7404 - Cooking

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Federal Occupation Description

Federal Occupation Description

This standard covers nonsupervisory work involved in the preparation of regular or special diet foods and meals. This includes cooking meats, poultry, fish, shellfish, and vegetables and making soups, gravies, sauces, desserts, and other foods. Cooks use standardized recipes and menus and personal knowledge and experience to measure, assemble, and mix ingredients; regulate cooking temperatures; and add seasoning to foods. They use specialized knowledge and skill to design and prepare decorated foods and aesthetic food arrangements. This includes techniques to mold food items into various forms, carve fruits and vegetables into various shapes, and create ice sculptures.

For job opportunities in this series, go to the Office of Personnel Management USAJOBS website.

Other Federal Occupations

It is not uncommon for individuals in one federal occupational series to perform duties related to another series within the same federal occupational group. To find out about the certifications for another series in the FOOD PREPARATION AND SERVING FAMILY, click on that series below. Note that credentials have not yet been identified for all series – links are provided only to those series for which the identification of credentials has been completed. Additional series will be added over time.

The following certifications have been identified as most relevant to the broad duties of this federal occupational series. Please note that these credentials may not reflect all of the unique job functions that you perform within your organization. Also these credentials may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about any credential, click on the credential title below.

Compare Credential Agency Related As GI Bill® Accreditation ID
Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM-CFPP) Is Not In Demand Certifying Board for Dietary Managers (CBDM) otherOther GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Food Safety Manager Certification (FSMC) Is Not In Demand National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP) otherOther GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS) Is Not In Demand National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) someSome GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Chef de Cuisine (CCC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Culinarian (CC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Executive Chef (CEC) In DemandIs In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Master Chef (CMC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Master Pastry Chef (CMPC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Sous Chef (CSC) In DemandIs In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) someSome GI BillGI Bill AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Working Pastry Chef (CWPC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Food and Beverage Executive (CFBE) Is Not In Demand American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute (AHLA) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified Professional Food Manager (CPFM) Is Not In Demand Prometric (formerly Experior Assessments) otherOther    
ServSafe Food Protection Manager Certification Is Not In Demand National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) otherOther    
Personal Certified Chef (PCC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Personal Certified Executive Chef (PCEC) Is Not In Demand American Culinary Federation (ACF) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Learn2Serve Food Protection Manager Certification Program Is Not In Demand 360training.com otherOther    
Certified Food Safety HACCP Manager (CFSHM) Is Not In Demand National Registry of Food Safety Professionals (NRFSP) otherOther   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified Food Protection Manager (CFPM) Is Not In Demand AboveTraining/State FoodSafety otherOther   AccreditationAccreditation
Certified in Food Safety Supplier Audits (CFSSA) Is Not In Demand National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) otherOther GI BillGI Bill  
Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) Is Not In Demand National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) someSome    
Registered Food Safety Auditor (RFSA) Is Not In Demand National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) otherOther    

State Licenses

Some states have specific licensing requirements for the following related civilian occupations. These state licenses may require additional education, training or experience. Click on the occupation below to get more information on state requirements from the U.S. Department of Labor.

Related Civilian Private Sector Occupations

The following civilian private sector occupations are similar to the duties performed by 7404 - Cooking. These occupations may require additional education, training or experience. For more information about these occupations, click on the civilian occupation below.

Civilian Job Duties Matched Bright Outlook Registered Apprenticeship Local Salary Info
Chefs and Head Cooks someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Cooks, Fast Food someSome   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria mostMost   Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Cooks, Private Household someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Cooks, Restaurant mostMost Bright OutlookBright Outlook  Registered ApprenticeshipApprenticeship  find local salaryfind local salary
Cooks, Short Order mostMost     find local salaryfind local salary
Dietetic Technicians someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders someSome     find local salaryfind local salary
Food Preparation Workers mostMost Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Food Servers, Nonrestaurant someSome Bright OutlookBright Outlook    find local salaryfind local salary
Top
This is an official U.S. Navy websiteUpdated: October 16, 2019
Click here to go to Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 2 years

