Gwinnett Technical College teaches Culinary Arts at its Lawrenceville Campus, and the college states that the program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation Accrediting Commission (ACFEFAC). Within that program, the Baking and Pastry Specialist Certificate (BA51) moves to a new 28-credit curriculum beginning Fall 2026.
The certificate is not a separate point of entry. Gwinnett requires BA51 applicants to be accepted into its culinary diploma or degree program, meet with the Culinary Arts Program Director, and attend a mandatory culinary seminar before the semester starts.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Gwinnett Technical College |
| Campus | Lawrenceville Campus, 5150 Sugarloaf Parkway, Lawrenceville, Georgia |
| Credential | Baking and Pastry Specialist Certificate (BA51), new curriculum starting Fall 2026 |
| Length | Not published; cost estimates below assume two semesters |
| Credits | 28 |
| Format | Campus-based, with hands-on kitchen coursework |
| Program area | Culinary Arts |
| Accreditation | College states the Culinary Arts program is accredited by ACFEFAC |
Baking and Pastry Program Options
Gwinnett’s Culinary Arts program page lists four credentials, each with a new curriculum starting Fall 2026: the Culinary Arts AAS, the Culinary Arts Diploma, the Baking and Pastry Specialist Certificate, and a Prep Cook Certificate. BA51 is the only one centered on baking.
Baking and Pastry Specialist Certificate (BA51)
The 2026–27 catalog listing sets the new BA51 curriculum at 28 credits. Alongside math, sanitation, cooking, and two baking courses, the plan includes Introduction to Nutrition and Sustainable Practices and a two-credit Menu Development course. The catalog suggests CHEF 1110 and CHEF 1120 as the first-semester courses.
Relationship to the Culinary Diploma and Degree
Because applicants must already be accepted into the culinary diploma or degree program, BA51 works as a baking credential earned within a longer culinary plan rather than as a stand-alone short course. Students register for courses and order supplies at the mandatory seminar held before the spring and fall semesters.
The catalog also warns that courses expire under the college’s course expiration rules. Students who pause their studies should check whether earlier culinary courses will still count before returning.
Curriculum and Baking Courses
The new 28-credit plan includes:
- Foundations of Mathematics (MATH 1012, 3 credits)
- Culinary Safety and Sanitation (CHEF 1110, 3 credits)
- Principles of Cooking (CHEF 1120, 6 credits)
- Baking Principles I (CHEF 1500, 5 credits)
- Introduction to Nutrition and Sustainable Practices (CHEF 1150, 3 credits)
- Menu Development (CHEF 1510, 2 credits)
- Advanced Baking Principles (CHEF 2250, 6 credits)
Eleven of the 28 credits are in dedicated baking courses. The program page adds that Culinary Arts students are required to sit for the National Restaurant Association ServSafe certification.
Tuition and Additional Costs
Beginning Fall 2026, Gwinnett charges $107 per credit for in-state students and $214 per credit for out-of-state students. Its tuition and fees page lists $481 in mandatory fees per semester: technology ($110), instructional ($60), registration ($95), activity ($30), accident insurance ($6), facility access ($85), campus safety ($45), and campus fee ($50).
Gwinnett does not publish a semester count for BA51, so this estimate assumes two semesters of mandatory fees:
| Program | Credits | Estimated in-state tuition and fees | Estimated out-of-state tuition and fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baking and Pastry Specialist Certificate (BA51) | 28 | $3,958 | $6,954 |
Each figure multiplies 28 credits by the per-credit rate and adds $962 in fees for two semesters. A third semester would add $481. The estimate leaves out textbooks, uniforms, tools, the ServSafe exam, housing, and transportation.
The catalog lists several program-specific costs: a chef’s uniform at about $140 plus shoes, a knife kit at about $330, a dining room uniform, textbooks, and tools. A livework or supply reimbursement charge may also apply. Check the current fee page and the materials list given at the culinary seminar for up-to-date amounts.
Admissions and Financial Aid
Admission to BA51 runs through the culinary program. Applicants need acceptance into the Culinary Arts diploma or degree, a meeting with the Program Director, and attendance at the mandatory seminar held before spring and fall terms.
The program page points culinary students to HOPE Grant, HOPE Scholarship, and HOPE Career Grant opportunities. Aid rules differ by credential and enrollment level, so students should confirm with financial aid which awards apply while they pursue BA51 inside a diploma or degree plan.
Career Preparation and Transfer Considerations
The catalog names bake shop assistants, pastry shop employees, and working pastry chefs as roles for BA51 completers. Gwinnett’s program page lists pastry chefs among Culinary Arts career outcomes, along with chefs, kitchen managers, caterers, and sous chefs.
The ACFEFAC accreditation statement applies to Gwinnett’s Culinary Arts program. Students who plan to seek a bachelor’s degree later should ask the receiving institution how Gwinnett’s applied culinary credits would transfer.
Which Gwinnett Tech Pathway May Fit You?
| Pathway | May fit students who want |
|---|---|
| Baking and Pastry Specialist Certificate | A baking credential earned while enrolled in the culinary diploma or degree |
| Culinary Arts Diploma | Broader cooking, baking, and kitchen training in the college’s 4–5 semester culinary program |
| Culinary Arts AAS | The broadest culinary credential, including general education |
| Prep Cook Certificate | A separate short culinary certificate that is not centered on baking |
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- Should I apply to the Culinary Arts diploma or the AAS if my main interest is baking?
- When is the next mandatory culinary seminar, and what must I bring or order there?
- How many semesters does the new 28-credit BA51 plan usually take?
- What will the uniform, knife kit, textbooks, and supply charges cost this year?
- Which aid programs cover my courses while I earn BA51 within a diploma or degree?
- Under the course expiration rules, how long will my culinary credits remain valid?
Program details and costs can change. Confirm current requirements with Gwinnett Technical College before applying.