on the practical element. As well as the key cooking subjects, the curriculum also covers menu planning and budgeting, food safety and other professional kitchen skills.

The qualification develops culinary skills by working in a kitchen environment which will be enhanced through demonstrations, appropriate theory sessions. Students develop knife skills, familiarity with produce, and master many professional skills such as butchery, fish preparation and pastry work, to an appropriate level.

This Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts is regulated by People First, the Sector Skills Council and Ofqual and carries 84 credits within the government’s Qualifications Credit Framework. This enables students to gain credit towards any future qualifications they may wish to take, be they at university or CTH accredited colleges around the world.

Entry Requirements

All applicants must be pre-approved by CTH prior to admission. They should typically have completed a recognised culinary qualification at Level 3 or hold extensive career experience.

Admission to this course is only for those students that have the determination and aptitude to achieve the very highest standards of culinary achievement.

Applicants will be expected to be joining a programme that is specifically approved by CTH as being of sufficient rigour to bring students to a highly professional standard of culinary proficiency commensurate with Level 4 Diploma achievement.

Students must have sufficient English to complete their written assessments for this qualification.

Centre Requirements

Teaching Centres must have access to a commercial kitchen environment, with associated food storage areas, professional equipment and related books. The kitchen may take the form of a full production kitchen and/or a skills based kitchen.

Staff delivering and assessing the this course should be fully familiar with current practice standards in the sector and have experience of cooking at the very highest level.

Students will be required to wear suitable protective clothing, including Chef’s whites, headwear and safety shoes.

View endorsements

"Our professional qualification is designed in consultation with some of the industry's leading chefs. Throughout this qualification, students will learn the skills and knowledge required to cook in a professional kitchen environment, and gain the keys to a successful career in the industry"

Gordon Ramsay and Tante Marie

gordon-ramsay-tante-marie
Gordon-Ramsay-Holdings-endorsement-letter

Gordon Ramsay Holdings

Absolute-Taste-endorsement-letter

Absolute Taste

Sample Certificate

cth-level-4-diploma-in-professional-culinary-arts

Syllabus Overview

CTH Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts (QAN: 603/3601/8)

Students must achieve:
  • All 12 mandatory units, providing a combined 120 credits, all at level 4
Credit Value (CV): 120
Guided Learning Hours (GLH) for Qualification: 720 Total Qualification Time (TQT) for Qualification: 1200
Mandatory Units
Unit Code Unit Title L CV GLH Assessment Method
4FD Prepare, cook and finish complex farinaceous dishes 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4HD Prepare, cook and finish hors d'oeuvres and canapès 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4FSH Prepare, cook and finish complex fish and shell fish 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4MPG Prepare, cook and finish complex meat, poultry and game 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4PDC Prepare, cook and finish complex pastries, desserts and confectionery 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4SSD Prepare, cook and finish complex sauces and dressings 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4TD Prepare, cook and finish terrines, ballotines, galantines and pates 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4VS Prepare, cook and finish complex vegetables and salads 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4YP Prepare, cook and finish complex yeast products 4 10 60 Recipe log and practical exam
4MP Menu planning and costings 4 10 60 Project / assignment
4SM Self-management in the professional kitchen 4 10 60 Project / assignment
4N Nutrition, allergens and sustainability 4 10 60 Project / assignment
Diploma Total (12 units) 120 720