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), Certified Professional - Food Safety (CP-FS) is an intermediate-level certification for food safety professionals. The CP-FS is designed for individuals within the public and private sectors whose primary responsibility is the protection and safety of food. The exam for this credential assesses the knowledge of candidates in the areas of food microbiology, HACCP principles and regulatory and other food safety-related topics. To be eligible for the CP-FS credential, candidates must meet the criteria for either the degree track or the experience track. The degree track requires a bachelor's degree, plus experience for degrees not in food science or environmental health. The experience requirement requires a minimum of five years of experience plus passage of another food safety certification exam.

Click here to go to Certified Sous Chef (CSC) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 5 years

Certified Sous Chef (CSC) is recommended for chefs who supervise shifts or stations in a foodservice operation. Equivalent job titles are sous chef, banquet chef, grade manager, first cook, a.m. sous chef and p.m. sous chef. All candidates must pass a written exam. All levels of ACF certification require candidates to be tested for practical skill proficiency. The Certified Sous Chef practical exam can be taken at any ACF Approved test site. Practical exam scores are valid for one year.

Click here to go to Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) COOL Snapshot page.

Renewal Period: 2 years

The National Environmental Health Association (NEHA), Certified in Comprehensive Food Safety (CCFS) credential is an intermediate-level certification for experienced food safety professionals. CCFSs manage and evaluate food safety plans, food facilities, and food production processes throughout the food supply chain; these professionals work in retail, manufacturing, food service distribution companies, and other food industry settings within the private sector. CCFSs conduct risk assessments, observe and train staff, assess physical facilities, and assure that corrective measures are implemented to control hazards and prevent foodborne illness. CCFSs demonstrate expertise in manufacturing and processing areas; serve in regulatory and oversight roles including, food safety management and compliance positions. Candidates must take and pass a written exam.

In Demand

This certification is considered in demand

GI Bill®

Reimbursement for exam fees has been approved for payment through the GI Bill. Click for external link to GI Bill licensing and certification information.

Note: GI Bill approval data is updated quarterly. For the latest information, visit the WEAMS Licenses/Certifications Search page. Make sure to select "Both" in the LAC Category Type drop-down before searching.

Click here to go to the GI Bill site.

ANSI

This credential has been accredited by ANSI. Click for external link to the ANSI web site.

ICAC

This credential has been accredited by ICAC. Click for external link to the ICAC web site.

NCCA

This credentialing program has been accredited by NCCA. Click for external link to the NCCA web site.

ABSNC

This credential has been accredited by ABSNC. Click for external link to the ABSNC web site.

IAS

This credential has been accredited by IAS. Click for external link to the IAS web site.

Some

Credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the rating (at least one critical task but less than 80%)

Most

Credential is directly related to most of the major duties associated with the rating (at least 80%)

Other

Credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will likely require additional education, training, or experience

Most – Tasks in these careers match most duties of the military job or specialty (approximately 80% or greater)
Some – Tasks in these careers match some duties of the military job or specialty (greater than 20% but less than 80%)
Bright Outlook – new job opportunities are very likely in the future for this job
Registered Apprenticeship
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Chefs and Head Cooks
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Chefs and Head Cooks
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Combined Food Preparation and Serving Workers, Including Fast Food
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Cooks, Fast Food
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Cooks, Fast Food
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Cooks, Private Household
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Cooks, Private Household
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Cooks, Restaurant
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Cooks, Restaurant
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Cooks, Short Order
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Cooks, Short Order
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Dietetic Technicians
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Dietetic Technicians
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Dining Room and Cafeteria Attendants and Bartender Helpers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Food Preparation Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Food Preparation Workers
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move for Veterans - Food Servers, Nonrestaurant
Click here for the external link to: My Next Move salary info for Food Servers, Nonrestaurant