Level 4 Diploma in Professional Chef

1. Advanced Culinary Techniques Mastery of classical and modern cooking methods, including molecular gastronomy and advanced plating.

2. Kitchen Management and Leadership Supervising brigades, workflow optimization, staff training, and leadership strategies.

3. Food Safety and Hygiene in Professional Kitchens Advanced HACCP application, hygiene enforcement, and compliance with international standards.

4. Gastronomy and Menu Development Culinary innovation, food trends, and designing menus for diverse markets.

5. Nutrition and Special Diets Menu planning for health, wellness, and dietary requirements (vegan, gluten‑free, allergen‑free).

6. International Cuisine and Culture Exploration of global cuisines, cultural influences, and fusion cooking.

7. Baking and Patisserie Arts Advanced pastry, artisan bread, chocolate work, and plated desserts.

8. Procurement and Inventory Control Supplier management, cost control, sustainable sourcing, and stock rotation.

9. Culinary Business Operations Budgeting, cost analysis, entrepreneurship, and managing profitability in food businesses.

10. Workplace Communication & Customer Service Effective communication, conflict resolution, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.

• Builds competence in advanced culinary mastery and gastronomy

• Enhances compliance with food safety and hygiene legislation

• Strengthens skills in kitchen leadership, procurement, and business operations

• Provides tools for nutrition‑focused menu design and international cuisine innovation

• Offers recognized certification to support senior management and executive chef careers

• Experienced chefs progressing to sous chef, head chef, or executive chef roles

• Culinary professionals seeking advanced leadership certification

• Supervisors in catering, hospitality, and fine dining establishments

• Entrepreneurs aiming to establish or manage culinary businesses

• Assessment Type: Written exam + advanced practical assessment + project

• Format: MCQs, essay‑style questions, advanced cooking tasks, and applied business project

• Total Questions: 80 theory + 1 practical assessment + 1 project submission

• Passing Score: 70%

• Duration: 5 days (35–40 hours total)

• Certification: Level 4 Diploma in Professional Chef (PFCH)

To deliver this Qualification, HiQual UK Approved ATPs must demonstrate the capability to deliver, assess, and internally quality assure qualifications in line with recognised regulatory principles and the expectations of the Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF).

Approved centres must operate effective systems to ensure the validity, reliability, fairness, consistency, and security of assessment.

1. Centre Recognition and Legal Compliance

Centres must be formally recognised by HiQual UK prior to the delivery or assessment of any qualification. To maintain recognition, centres must: Be a legally constituted organisation operating in compliance with applicable legislation and regulatory requirements. Demonstrate effective governance, management oversight, and clear lines of accountability. Comply with all HiQual UK policies, procedures, and conditions of centre recognition. Notify HiQual UK promptly of any material changes that may affect delivery, assessment, or internal quality assurance arrangements.

2. Resources, Facilities, and Learning Environment

Centres must ensure that sufficient and appropriate resources are in place to support learning and assessment. This includes: Learning environments appropriate to the mode of delivery, including classrooms and, where applicable, specialist or practical facilities. Access to learning and assessment resources that enable learners to meet qualification outcomes. Secure systems for managing learner data, assessment records, and certification claims. Arrangements that support equality of access and reasonable adjustments for learners where required.

3. Staff Competence and Occupational Expertise

Centres must ensure that all staff involved in delivery, assessment, and internal quality assurance are competent and suitably qualified. Centres must: Appoint tutors with appropriate subject knowledge, teaching competence, and relevant occupational or professional experience. Ensure assessors are trained and competent in applying HiQual UK assessment requirements and standards. Appoint a qualified Internal Quality Assurer (IQA) responsible for monitoring assessment practice and decisions. Maintain records of staff qualifications, experience, training, and continuing professional development (CPD).

4. Assessment Practice and Internal Quality Assurance (IQA)

Centres must operate robust internal quality assurance systems to ensure assessment integrity. Centres must: Ensure assessment is valid, fit for purpose, and conducted in line with HiQual UK requirements. Implement effective IQA procedures to monitor assessor performance and confirm the consistency of assessment decisions. Maintain accurate, complete, and auditable records of learner registration, assessment evidence, and outcomes. Carry out regular internal reviews and standardisation activities to support continuous improvement.

5. Integrity, Risk Management, and Malpractice

Centres must take appropriate measures to protect the integrity of assessment. Centres must: Maintain policies and procedures for the prevention, identification, and management of malpractice and maladministration. Ensure secure handling, storage, and retention of assessment materials and learner evidence. Report any suspected or confirmed malpractice to HiQual UK in accordance with published procedures.

6. Health, Safety, Safeguarding, and Learner Protection

Centres must provide a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment. Centres must: Comply with applicable health and safety and safeguarding legislation. Conduct risk assessments for learning activities, particularly where practical or technical work is involved. Maintain procedures to safeguard learner welfare and wellbeing.

7. Learner Information, Support, and Fair Treatment

Centres must ensure learners are informed, supported, and treated fairly. Centres must: Provide clear and accurate information on programme requirements, assessment methods, and certification. Ensure learners receive timely and constructive feedback on assessment outcomes. Operate transparent complaints and appeals procedures aligned with HiQual UK requirements. Manage learner information securely in compliance with data protection legislation.