Virginia's Restaurants & Food/Beverage Services pathway develops expertise in food service operations, food preparation, customer service, and restaurant management—preparing students for careers in hospitality's food and beverage sector.
Students study food service operations, food safety, cooking fundamentals, beverage service, customer interaction, sanitation, and restaurant management. They practice food service through school dining and restaurant partnerships.
Graduates work as food service workers, cooks, servers, food service supervisors, or restaurant managers. Every community requires food service professionals. Advanced students pursue culinary and hospitality management programs.
Restaurants & Food/Beverage Services at a Glance
4
Courses
8
Credentials
4
Career Paths
State Standards & Framework
Virginia's food/beverage services standards address food safety, sanitation, food preparation, customer service, and restaurant operations. Standards emphasize food safety and customer satisfaction.
Students demonstrate competency through food service operations projects and food safety certifications. The state integrates ServSafe Food Handler Certification.
Typical Course Sequence
| Course |
|---|
| Food Service Fundamentals |
| Food Safety and Sanitation |
| Food Preparation and Cooking |
| Restaurant Operations and Management |
Industry Certifications & Credentials
- ✓First Aid/CPR/AED
- ✓National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)
- ✓ServSafe Food Handler
- ✓ServSafe Manager
- ✓ProStart Certificate of Achievement - Year 1
- ✓ProStart Certificate of Achievement - Year 2
- ✓Hospitality Tourism Specialist (HTS)
- ✓Guest Service Gold - Tourism
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.
Food Service Worker
Entry LevelSalary range: $57,150 - $83,990
Cook
Entry LevelSalary range: $31,140 - $42,060
Food Service Supervisor
ExperiencedSalary range: $57,150 - $83,990
Restaurant Manager
ExperiencedSalary range: $57,150 - $83,990
Work-Based Learning Opportunities
Students work in school food service, restaurants, hotels, and food service operations throughout Virginia.
Career & Technical Student Organization
Students in this pathway can participate in DECA, gaining leadership experience and competing in career-related events.
How Sage Helps Virginia CTE Programs
AI-Powered Curriculum
Generate standards-aligned lesson plans in minutes, not months
Virginia Standards Built In
Pre-loaded with Virginia's CTE standards and frameworks
Teacher Customization
Teachers personalize content while maintaining standards alignment
Ongoing Updates
Curriculum stays current as Virginia standards and industry needs evolve
Ready to Build Restaurants & Food/Beverage Services Programs at Scale?
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