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Culinary and Hospitality in Pennsylvania
These pages summarize rules to help you plan. They are not legal advice. Before you place students at a work site or change a program, check with your state agency, your district's counsel and your insurance carrier.
In short
Pennsylvania CTCs often run culinary under 12.0508 to earn SOAR credit; 16- and 17-year-olds may serve food but not alcohol, and slicers need a student-learner agreement.
State program: CIP 12.0508 Institutional Food Worker (SOAR POS 30); 12.0501 Baking and Pastry (POS 41); 12.0500 not SOAR
What a high school can deliver
The NOCTI assessment, ServSafe and SOAR credit; 16- and 17-year-olds may serve food but not alcohol.
Credentials students can earn
NOCTI end-of-program assessment (2026-27 test: Confirm with the agency); ServSafe Food Handler and Manager in common use
Age and hour requirements
18 to serve or dispense alcohol (47 P.S. 4-493(13)); 16-17 may serve food, clear tables and carry drinks left on tables; a 17-year-old graduate may be treated as 18 (40 Pa. Code 5.14).
Other agencies involved
PA Department of Agriculture or the county or municipal health department: retail food facility license with an accredited food manager; CTC restaurant nonprofit exemption: Confirm with the agency.
Who can teach it
Career and Technical Instructional I (8,000 hours, or 4,000 plus a bachelor's) or Experience-Based certificate while finishing credits; occupational competency assessment.
Child labor rules for work placements
Work permit for every minor; 28 hours a school week. The state list bars power food slicers, choppers and grinders except apprentices, student learners and approved graduates, and bakery machines except countertop mixers.
College credit after high school
SOAR for 12.0501 and 12.0508 only (Lancaster CTC reports 9-11 credits at HACC and others; 2.75 technical GPA; 16 months); SOAR under revision ().
Where to go next
- The full Culinary and Hospitality guide, showing Pennsylvania
- The Pennsylvania state profile
- Add this pathway to your plan
Culinary and Hospitality in other states
Other pathways in Pennsylvania
- Nurse Aide / Patient Care
- EMT
- Electrical
- Welding
- Construction and Carpentry
- HVAC/R
- Cybersecurity / Networking
- Programming / Computer Science
- Automotive
- Medical and Dental Assisting
- Cosmetology
- Agriculture
- Early Childhood Education
- Machining and Mechatronics
- Engineering and Drafting
- Firefighting
- Law, Public Safety and Corrections
- Business Management and Marketing
- Entrepreneurship
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