Georgia's Culinary Arts pathway prepares students for careers in the state's diverse food service industry. From Atlanta's award-winning restaurant scene to hospitality venues across the state, Georgia offers varied culinary career opportunities ranging from fine dining to institutional food service.
The program provides comprehensive training in cooking techniques, baking and pastry, menu planning, food safety, and kitchen management. Students work in professional kitchen environments, often operating student-run restaurants serving real customers. The curriculum covers both classical techniques and contemporary culinary trends, including Southern regional cuisine reflecting Georgia's culinary heritage.
Georgia's culinary pathway emphasizes food safety, professional kitchen operations, and customer service along with culinary techniques. Students work toward industry certifications including ServSafe that are recognized nationwide, preparing for immediate employment or postsecondary culinary education.
Culinary Arts at a Glance
3
Courses
8
Credentials
4
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
Georgia's Culinary Arts pathway standards align with American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) guidelines and National Restaurant Association competencies. The curriculum addresses culinary techniques, nutrition, food service management, and professional kitchen operations.
Programs must provide access to commercial-grade kitchen equipment and facilities meeting health department standards. Georgia requires integration of food safety and sanitation throughout the curriculum.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course |
|---|
| Introduction to Culinary Arts |
| Culinary Arts and Hospitality I |
| Culinary Arts and Hospitality II |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
- ✓ServSafe Manager
- ✓ProStart Certificate of Achievement - Year 1
- ✓ProStart Certificate of Achievement - Year 2
- ✓Hospitality Tourism Specialist (HTS)
- ✓Guest Service Gold - Tourism
- ✓First Aid/CPR/AED
- ✓National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
- ✓ServSafe Food Handler
Career Opportunities
Salary data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2024). Growth projections from BLS Employment Projections (2023-2033). Cost-of-living adjustment uses BEA Regional Price Parities (2023). Entry-level salaries reflect the 25th percentile; experienced salaries reflect the median.
Line Cook
Entry LevelSalary range: $29,170 - $37,500
Sous Chef
ExperiencedSalary range: $45,220 - $70,960
Pastry Chef
ExperiencedSalary range: $45,220 - $70,960
Executive Chef
ExperiencedSalary range: $45,220 - $70,960
Recent News
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Georgia culinary students access internships at restaurants, hotels, catering companies, and institutional food service operations. Student-run restaurants provide regular customer service experience. Atlanta's culinary scene offers diverse internship opportunities.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA), gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps Georgia CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
Georgia Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with Georgia's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as Georgia standards and industry needs evolve
Related Glossary Terms
Work-Based Learning
Work-Based Learning (WBL) encompasses a range of educational strategies that connect classroom instruction with real workplace experiences. Activities include internships, apprenticeships, job shadowing, clinical rotations, and cooperative education, all designed to help CTE students apply technical skills in authentic industry settings.
ProgrammaticProgram of Study
A Program of Study (POS) is a coordinated, non-duplicative sequence of academic and CTE courses that spans secondary through postsecondary education. Required under Perkins V, a POS integrates academic content with CTE instruction, includes work-based learning, and leads to an industry-recognized credential or postsecondary degree.
ProgrammaticIndustry Certifications in CTE
Industry certifications in CTE are credentials issued by industry organizations or third-party bodies that validate a student's mastery of specific technical skills and knowledge. Examples include CompTIA A+, AWS Certified Welder, and ServSafe, which demonstrate career readiness to employers in ways that transcend state and district boundaries.
AssessmentCareer and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs)
Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSOs) are national organizations that provide CTE students with opportunities for leadership development, competitive events, community service, and career preparation. Recognized CTSOs include DECA, FBLA, FFA, HOSA, SkillsUSA, and TSA, each serving students in specific career cluster areas.
ProgrammaticReady to Build Culinary Arts Programs at Scale?
See how Sage can help you create standards-aligned curriculum for Culinary Arts in Georgia.