This online course is designed to prepare you to organize and manage a catering function in a catering facility or at a customer’s location. Topics to be covered include catering styles, human resource management, accounting principles for catering, marketing, food production processes, food safety, and planning for success.
Upon successful completion of this continuing education program, students will be able to:
1. demonstrate the knowledge and skills to plan for successful food and beverage preparation events;
2. describe and apply the business skills needed in the catering industry, including contract negotiation, marketing, and human resources management;
3. prepare for the Certified Professional in Catering and Events (CPCE) exam administered by National Association for Catering and Events (NACE); and
4. prepare to start a career with a catering business or work in a catering facility.
CCBC Credential: Students will receive a Continuing Education Workforce Certificate and have access to a Continuing Education academic record (transcript).
External Credential: Certified Professional in Catering & Events (CPCE)
Certifying Organization: National Association for Catering and Events, www.nace.net
Financial Aid and Payment Options
CCBC currently offers Continuing Education (CE) financial aid to those who qualify. We package public and private funding options to benefit students which include COVID-19 relief funding, the Maryland Sequence Scholarship, CCBC Opportunity Grant funding, Maryland Promise, and Baltimore County College Promise. Financial aid funding is available for select CE courses and programs.
Additional opportunities for financial support include partial payment options through Nelnet Business Solutions and tuition waivers for those who qualify. Resources outside of CCBC may also be available through employer/sponsor paid tuition, the Department of Rehabilitation Services (DORS), and your local office of workforce development.
For more information about funding resources and how to apply for them, please contact the CCBC Continuing Education Information Center at 443-840-4700.
Approximately 100 hours. Students will have 6 months to complete the course.
- High School Diploma or GED
- Basic high school level competencies
- Basic liberal arts knowledge
- PC or Mac with a high-speed Internet connection (DSL or cable)
- Basic understanding of computers and how to navigate the Internet
- E-mail capability
- Microsoft Outlook 2007 software should be installed prior to beginning this program
- Program is compatible with the Windows XP and later operating systems, and IE 7 and later browsers
To apply, go to www.ccbcmd.edu/apply and complete the CCBC Continuing Education Workforce Certificate program application. An email will then be sent with program information and any additional requirements necessary to apply for the program.
Open Entry – No screening or documentation required.
Prior Learning Assessment
This program has no options for obtaining course waiver(s) for prior learning.
Program Course Sequence
Course Number | Course Title | Course Hours | Costs T=Tuition/F=Fees | Textbook Information (approximate cost; subject to change) |
Course Series: |
HSL 060 | Catering Professional Online | 100 | $1,295 T-$50/F-$1,245 | Included with course cost. |
Skills for Success:
Outstanding people skills, professional appearance, ability to work independently, and good math skills. Knowledge and/or experience in hospitality-related fields is helpful.
Since this course is delivered completely online, students need to have the self-discipline to complete all required material on their own. A course instructor will be available to assist students with questions and lead online activities during the course of the class.
Hotels, restaurants, convention centers, and catering businesses.
Research your career interests, explore live job postings, take a career assessment, discover which companies in the Baltimore region are hiring, and more. View a brief tutorial video on how to use Career Coach at: https://youtu.be/C7KpznbPYfA . Explore career and training opportunities at: https://ccbcmd.emsicc.com/.