Certified Master Pastry Chef®

The Certified Master Pastry Chef (CMPC) possesses the highest degree of professional knowledge, skill and mastery of cooking techniques as they apply to baking and pastry only after the candidate has passed an intensive 8-day examination.

CMPC exam candidates are expected to have exemplary organizational, sanitation, mentoring, baking and pastry skills. Every aspect of this exam is designed to verify those skills, and candidates are evaluated from the time of arrival until the kitchen is clean on the final day.

General Qualification Guidelines

• Possess the practiced skills to perform baking and pastry arts to the highest standards.
• Have a foundation of quality experience and education in advanced level courses, externships and/or competitions.
• Be physically and mentally prepared to perform eight days under extreme pressure.
• Secure funding to cover expenses: application fee, examination fee, travel, housing, meals and miscellaneous which may exceed $6000.

Specific Experience Requirements

• Hold a current ACF Certified Executive Pastry Chef (CEPC) or Certified Culinary Educator (CCE).
• Letters from two CMPCs/CMCs recommending the candidate for the exam.

Additional guidelines and educational requirements can be found in the CMPC examination manual.

Application Process

To apply for the CMPC certification carefully review the CMPC guidelines and qualifications, submit a letter of intent, completed CMPC application, $300 nonrefundable application fee and two letters of recommendation from current ACF CMPCs or CMCs to the ACF National office.

Applications will be reviewed by the CMC/CMPC subcommittee and qualified candidates will become CMPC active candidate and receive information regarding the next scheduled exam date. From this point forward, the candidate will be subject to all policies and procedures regarding the exam.

Tuition Payments, Refunds and Other Expenses

Once a candidate has committed to a future exam date, the payment schedule is listed below. The total fee for the examination process is $3,300.

• The application fee of $300 is nonrefundable and entitles the candidate to be listed as a preparatory candidate for the next three exams.
• Three months prior to the start of the exam, the candidate is required to make a deposit of $1,000.
• Three weeks prior to the exam, the candidate is required to pay the remaining balance of $2,000.

All other expenses associated with taking the exam (travel, room, board, etc.) are the responsibility of the candidate. This includes any charges required by the host institution if applicable.

• CMPC Application
• CMPC Examination Manual

Recertification

Master chef recertification is required every five years. Chefs should use the Recertification Application and document 80 hours of continuing education. Master chefs are exempt from taking the three mandatory refreshers.

Host a Future Exam

ACF welcomes proposals from locations that would like to be considered to host a future CMPC exam. Interested parties should submit a proposal to the ACF certification office no later than December 2, 2011.

• CMPC Exam RFP - desire test site dates between August–October, 2013