Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) teaches baking through its ACF-accredited Culinary Arts program in the School of Business, Hospitality & Technology in Albuquerque. There are two baking credentials: a 22-credit Baking Certificate of Completion and a 60-credit Culinary Arts AAS with an Advanced Baking and Pastry Concentration.
The two are built to stack. The catalog describes the certificate as a required part of the associate degree, so certificate courses count toward the concentration. Each baking course pairs 15 theory hours with 135 lab hours, and both credentials can begin in any term. Details below come from the 2026–27 CNM Catalog (Volume 58).
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) |
| Location | Albuquerque, New Mexico; labs on Main Campus, with some theory courses offered online |
| Credentials | Baking Certificate of Completion; Culinary Arts AAS, Advanced Baking and Pastry Concentration |
| Credits | 22 or 60 credits |
| Length | Two terms (certificate); four terms (AAS), full time |
| Entry | Any term, part time or full time |
| Accreditation | The catalog states that the Culinary Arts AAS is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation’s Accrediting Commission |
Baking and Pastry Program Options
Both credentials appear in the 2026–27 CNM Catalog and on the Culinary Arts program page. CNM also offers Culinary Arts and Beverage Management concentrations and a Culinary Fundamentals certificate, but those are general culinary options.
Baking Certificate of Completion
The Baking certificate is a two-term program. The first term covers kitchen basics: Introduction to Culinary Skills, Culinary Skills, a safety and sanitation course, and Fundamentals of Information Literacy and Systems. The second term adds Introduction to Baking Fundamentals and Applied Baking Principles, plus 3–5 credits of program-approved electives. Students can choose any CULN, BEV, or HT course or a culinary internship. CNM lists the certificate as financial aid eligible.
Culinary Arts AAS, Advanced Baking and Pastry Concentration
The concentration is a four-term, 60-credit degree. The first two terms focus on cooking, beverage service, purchasing and cost control, and nutrition. The two baking fundamentals courses come in term three. Term four brings Advanced Baking and Pastry, Retail & Restaurant Bakery Operations, Entrepreneurial Food Operations, and a 5-credit program elective. According to the catalog, graduates may become ACF certified culinarians and/or certified pastry cooks, depending on their concentration.
Curriculum and Baking Courses
These are the baking and closely related courses across the two credentials:
- Introduction to Baking Fundamentals: scaling, mixing methods, ingredient functions, baking math, cookies, quick breads, pan breads, sweet yeast, and cakes and decorating
- Applied Baking Principles: laminated dough, artisan bread, scratch cakes, tarts, pies, meringues, and pâte à choux
- Advanced Baking and Pastry (AAS only): specialty cakes, decorating techniques, confections, macarons, and tempered chocolate
- Retail & Restaurant Bakery Operations (AAS only): small pastries, advanced bread techniques, and plated desserts
- Entrepreneurial Food Operations (AAS only): building a business concept for a bakery, café, or other food outlet
- Introduction to Culinary Skills, Culinary Skills, and safety and sanitation (both credentials)
Each of the four baking courses carries 4 credits and 135 lab hours. The two fundamentals courses require the culinary skills courses, BCIS 1110, and a sanitation course first. Both advanced courses require the two fundamentals courses.
Tuition and Additional Costs
CNM’s 2026–27 tuition table gives a single rate to all New Mexico residents, whether they live inside or outside the CNM district: $76 per credit hour for 1–11 credits, or a flat $912 for 12–18 credits. Non-residents pay $369 per credit hour, or $4,428 for 12–18 credits. Standard fees include a $16-per-credit technology/facility fee and a $61 registration fee each term. The estimates follow the catalog’s term plans. The certificate plan has two terms of 11 credits, charged per credit. The AAS plan has four terms of 14–16 credits, each charged at the flat rate.
| Program | Credits | Estimated in-state tuition and fees | Estimated out-of-state tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baking Certificate of Completion (2 terms of 11 credits) | 22 | $2,146 | $8,592 |
| Culinary Arts AAS, Advanced Baking and Pastry Concentration (4 full-time terms) | 60 | $4,852 | $18,916 |
In-state figures use the New Mexico resident rate, which is CNM’s lowest. Both plans assume the 1-credit sanitation course and the minimum elective credits. Choosing the 3-credit sanitation option would put the certificate’s first term at 13 credits and switch it to the flat rate. The estimates exclude course and lab fees, books, uniforms, tools, and living costs.
Students must buy chef’s uniforms, textbooks, and tools. Some sections include course materials in the bill through CNM’s includED program. Lab and course fees vary by course and are listed in CNM’s course fee lookup, which is linked from the Fees and Book Charges page. Current tuition is posted on the Tuition Rates and Residency page.
Admissions and Financial Aid
CNM has open admission, and the college posts deadlines. Both baking credentials require Math Skills 2 (algebra) and Reading and Writing Skills 2. Students can meet these through CNM’s free ACCUPLACER placement exam, ACT or SAT scores, a qualifying high school transcript, or developmental coursework. Students should be able to lift 30 pounds and stand for the length of a lab class.
Both programs are financial aid eligible, although CNM notes that some individual courses are not. Eligible New Mexico residents may receive the New Mexico Opportunity Scholarship, which requires no application. At CNM it covers tuition and required fees, plus up to $50 per credit hour in course-specific fees. Returning learners must take at least 6 credits and keep a 2.5 GPA. Summer coverage is capped at 9 credits.
Career Preparation and Transfer Considerations
The catalog lists jobs in restaurants, casinos, resorts, schools, hospitals, cruise ships, catering companies, and convention centers. Graduates may work as bakers, cooks, managers, or business owners. Students can also take part in ACF and SkillsUSA competitions.
For bachelor’s study, CNM’s Culinary Arts transfer page lists pathways from the AAS, including the Advanced Baking and Pastry concentration. The options are the BAAS at Eastern New Mexico University, the BAS at New Mexico Highlands University, and the Organization, Information and Learning Sciences (OILS) program at UNM. Each requires additional general education courses, which students can take before transferring.
Which CNM Pathway May Fit You?
| Pathway | May fit students who want |
|---|---|
| Baking Certificate of Completion | A two-term start in kitchen fundamentals and baking, with credits that count toward the AAS |
| Culinary Arts AAS, Advanced Baking and Pastry Concentration | An ACF-accredited degree with advanced pastry, bakery operations, and a route to ACF pastry certification or transfer |
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- Are Advanced Baking and Pastry and Retail & Restaurant Bakery Operations offered every term, or only in certain terms?
- What are the current lab and course fees for CULN 1130, 1132, 2232, and 2234?
- Which uniform, knife, and tool items must I buy before my first lab?
- Should I take the 1-credit or 3-credit sanitation course, and how does that affect my tuition?
- Which electives work best for a baking focus, and can an internship count?
- Do I qualify for the Opportunity Scholarship, and would it cover my course fees?
Program details and costs can change. Confirm current requirements with Central New Mexico Community College before applying.