Catering Professional

The Catering Professional provides the foundational skills needed for a career in the catering and events industry by teaching the elements of catering services, including overseeing events and functions, and collaborating with other catering services. You will gain the ability to plan for successful food preparation and apply beverage management requirements.

This course will also demonstrate best practices for marketing a catering business, considerations for preparing and executing contracts, effectively manage human resources, and applying basic accounting principles. It will also prepare you for the Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) through the National Association for Catering and Events.

I.             The elements of catering services

A.            Introduction

B.            Catering events

C.            Food service styles

D.            The essentials of main service styles

E.            The advantages of main service styles

F.            Resources required for main service styles

G.           Budget considerations for main service styles

H.            Calculation human resource requirements for main service styles

I.             Matching the service style to the catering event

II.            Events management collaboration

A.            Introduction

B.            The structure of event types

C.            Event planning

D.            Additional catering and event services

III.           Food production practices

A.            Introduction

B.            Food production systems and methods

C.            Food safety requirements

D.            Converting measurements

E.            Portion estimation for events

IV.          Beverage management requirements

A.            Introduction

B.            Legal considerations

C.            Characteristics of spirits

D.            Characteristics of wine

E.            Beverage profit margins

V.            Sales and marketing plans

A.            Introduction

B.            Target markets

C.            Marketing plans

D.            Sales forecasts

VI.          Catering contracts

A.            Introduction

B.            Elements of a contract

C.            Essential clauses

D.            Other laws

VII.         Human resource planning

A.            Introduction

B.            The recruitment process

C.            Employee inductions

D.            The training cycle

E.            Performance appraisals

F.            Exit interviews

VIII.        Accounting principles

A.            Introduction

B.            Accounting terminology

C.            Financial statements

D.            Accounting methods

E.            Inventory valuation methods

Requirements:

Hardware Requirements:

• This course can be taken on either a PC or Mac.

Software Requirements:

• This course is preferred with the latest versions of Windows and Mac OS. Although the versions listed below are compatible, it's strongly recommended to have the latest operating system for an optimal experience.
  • PC: Windows 10 or later operating systems
  • Mac: OS X Snow Leopard 10.6 or later
• Browser: The latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox are preferred. Microsoft Edge and Safari are also compatible.
• Adobe Flash Player. Click here to download the Flash Player.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download the Acrobat Reader.
• Applications are not included in the cost of tuition and must be installed and fully operational before the course begins.

Other:

• Email capabilities and access to a personal email account.

Instructional Material Requirements:

The instructional materials required for this course are included in enrollment and will be available online.

Prerequisites:

There are no prerequisites to take this course.

1.  Can I register for courses if I am an international student?

Yes. ed2go courses are online, so you never have to actually travel to the school. Most schools offer telephone or online registration.

2.  How long does it take to complete a course?

This course is self-paced and open enrollment, so you can start them when you want and work at your own pace. When you register, you will receive six (6) months to complete the course. 

3.  What if I cannot complete this course within the time frame provided?

The time allotted for course completion has been calculated based on the number of course hours. However, if you are unable to complete the course, contact your Student Advisor to help you work out a suitable completion date. Please note that an extension fee may be charged.

4.  Can I get financial assistance?

ed2go courses are non-credit, so they do not qualify for federal aid. In some states, vocational rehab or workforce development boards will pay for qualified students to take our courses. Additionally, some students may qualify for financial assistance when they enroll, if they meet certain requirements.

5.  What happens when I complete the course?

Upon successful completion of the course, you will be awarded a Certificate of Completion. 

6.  Am I guaranteed a job?

This course will provide you with the skills you need to obtain an entry-level position in most cases. We do not offer direct job placement services, but our facilitators and career counselors will help you build your resume and advise you on starting your career. Facilitators can also be used as a professional reference upon course completion. However, you should always research the job market in your area before registering.

7.  Who will be my instructor?

All of our facilitators are successful working professionals in the fields in which they teach. The facilitator is available by email to answer any questions you may have and provide one-on-one feedback on your performance.

8.  What software or hardware do I need in order to take online courses and what are the system requirements?

In order to take ed2go courses, you need access to a computer and the Internet. You can access the course contents from any web-enabled computer. We recommend that you have a word-processing program (Microsoft Word is the best) and the latest version of Internet Explorer.

9.  Can I use a Mac?

Yes.

10.  How can I get more information about this course?

If you have questions that are not answered on our website, please feel free to contact us via LIVE chat (click the button above). If you are visiting us during non-business hours, please feel free to send us a question using the “Contact Us” form to the right. We are also available at 1-877-221-5151 to promptly answer your questions.

11.  When can I start the course?

Our courses are open enrollment. You can register and start the course as soon as you are ready. Please note that once the course curriculum is accessed online or through submission of a material shipment confirmation, refunds cannot be issued.

12.  Does this course prepare for a certification?

This course helps prepare you for the Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) through the National Association for Catering and Events.