The ProStart® National Certificate of Achievement (COA) is an industry-recognized certificate that signifies a strong foundation in the basic culinary and management skills considered critical to success by industry leaders. Earning the COA can give you a leg up in your job search, and opens the door to collegiate opportunities. Numerous restaurant, foodservice and hospitality programs offer benefits to ProStart graduates including scholarships, class credits, and credit towards work experience requirements.

To earn the National COA, a student must pass “The Foundations of Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts Level 1 and Level 2 exams, document 400 hours of work experience and demonstrate proficiency on more than 50 workplace competencies. Work experience can come from paid jobs, school-based enterprises or relevant volunteer work.

To learn more about the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement and the benefits offered to ProStart graduates at more than 60 colleges and universities across the country, download the National ProStart Collegiate Passport.

The following Iowa Community Colleges have partnered with the Iowa ProStart Program to offer you benefits for earning your COA:

• Indian Hills Community College, Ottumwa
• Iowa Culinary Institute and Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny
• Iowa Western Community College, Council Bluffs
• Western Iowa Tech Community College, Sioux City
• Kirkwood Community College, Cedar Rapids