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Turn Your Passion for Baking into a Career
The Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate program provides you with hands-on training
in the techniques, tools, and business skills used in professional bakeries and pastry
kitchens. Through chef-led instruction, laboratory experiences, and real-world internships,
you'll learn to create breads, pastries, cakes, and desserts while building the confidence
and industry knowledge needed for entry-level careers in baking and pastry arts.
Is This Program Right For You?
You'll thrive in this program if...
You enjoy being creative and working with food, especially when baking, decorating,
and creating desserts.
You like working with your hands and learning technical skills, using professional
tools, equipment, and techniques to create quality baked goods.
You are detail-oriented and take pride in your work, producing high-quality products
and following recipes carefully.
Leaving Prepared for the Bakeshop
Graduates of the Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate are prepared for entry-level positions
in bakeries, pastry shops, restaurants, hotels, and other food service operations.
Graduates will be able to:
- Produce artisan breads, plated desserts, specialty cakes, and pastries.
- Apply professional food safety and sanitation standards.
- Manage recipe yields, food costs, and pricing strategies.
- Operate commercial bakery equipment with confidence.
Stack Your Success
The Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate can be the first step in your culinary journey.
All credits from the certificate transfer directly into SUNY Erie's Culinary Arts
A.O.S. degree, making it easy to continue your education and build on the skills you've
already learned.
As you continue, you'll learn more about cooking, kitchen operations, menu planning,
and leadership. Whether you want to start working after earning your certificate or
continue toward a degree, you'll be building a strong foundation for a career in the
food and hospitality industry.
View Our Culinary Program
Additional Information
Admission Requirements
Prospective Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate Program students must meet with a department
adviser before registration. Prospective students are encouraged to take the Math
Placement Test during the semester prior to enrollment. It is strongly recommended
that students testing into MT 001 or MT 003 register for and complete that class with
a grade of "C" or better the semester before registration in the program. MT 006 is
a co-requisite, but not a required class, for HC 110 Hospitality Math in the Baking
and Pastry Arts curriculum. Food preparation and service uniforms are required for
all laboratories and kitchens.
Certification & Licensure Rates
| Graduation Year |
Number of Program Graduates |
Employment Rate |
Number of Students obtaining
entry level certification by graduation |
| 2020 |
5 |
80% |
5 |
| 2021 |
7 |
60% |
0 |
| 2022 |
9 |
67% |
0 |
| 2023 |
5 |
80% |
5 |
| 2024 |
11 |
63% |
2 |
Accredations
The program is accredited by American Culinary Federation Education Foundation, Inc.,
180 Center Place Way, St. Augustine, FL 32095, (904) 824-4466, www.acfchefs.org.
