Education

RBA is the leading not-for-profit trade association that offers leading-edge industry and baking business resources, as well as educational opportunities for independent retail bakeries. RBA offers many educational opportunities throughout the nation, as well as provides members with many educational and cutting-edge resources.

For a complete listing of upcoming RBA and industry events, please visit the events page.

RBA also produces and sells a variety of educational and information books and DVDs. Please visit the RBA Store for current offerings.

Certification

An RBA certification raises professional standards and verifies the knowledge, skills, and abilities professional bakers bring to the marketplace. Certification also increases job opportunities and income for certified bakers and decorators.

An RBA certification greatly benefits four types of retail bakers:

• Students graduating from a baking or culinary programs, but have limited work experience;
• Bakery staff with little or no technical training, but much on-the-job training;
• Bakery staff specializing in decorating or bread baking; and
• Retail bakers with four or more years of experience.
• RBA provides professionals of the retail baking industry the opportunity to earn up to five certifications.

Certified Journey Baker (CJB)
Qualifications and Criteria

A baker at this level assists in the preparation and production of pies, cookies, cakes, breads, rolls, desserts or other baked goods for a commercial bakery. Duties may include stocking ingredients, preparing and cleaning equipment; measuring ingredients, mixing, scaling, forming, proofing, oven tending, and product finishing. He/she must demonstrate a basic knowledge about the principles of sanitation.

Certified Baker (CB)
Qualifications and Criteria

A Certified Baker prepares and produces baked goods while assisting with general commercial bakery operations. He/she has considerable responsibility and autonomy and participates in a broad range of both complex and routine work activities, including supervision of other staff and allocation of resources. He/she must demonstrate a basic knowledge of bakery sanitation, management, retail sales/merchandising and staff training.

Certified Decorator (CD)
Qualifications and Criteria

A decorator at this level and for this designation prepares and finishes sweet baked goods for a commercial bakery. Duties include preparing icings, decorating a variety of cakes using various techniques, seasonal displays and specialty designs, and working with customers. He/she demonstrates a basic knowledge about sanitation.

Certified Master Baker ( CMB)
Qualifications and Criteria

A baker at this level and for this designation participates in a broad range of complex, technical or professional work activities, performed in a wide variety of contexts with a substantial degree of personal responsibility and autonomy. Responsibility for the work of others and allocation of resources is present. He/she must have the technical and administrative skills necessary to operate and manage the production area of a full-line independent or in-store commercial bakery. He/she must produce high quality bakery foods, and demonstrate a basic knowledge about the principles of sanitation, management, retail sales/merchandising and training.

Certification Fees

Industry professionals interested in becoming certified should download the Certification Application and return to Heather Trusty, RBA Director of Education/Certification at 703-610-9005.

Need additional information? Contact Heather at 800-638-0924 or [email protected].