Culinary School Classes: The Steps to Enrolling in Culinary School

April 22, 2019

There is a process to everything. A predetermined set of steps that once completed, will lead to a defined outcome. Whether it’s following the instructions in an assembly manual or planning the next chapter of your life; understanding the required course of action is important. Applying to culinary school  is very similar. Just like with other forms of higher education, there is an enrollment process. While that initial step, calling, or inspiration may vary from person to person; once you realize you have a passion to create and cook, the course of action is pretty simple. Here is the 7-step process for enrolling at Louisiana Culinary Institute.

 

  1. Provide proof of high school (or equivalent) graduation. Acceptable forms of proof include: high school diploma, official high school transcript, GED, HISET, high school equivalency documentation, or an acceptable home school certificate.
  2. Complete an application and submit a $25 non-refundable application fee.
  3. Provide proof of citizenship. Two forms of identification are required, one must be a photo ID. Acceptable forms of identification include: birth certificate, driver’s license, social security card, passport, etc.
  4. Complete and submit a short essay (750 words max) explaining why you want to earn a culinary arts degree.
  5. Complete the Louisiana Culinary Institute developed math test.
  6. Successfully pass the Wonderlic Basic Skills / COMPASS Test. This is only required if you do not have an associate’s degree (or higher), or do not provide college transcripts showing a grade of a ‘C’ or higher in college-level math or English courses.
  7. Complete an interview with the admissions panel.


Once these steps are completed and you are accepted into the program, a $75 registration fee is required.

 

Now that you’ve completed the enrollment process, it’s time to decide what you want to focus on in culinary school. There are three degree programs at LCI: AOS in Culinary Arts – Advanced Culinary Arts, AOS in Culinary Arts – Advanced Baking and Pastry, and AOS in – Hospitality and Culinary Management. Each concentration provides high quality training and conceptual understanding that prepares students for mid to upper-mid level positions in the food service industry. Each program only takes 16 months to complete.

 

After you’ve made the decision to pursue an education and a career in the culinary sector, follow these simple steps and the premier culinary school in the south will prepare you for the job of your dreams.

APPLY ONLINE
By Charlie Ruffolo March 25, 2026
Some people know from childhood exactly where they're headed. Ben Messina took a different route. He started college as a music major, took a gap year to find his footing, and leaned on his brother's encouragement before landing exactly where he was always meant to be: a professional kitchen . Now a senior in the Savory program at Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) in Baton Rouge, Ben is weeks away from graduating in May 2026. He arrived at LCI with a love of cooking and a family connection to food. He's leaving with a world-class culinary foundation, a mentor who pushed him to be his best, and a dream of opening multiple restaurants of his own one day. His story is proof that the path to a culinary career doesn't have to be a straight line. Is It Too Late to Change Careers and Go to Culinary School? For Ben, food has always been part of the family fabric. Growing up in Baton Rouge, he spent time in the kitchen with his grandmother, learning to make snickerdoodles as a kid. Those early memories planted a seed. But Ben initially followed a different passion. He'd played trumpet and piano since a young age, so he enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana University to study music. It wasn't long before the questions started creeping in: "What am I actually going to do with a music degree?" He took a gap year to figure it out. And the answer, when it came, was simple: go back to his other love. Cooking. His brother, who owns a food truck, had been encouraging him to consider culinary school. More specifically, he encouraged Ben to look at LCI. And then, without warning, he signed him up for a campus tour. 
culinary leadership skills
By Charlie Ruffolo February 26, 2026
Being a great cook isn’t enough. Explore how LCI develops culinary leadership skills that prepare students for real-world kitchen management and career growth.
More Posts