Further vocational qualification in food services

Further Vocational Qualification in Food Services gives you a qualification either as a restaurant cook or an institutional cook.

The qualification has two competence areas of which you choose one:

Competence Area of Restaurant Cookery (restaurant cook)
Competence Area of Institutional Catering (institutional cook)

Restaurant cooks and institutional cooks are professionals in food preparation.

If you choose the competence area of restaurant cookery (restaurant cook), you will be working for example in different á la carte restaurants, food restaurants, delivery and catering service companies, and restaurants of passenger vessels and hotels.

If you choose the competence area of institutional catering (institutional cook), you will be working for example in institutional and professional kitchens, in food restaurants of different types, and in delivery and catering service companies.

The employment opportunities in the field are excellent.

Composition of the qualification

The scope of the Further Vocational Qualification in Food Services 150 competence points.

Compulsory unit, 60 competence points

Depending on the chosen competence are, you complete either

Cooking in a restaurant kitchen, 60 competence points (competence area of restaurant cookery)
or
Cooking in an institutional kitchen, 60 competence points (competence area of institutional cookery)

Optional units, 90 competence points

Preparing special diet meals, 50 competence points
Preparing vegetarian dishes, 40 competence points
Preparing dishes served cold, 50 competence points
Promoting digital competence in the working community, 15 competence points
Promoting the green transition, 15 competence points
Different production methods in cooking, 30 competence points
Cooking for a catering service, 40 competence points
Utilisation of artificial intelligence in the work process, 15 competence points
Compulsory unit from another competence area, 40 competence points
A unit from a vocational qualification, another further qualification or a specialist qualification, 10-30 competence points

Read about the qualification criteria: Further Vocational Qualification in Food Services - eRequirements

Become a cook and feed your career!

