Commis Chef Apprenticeship

As a Commis Chef apprentice, you learn the foundational skills of professional cookery while working in a real kitchen from day one. Your training covers food preparation, cooking techniques, nutrition, kitchen hygiene, and menu planning across a range of cuisines. You split your time between on-the-job learning with an employer — typically a hotel, restaurant, or catering operation — and off-the-job training delivered at an Education and Training Board (ETB) or college of further education. A typical week involves preparing mise en place, working kitchen stations alongside experienced chefs, and attending taught sessions covering food science and professional kitchen management. This earn-and-learn model, supported by Fáilte Ireland, means you receive a wage throughout your training while building industry-recognised skills.

To enter the Commis Chef Apprenticeship, you must first secure a position with an approved employer registered with SOLAS through the Generation Apprenticeship programme. Most employers look for candidates who have completed the Leaving Certificate or Leaving Certificate Applied, and subjects such as Home Economics, Science, or Biology are useful but not mandatory. There is no specific points requirement as entry is employer-led rather than CAO-based, though a genuine interest in professional cookery and a willingness to work in a fast-paced environment are essential. Some ETBs and employers accept candidates with a relevant QQI Level 4 or 5 FET award in Cookery or Catering as an alternative pathway. Mature applicants aged 18 and over are welcome to apply directly to participating employers, and previous kitchen experience, even in a part-time or voluntary capacity, will strengthen your application significantly.

Graduate prospects in professional cookery are strong in Ireland, where the hospitality sector continues to face a well-documented skills shortage in kitchen staff. Fáilte Ireland and the Restaurants Association of Ireland have both highlighted the demand for trained chefs as a priority workforce issue, meaning qualified apprentices are highly sought after. Progression within a kitchen brigade can be relatively quick for motivated individuals, with many moving to Chef de Partie level within two to three years of completing their apprenticeship. Salaries vary by employer and location, but a newly qualified commis chef can expect to earn approximately €26,000–€30,000 gross per year, with experienced chefs earning considerably more.