How long had you been cake decorating before you became an instructor? My Michael's has an opening for a decorating instructor but I don't think I have enough experience to apply for it.

Thanks.

I would also like to know the answer to this. I would love to teach, but I always second guess myself. I have even filled out the application a time or two and then didn't send it because I chickened out.

Melissa

Bump...

I'm not an instructor but I think you have to have taken all of the wilton (3) courses. They are adding another course in FEB. dealing with modeling gum paste so I don't know if that one would be required also or not.

They give you training videos also that you have to watch in order to teach.

If you go to the Wilton site there is a link about what you have to do to become an instructor. You don't have to have any certain amount of time under your belt, but you do have to know the techniques.

Both of my instructors had an extensive background working in grocery store bakeries. I've taken all three courses and a fondant course on the side with one of the instructors. I just don't know if I have the skill to teach other people.

Does anyone else have suggestions?

You will never know until you try it.

Just think how wonderful it could be when other people are following your instructions - and then you see their pleasure at achieving a beautifully decorated cake.

If you do decide to go ahead, I wish you lots of luck and pleasure, I am not a teacher as such, and have not done the Wilton courses - there isn't one near enough to me - but I have shown other people, adults and children how to make flowerpaste or sugarpaste figures, birds, penguins, snowbabies etc. etc. and when they have never done anything like it before they are SO-oooo pleased.

Do consider trying it - even if you make a fool of yourself (I have - senior moment) turn the moment around and make them laugh with you.

Good luck, God Bless to all of you.

This is my third month as a wilton instructor. I took course 1 six years ago, then decided to do course 2. I went back and did course 1 as a refresher. I wanted to teach so my instructor recomended me. Then i took course 3. If you want to teach go to the wilton website and click on instructors needed.
Good luck.

I believe they just want to see that you can decorate and that you agree with the Wilton Methods. After taking all 3 classes over a 3 month period they were ready to hire me as an instructor and I really only knew the basics. But I am friendly with my former instructor and I know it is a lot of work, a lot of prep time at home and when you are trying to start your own business and do your personal cakes it eats away at your time. Michaels expects her to teach 3 classes a week.

if you are really interested fill out the online application, they will only contact you if there is a store in your area that has a vacancy for an instructor. You cannot go in and get yourself hired on as a WMI. just be confident in your icing, rose/flower making and shell making abilities. You will need to send them some cake photos when they contact you, if they contact you. Also dont wait around for that contact cause they dont contact everyone, just when you are close enough to an open account.
At first it is alot of prep work, but you get used to that, and for me, it takes no time at all now. i really enjoy it, ive been a WMI for 10yrs now.

I have mixed feelings about how Wilton gets their instructors. I am an inactive teacher right now, I gave my spot up when gas went sky high and my store was 60 miles from me. I had two of my students that went through the 3 courses that are now teaching. Some can teach and some cannot. To me, one does not get enough experience in 3 classes. When I was hired, I had many years of decorating, managed and owned my own bakery and was never asked to send any pictures. I had, had one Wilton class back when Wilton first started them. I never took another class, I basically taught myself. However, I had no problems with following Wiltons guidelines, as I spent many years training folks. I know of people that had good instuctors and bad ones. I enjoyed the teaching aspect, and would never hesitate to teach again if I had a closer location. I personally think they need to require a little more background then 3 classes for teachers. But they need bodies to market their products, and keep the consumer spending their money on supplies. I say if you want to teach then go for it, the experience is good.

How are instructors compensated?