Food Truck Business Certificate

The Food Truck Business Certificate Course is designed to equip aspiring food truck entrepreneurs with the knowledge and skills needed to successfully launch and operate a food truck business. This 7-week course covers all essential aspects of the food truck industry, including business planning, regulatory compliance, operations management, marketing strategies, and culinary techniques. Through a combination of theoretical instruction, practical exercises, and hands-on experience, students will gain a well-rounded understanding of what it takes to thrive in the competitive food truck market.

Award Type:

IWCC Certificate of Completion

Learning Outcomes:

Students completing this certificate will gain the practical knowledge and hands-on experience needed to plan, launch, and operate a food truck business. Participants will develop skills in business planning, regulatory compliance, operations, marketing, menu development, and real-world service execution, preparing them to confidently enter the food truck industry.

Educational Objective:

Vocational

Tuition:

Tuition: $650

Fees: Tuition covers instruction, hands-on food truck training, food and supply costs, fuel and propane expenses, equipment use, and course materials required for participation.

Length of Course:

This seven-week certificate program meets Tuesday and Thursday evenings for three hours per session. The first four weeks focus on lecture, business planning, and menu development. The final three weeks provide hands-on food truck experience in a public service setting, allowing students to apply concepts in real-world operations.

Course Outline:

This seven-week certificate program consists of 42 total clock hours. The first four weeks focus on classroom instruction, business planning, regulatory compliance, and menu development. The final three weeks emphasize hands-on food preparation and public sales operations using the college’s food truck.

Subject / Unit	Clock Hours
Introduction, Business Concepts, and Funding	3
Startup Foundations (prep kitchen, truck vs. trailer, branding, social media, parking, distributors, insurance)	6
Payments, POS Systems, and Staffing Models	6
Regulations & Compliance (DOT, IA/NE permits, ServSafe)	6
Equipment, Power, and Truck Setup	6
Menu Development and Pricing	6
Food Truck Preparation (Hands-On)	6
Food Truck Sales & Service (Hands-On Public Operation)	9
Total Clock Hours	42

Admissions Requirements:

N/A

Attendance Requirements:

Full attendance is required for successful completion of the Food Truck Business Certificate. Students must attend 100% of scheduled class sessions, including all hands-on preparation and public service dates. Due to the applied nature of this course, missed instruction cannot be replicated.

Any absence must be approved in advance by the Continuing Education Department. Unapproved absences may result in the student being ineligible to receive a Certificate of Completion. Failure to meet attendance requirements may result in removal from the course with no refund issued.

Students are expected to arrive on time and remain for the full duration of each class session. Attendance is required to pass the course.

Instructor Qualification:

Instructor is registered, certified, or licensed in the occupational area in which the state requires registration, certification or licensure for the occupational area in which the instructor is teaching.