Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) in Kirkland builds five baking credentials from a single set of BAKE courses: a 93-credit Baking Arts AAS, a 60-credit Baking Arts Certificate of Proficiency, and three shorter certificates of completion in Baking Skills, Specialty Baking, and Management in Baking.
LWTech states that its Baking Arts program holds American Culinary Federation (ACF) certification, which gives graduates eligibility for initial ACF credentials such as the Certified Pastry Culinarian (CPC). Classes run in a hybrid format, with part of the time on campus and part online, and new students enter in fall or spring. Information below comes from LWTech’s 2026–27 catalog and its program and tuition pages.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| School | Lake Washington Institute of Technology (LWTech) |
| Location | Kirkland, Washington; campus at 11605 132nd Avenue NE |
| Credentials | Baking Arts AAS; Baking Arts Certificate of Proficiency; Baking Skills, Specialty Baking, and Management in Baking Certificates of Completion |
| Credits | 93, 60, 30, 42, or 27 quarter credits |
| Length | Two to five quarters, depending on the credential |
| Entry | Fall or spring quarter |
| Format | Hybrid (part on campus, part online) |
| Accreditation | ACF certification, as stated by the college |
Baking and Pastry Program Options
The Baking Arts program page lists all five credentials. Because they share the same courses, the shorter certificates stack into the longer ones.
Baking Arts AAS
The Baking Arts AAS requires 73 core credits and 20 general education credits over a five-quarter sequence. It goes past the certificates with breads, confections, a capstone, and a 10-credit Bakery Retail Management course, and its outcomes include sugar and chocolate work, centerpieces, costing, menu planning, and employee supervision.
Baking Arts Certificate of Proficiency
The Baking Arts Certificate of Proficiency covers the AAS’s first three quarters of baking (45 credits) plus 15 credits in social science, quantitative reasoning, and written communication. Each of its three quarters carries 20 credits.
Certificates of Completion
The Baking Skills certificate (30 credits, two quarters) is the entry point, covering introductory and intermediate baking, sanitation, savory baking, and gluten-free and dietary-restriction baking. I-BEST support is available for it. The Specialty Baking certificate (42 credits, three quarters) and the Management in Baking certificate (27 credits, two quarters) both start at Intermediate Baking Arts. Students with baking experience and a food safety certification can place there with instructor permission. Specialty Baking then moves to cakes, centerpieces, breads, and confections, while Management in Baking focuses on running a quick-service bakery venue and its sales.
Curriculum and Baking Courses
The AAS core includes every BAKE course the college offers:
- Introduction to Baking (10 credits) and Intermediate Baking Arts (10 credits)
- Food Service Safety and Sanitation (2 credits) and Savory Baking (3 credits)
- Gluten Free and Dietary Restrictions (5 credits)
- Cakes (10 credits) and Centerpieces (5 credits)
- Breads (6 credits) and Confections (6 credits)
- Capstone (4 credits), Bakery Retail Management (10 credits), and Baking Projects (2 credits)
Every credential includes the 5-credit course on allergens and dietary restrictions. According to the program page, students gain a Washington State health card and can test for ServSafe certification. LWTech does not offer every course every quarter, so the college tells students to plan their schedule with an advisor.
Tuition and Additional Costs
LWTech’s 2026–27 tuition table charges Washington residents $136.14 per credit for the first 10 credits in a quarter, $67.18 per credit for credits 11–18, and $122.14 per credit above 18. Out-of-state U.S. citizens and permanent residents usually qualify for the non-resident fee waiver rate of $155.55 and $68.21 ($122.14 above 18). The full non-resident rate is $350.12, $75.93, and $336.12. Mandatory fees, most recently posted for 2025–26, are $49.75 per credit, a technology fee of $4 per credit capped at $40 a quarter, and a $20 wellness fee each quarter. Every BAKE course also carries a $44.52 per-credit course fee, which is included below. The estimates follow each credential’s catalog quarter sequence:
| Program | Credits | Estimated in-state tuition and fees | Estimated out-of-state tuition and fees | Estimated non-resident fee waiver rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baking Arts AAS (5 quarters) | 93 | $18,257 | $30,769 | $19,265 |
| Baking Arts Certificate of Proficiency (3 quarters) | 60 | $11,598 | $19,511 | $12,205 |
| Specialty Baking Certificate of Completion (3 quarters) | 42 | $9,030 | $15,554 | $9,624 |
| Baking Skills Certificate of Completion (2 quarters) | 30 | $6,343 | $10,710 | $6,741 |
| Management in Baking Certificate of Completion (2 quarters) | 27 | $5,858 | $10,199 | $6,254 |
These figures include tuition, mandatory fees, and BAKE course fees, but not books, supplies, or other course fees on general education classes. Several AAS and certificate quarters exceed 18 credits. The table rate for those extra credits is used above, but LWTech says it automatically waives the added operating fee for students in vocational programs taking more than 18 credits, which would lower the cost of those quarters.
For comparison, the college’s estimated cost by program page puts total resident costs at $18,819 for the AAS and $6,780 for Baking Skills, including $350 for books and supplies in each credential.
Admissions and Financial Aid
LWTech is an open-enrollment college. Entry into Baking Arts requires the college’s online application, with starts in fall and spring. Any developmental coursework a student needs can lengthen the program.
LWTech does not state Pell eligibility separately for each baking credential, so students interested in federal aid should confirm eligibility for the specific certificate with the financial aid office, particularly for the shorter options.
Career Preparation and Transfer Considerations
For certificate completers, LWTech lists roles such as cook, baker, bread baker, and cake decorator. AAS graduates may also work as pastry chefs, confectioners, and caterers. Because the college reports ACF certification for the program, graduates can pursue initial ACF credentials, including the Certified Pastry Culinarian.
AAS graduates who want a bachelor’s degree can look at LWTech’s own Applied Management – Entrepreneurship BAS or South Seattle College’s Hospitality Management program, both named on the program page. The college advises checking specific transfer requirements with the receiving school.
Which LWTech Pathway May Fit You?
| Pathway | May fit students who want |
|---|---|
| Baking Skills Certificate of Completion | A two-quarter start in bakery production, with I-BEST support available |
| Management in Baking Certificate of Completion | A short program in bakery sales, production, and profits, especially for those who already bake |
| Specialty Baking Certificate of Completion | Cakes, centerpieces, breads, and confections without general education |
| Baking Arts Certificate of Proficiency | A three-quarter credential that adds general education and cake decorating |
| Baking Arts AAS | The full sequence, including retail management and a capstone, plus a route to an applied bachelor’s degree |
Questions to Ask Before Applying
- Which BAKE courses are offered in the spring entry, and does a spring start change the quarter sequence?
- What is the 2026–27 BAKE course fee, and does it change from the 2025–26 amount?
- Will the over-18-credit waiver apply to my 20-credit quarters?
- How much of each week is spent on campus in the hybrid format?
- Is the certificate I am considering eligible for Pell Grants?
Program details and costs can change. Confirm current requirements with Lake Washington Institute of Technology before applying.