Educations starting

Further Vocational Qualification in Food Services Apprenticeship training Education in English Training leading to qualification Date: Flexible start Application period: 4.9.2025—31.12.2026
This training programme is designed for professional staff working in restaurant kitchens and institutional catering services. Your goal may be to complete the Further Vocational Qualification in Food Services (full qualification), or you may choose to complete only one or more specific units of the qualification (partial qualification). At the beginning of the training, a Personal Competence Development Plan (PCDP) will be prepared for each student. This plan specifies the final objectives and duration of the training. Target group The programme is intended for anyone interested in obtaining a full or partial qualification in the food service sector through an apprenticeship programme. Please note that to participate in apprenticeship training, you must have a workplace and an employment contract that includes at least 25 working hours per week. Date Flexible start Location Training days take place at TAKK campus in Tampereen valtatie 15, Tampere. Price Apprenticeship training is free of charge. This implies to people already living in Finland. Hygiene passport and alcohol passport cost 20€/piece. Note: Are you from outside the EU or EEA? You may be required to pay a tuition fee. The tuition fee for this programme is €10,700 per academic year. The total cost of the programme is €10,700. If you are accepted into the program and are required to pay tuition, the tuition fee must be paid before the program begins. Read more about tuition fees at TAKK. Implementation Your workplace may focus either on restaurant food preparation or institutional catering food preparation. The studies take place mainly at your workplace. The average duration of the programme is one year. The number and content of contact learning days, as well as the duration of the training, will be agreed with you individually. Professional competence is demonstrated through qualification-specific skills demonstrations carried out at the workplace while performing practical work tasks. Time for applying Application period: 4.9.2025—31.12.2026 This training is targeted especially at non-native people who live in Finland. We do not reply to inquiries from outside of Finland. You can start the training flexibly throughout the year. Starting dates are agreed individually. There are a limited number of places available in this programme. Places are filled in the order of registration. Please note that you can apply for apprenticeship training only if you already have an apprenticeship workplace arranged. If you do not have a workplace, please explore our other training options. Further information If any further questions, please contact! Questions about training: Instructor: Juha Alajoki, juha.alajoki@takk.fi, tel. +358 44 7906 100 Apprenticeship Supervisor: Maiju Aro, maiju.aro@takk.fi, tel. 044 7906 348
Further Vocational Qualification in Food Services, two qualification units (Labour market training) Labour market training Training leading to qualification Education in English Date: 25.1.2027—24.9.2027 Application period: 8.10.2026—17.12.2026
Would you like to work in a kitchen? Train as a cook and find employment quickly! Do you dream of working in a restaurant kitchen or in large-scale catering? In this work-based labour market training, you will gain practical skills and quickly enter the profession of a cook – and working life. This training: • enables you to complete a partial qualification in the Vocational Qualification in Food Services (2 qualification units) • provides strong practical skills for kitchen work • improves your employment opportunities • supports continuing later towards the full qualification, for example through an apprenticeship Target group The target group is primarily unemployed persons or those at risk of unemployment who are registered jobseekers. Work in the restaurant sector is often fast-paced, so flexibility, adaptability to changing situations, and good interaction skills are important. A proactive work approach and a continuous willingness to develop skills are valued. Duration Depending on your previous experience and competence, the training lasts eight (8) months and proceeds according to the personal competence development plan which is drawn up individually. The studies are full-time studies, full attendance is required. Date 25.1.2027—24.9.2027 Location Training days take place at TAKK campus in Tampereen valtatie 15, Tampere. Price Studying is free of charge. Hygiene passport and alcohol passport cost 20 € each. Content OPTION 1 Cooking in a Restaurant Kitchen (60 credits) and either Preparing dishes served cold (50 credits) or Preparing vegetarian dishes (40 credits) OPTION 2 Cooking in an Institutional Kitchen (60 credits) and either Preparing dishes served cold (50 credits) or Preparing vegetarian dishes (40 credits) Implementation The training lasts 8 months and progresses according to a Personal Competence Development Plan. Any prior experience in the field will be considered, and you will study only what is necessary. Classroom instruction takes place mainly on weekdays between 9:00 and 15:00. During on-the-job learning, workplace working hours are followed. Shift work readiness is required in most workplaces. At the beginning of the training, a personal competence development plan is created, considering the student’s individual wishes and goals. The training includes extensive on-the-job learning in companies in the field. Scope and financing of studies The scope of this two units of qualification is 100-110 cmp (competence points) depending of your choice. Time for applying Application period: 8.10.2026—17.12.2026 Applications for labour market training are submitted via the Job Market Finland website using online banking credentials. Fill in the application from this site via 'Täytä hakemus' button (training number 26094698). If you submit the application without strong authentication, you must confirm it at your local employment services office before the deadline. You will be invited to the selection interview based on your application, so please complete it carefully. In your application: • explain your interest in the training • describe any previous experience in the field • indicate which option you choose • explain why you would be a good professional in the field • state what kind of workplace you aim to work in Incomplete information reduces your chances of being invited to an interview. Applicants from outside the Tampere region should explain how accommodation and commuting will be arranged during the training. The institution does not provide housing. You can track your application status via the Job Market Finland e-service. SCHEDULE • Application period ends: December 17th, 2026 • Pre-selection: December 21th, 2026 • Selection interviews: January 12th, 2027 Invitations to interviews will be sent via SMS or email (and will also appear in the “Oma asiointi” E-services). Interview times cannot be changed due to a tight schedule. Candidates must be prepared to attend at the assigned time. If you receive an invitation but cannot attend, you must provide a valid certificate (e.g. medical certificate or a proof of employment) • Training starts: 25 January 2027 • Training ends: no later than 24 September 2027 • Holiday period: 28 June 2027 –5 July 2027 Further information Tampere Adult Education Centre (TAKK) Questions about training content: Training Planner / Instructor Juha Alajoki, Tel. +358 44 7906 100, juha.alajoki@takk.fi City of Tampere, Employment and Growth Services Questions about applying: Coordinator Eeva-Maija Herttua, eeva-maija.herttua1@tampere.fi Information on labour market training can be found from here.