A culinary degree is nice to have, but it is not necessary to find work as a cook. The restaurant kitchen is still a place where a person can learn most of everything that they need through on-the-job training. Many chefs, in fact, prefer to train cooks themselves. A line cook that already knows the five mother sauces is a great addition to a restaurant team, but a cook who is eager to learn, who learns quickly, and who shows up on time when needed is priceless.