Professional Baking Certificate & AAS
Welcome to the Program Page dedicated to the Professional Baking Certificate & AAS program! This page is designed to give an overview of what the quarter will look like based on the starting point in the year. Click on one of the desired tabs below to view the course schedule. This information may be subject to change at any time without notice, please contact your adviser for more information regarding the courses.
Did you take baking or pastry classes in high school? You may be eligible for dual credit if you earned a "C" in your classes and it has been less than two years since you graduated from high school. Learn more on our CTE Dual Credit website.
Bookstore Information
Information regarding the materials can be found at the RTC bookstore
Links to an external site.. Just fill in the course information and you will be set!
The bookstore has what you need in regard to materials so be sure to check it out! It is always better to be prepared than to wait last second to buy your materials!
General Overview
When can I start? Summer, (July), Fall (September), Winter (January), or Spring (April)
How long is the program?
- 4 quarters (14 months) and 75 credits for the certificate
- 5 quarters (17 months) and 90 credits for the AAS degree
When do classes meet? On-campus from 6:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Are summer classes required? Yes. You will need to enroll during the summer to complete your certificate or degree.
Study classical and contemporary baking in a well-equipped professional kitchen. You will learn to make bread, pies, pastries, cookies, doughnuts, and cakes. You also get to manage production in the campus bakery.
What does a professional baker do?
What is the average salary?
$37,480 annually Links to an external site. in the Seattle-Bellevue-Tacoma area. Most bakers earn at least $31,540.
Who can I contact with questions?
- New students, please visit our Zoom lobby (Links to an external site.) to talk with someone by video chat, or e-mail our advising department.
- For current students, please visit RTC's advising page (Links to an external site and look for the faculty counselor assigned to Professional Baking.
Overall Materials Needed:
- Food handler's permit Links to an external site. (needed within the first two weeks of joining the program. Initial cost is $10)
- Comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes
- Padlock for lockers
- Uniform (cost TBD)
- Digital thermometer, kitchen calculator, Professional Baking textbook bundle, books and exam voucher for CUL 105 ($510 for all)
Minimum grades needed
You must pass each class with a grade of 1.0 or higher. You also must have a cumulative or overall GPA of 2.0 or higher to complete your Professional Baking certificate or AAS degree.
Materials Warning
Some materials on this page are listed as TBD, which means that the materials have yet to be determined. Please consult your instructor on what textbooks or materials are required for the class. If you rent a textbook, make sure you return it by the deadline. If you purchase a textbook, you can sell it back to the RTC bookstore -- but make sure that you won't need the book again for classes in the future!
Mobile Browser Information
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Fall
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 105 | Mixing I | NO | 3 |
| BAK 108 | Pies and Tarts | NO | 3 |
| BAK 110 |
Yeast Doughs I | NO | 3 |
| BAK 112 |
Puff Pastries | NO | 3 |
| BAK 113 | Cakes I | NO | 3 |
| BAK 115 | Artisan Bread I | NO | 3 |
| CMST 280 | Intercultural Communication (recommended) or another communication or humanities class | varies by class | 5 |
Quarter 3
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 119 | Cakes III | NO | 3 |
| BAK 120 | French Pastries | NO | 3 |
| BAK 160 | Bakery Math | NO | 5 |
|
(CMST 280) If not taken in Quarter 2, take this course in Quarter 4 |
Intercultural Communication (recommended) or another communication or humanities class |
varies by class | 5 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your Certificate of Completion: $10,178 plus cost of uniform
You can continue with Quarter 5 to earn your AAS degree.
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC& 100 | General Psychology (recommended) or another social science class | YES | 5 |
| BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
| NUTR& 101 | Human Nutrition (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your AAS Degree: $12,020 plus cost of uniform
Winter
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Quarter 3
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 102 | Ovens II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 106 |
Mixing II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 160 | Bakery Math | NO | 5 |
| CMST 280 | Intercultural Communication (recommended) or another communication or humanities class | varies by class | 5 |
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 111 | Yeast Doughs II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 114 |
Cakes II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 116 |
Artisan Bread II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 118 | Bakery Operations II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 119 | Cakes III | NO | 3 |
| BAK 120 | French Pastries | NO | 3 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your Certificate of Completion: $10,178 plus cost of uniform
You can continue with Quarter 5 to earn your AAS degree.
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC& 100 | General Psychology (recommended) or another social science class | YES | 5 |
| BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
| NUTR& 101 | Human Nutrition (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your AAS Degree: $12,020 plus cost of uniform
Spring
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 105 | Mixing I | NO | 3 |
| BAK 108 | Pies and Tarts | NO | 3 |
| BAK 160 |
Bakery Math | NO | 5 |
| CMST 280 | Intercultural Communication (recommended) or another communication or humanities class | varies by class | 5 |
Quarter 3
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 111 |
Yeast Doughs II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 114 | Cakes II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 116 | Artisan Bread II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 118 | Bakery Operations II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 119 |
Cakes III | NO | 3 |
| BAK 120 |
French Pastries | NO | 3 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your Certificate of Completion: $10,178 plus cost of uniform
You can continue with Quarter 5 to earn your AAS degree.
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC& 100 | General Psychology (recommended) or another social science class | YES | 5 |
| BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
| NUTR& 101 | Human Nutrition (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your AAS Degree: $12,020 plus cost of uniform
Summer
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Quarter 3
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 102 | Ovens II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 106 | Mixing II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 111 | Yeast Doughs II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 112 | Puff Pastries | NO | 3 |
| BAK 113 | Cakes I | NO | 3 |
| BAK 115 | Artisan Bread I | NO | 3 |
| CMST 280 | Intercultural Communication (recommended) or another communication or humanities class | varies by class | 5 |
Quarter 4
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK 114 | Cakes II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 116 |
Artisan Bread II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 118 | Bakery Options II | NO | 3 |
| BAK 119 | Cakes III | NO | 3 |
| BAK 120 | French Pastries | NO | 3 |
| CMST 280 | Intercultural Communication (recommended) or another communication or humanities class | varies by class | 5 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your Certificate of Completion: $10,178 plus cost of uniform
You can continue with Quarter 5 to earn your AAS degree.
Quarter 5
Course ID |
Course Name |
Materials |
Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSYC& 100 | General Psychology (recommended) or another social science class | YES | 5 |
| BUS& 101 | Introduction to Business (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
| NUTR& 101 | Human Nutrition (recommended) or another General Education elective | NO | 5 |
Estimated Total Cost for Your AAS Degree: $12,020 plus cost of uniform
Not quite the career path you want to take? Let's go back to the Program Map!