No, you don't need to go to culinary school to become a chef. Culinary school provides invaluable hands-on training. However, it's not the only path. I know some exceptional chefs who have worked their way up entirely through experience. Ultimately your skills and work ethic matter most. That said, culinary school gives a solid foundation to build upon. Becoming a qualified chef will open more doors. It will help towards achieving Executive Chef status.