Level 4
35 weeksIf you love to cook, take the first step with our Level 4 cooking course. You’ll learn about a wide range of culinary techniques and disciplines, and gain confidence and experience working in a commercial kitchen environment.
If you love to cook, why not start an exciting culinary journey and gain valuable hands-on experience in our dynamic commercial kitchen. Plus, you'll have an opportunity to secure an internship as part of your studies.
You'll master the art of preparing delicious dishes, from meat and fresh seafood to pulses, grains, pastries, and desserts. Learn to create your own marinades, dressings, cold sauces, stocks, soups, and egg dishes.
When you're ready to take your culinary skills to the next level, our Level 5 Diploma in Advanced Cookery or Patisserie Strand can be the perfect next step in fulfilling a career in the culinary arts.
How to prepare a range of complex dishes and food art presentation
Develop effective communication skills with customers, colleagues, and managers
Learn the essentials of food safety and commercial kitchen operations
Earn a Food Safety Certificate to boost your career prospects
Gain confidence in correct knife-handling techniques
Enjoy a foodie field trip for our campus and blended learning classes
Opportunity to secure an internship to gain invaluable industry experience
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New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4)
Food Safety Certificate
Ākonga must:
Be a minimum of 17 years old.
Hold an NCEA Level 1 or equivalent or New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3) or have relevant and current industry experience.
International students must:
Be a minimum of 18 years old at the start of the course.
If English is your second language, you need an English level of 5.5 IELTS or equivalent with no band score lower than 5 (other English tests or evidence of your English language ability may be approved as advised by NZQA).
Have travel and medical insurance and a valid visa.
DOMESTIC STUDENTS
Campus Tuition Fees: $11,504
Student Services Levy: $400
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Campus Tuition Fees: $23,100
Resource & Admin Fee: $2,400
STUDENT LOANS
If you meet certain conditions you may be eligible for a student loan and allowances.
Find out if you meet the conditions by calling StudyLink on Freephone 0800 88 99 00 or visit www.studylink.govt.nz
Start working as a chef or train further to take your skills to the next level
Work as a sous chef in hotels, restaurants or for a catering company.
Hotel Demi Chef de Partie
Restaurant Chef de Partie
Catering and Events Demi Chef de Partie
Café Sous Chef
Industrial Catering Demi Chef de Partie
Ready to take the next step?
You don’t need to hold professional registration to work as a chef in New Zealand. However, a recognised cookery qualification can give you the practical training, technical knowledge and confidence to work in a commercial kitchen.
During the New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4) you’ll prepare complex dishes and gain hands-on experience in our commercial kitchen, helping you develop practical skills you can apply in a professional kitchen environment.
Yes. You don’t need professional kitchen experience to apply. Entry requirements include being at least 17 and holding NCEA Level 1 or an equivalent qualification. A New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 3) or relevant current industry experience may also provide an entry pathway. The course starts with core culinary techniques and moves up to complex dishes and food art presentation, so you’ll cover the basics before anything advanced.
The Certificate in Cookery Level 4 develops practical skills relevant to section chef roles in commercial kitchens. Potential career pathways include:
Hotel demi chef de partie
Restaurant chef de partie
Catering and events demi chef de partie
Café sous chef
Industrial catering demi chef de partie
You can also progress to the Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) - Cookery Strand Level 5 if you wish to continue studying.
Yes. You’ll cook in our commercial kitchen throughout the course, preparing meat, fresh seafood, pulses, grains, pastries and desserts. You’ll also make your own marinades, dressings, cold sauces, stocks, soups and egg dishes. Beyond our kitchen, you can also have the opportunity to do an internship during your studies to get industry experience and take part in industry field trips that broaden your understanding of food production and the culinary sector.
This Level 4 certificate focuses on developing practical cookery skills for commercial kitchens, while the Diploma in Cookery (Advanced) - Cookery Strand (Level 5) adds advanced cookery, menu development and kitchen management skills. Level 5 also covers commercial kitchen design and international cuisines and offers the opportunity to secure an internship for additional industry experience. Entry requires a cookery-related Level 4 qualification or equivalent current skills and experience.
The Culinary Collective is one of the trading names for the registered Private Training Establishment New Zealand Management Academies Ltd (NZMA). Your enrolment is with NZMA and your qualification is issued by NZMA. © 2026
