ProStart

Industry Driven Curriculum

Students follow the Foundations of Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts curriculum, developed by industry and academic experts. ProStart students spend two years in the classroom mastering the fundamental management and culinary skills needed for success. ProStart trains students on industry-specific skills that can be used in all aspects of the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Students  leave the program with work readiness skills – including leadership, accountability, teamwork and responsibility – that they can take with them to positions in all industries.

Work & Learn

While classroom experience is necessary to learn the foundation of culinary and management skills, nothing beats real-life experience gained by working in the industry. ProStart students learn how to be an industry professional through hands-on work under the direction of a mentor. Mentors help students make the connection between their present performance and their future career.
Students will also learn the importance of arriving on time prepared for work, teamwork and accountability. 

ProStart students put that learning to work on the job in qualified foodservice operations with industry professionals. In their mentored work experience, students receive mentor support, character development and real-world skills that give them a head start toward a career in the industry.

Industry Credentials

At the end of the program, ProStart graduates possess a solid foundation for their future careers, and they can earn the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement. This certificate recognizes students who have successfully passed the ProStart 1 and 2 exams and completed 400 hours working in the hospitality  industry with mentored work. ProStart students who achieve the COA are eligible to earn special scholarships and course credit from colleges and universities across the country. It also opens the door to our vibrant and growing industry. 

​Over the last decade, ProStart has fostered countless success stories. With your help, there will be even more positive experiences to share in the future. 

Get Started Today

ProStart is growing across the country as the premier culinary and restaurant management program in the United States. There are now over 3,000 culinary students registered in ProStart classes in Connecticut at over 20 traditional, comprehensive high schools. 

What are your steps to becoming a ProStart School?

1. Schedule an introductory call with our Foundation Director who will walk you through the next few steps. 
2. Purchase the Foundations of Restaurant Management & Culinary Arts Curriculum. 
3. Register as a ProStart Educator. 
4. Begin teaching! 

Yes, we know there are always more questions and it isn't that simple. Email conkling@ctrestaurant.org to schedule a call to learn how your school can become a ProStart School. 

CT ProStart Program Featured in Connecticut Public Television Mini Doc

The Connecticut ProStart team from Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven was featured in a 2023 Mini Doc on Connecticut Public. Videographer Ryan Caron King followed the school's culinary and restaurant management teams as they prepared to represent Connecticut at the 2023 National ProStart Invitational and battle for another national championship. ProStart is the nation’s premier high school culinary arts and restaurant management competition. The Wilbur Cross team represented the state of Connecticut, joining 92 teams from across the country to vie for top high school culinary and restaurant management honors. 

CT ProStart Invitational

The Connecticut Hospitality Educational Foundation (CHEF) and the Connecticut Restaurant Association (CRA) host CHEF's Signature Event, the CT ProStart Invitational annually. The event consists of two competitions, the culinary competition and the management competition. All registered ProStart Schools are eligible to compete in one or both competitions with teams of 2 to 5 students. Teams compete for scholarships from colleges around the country as well as an opportunity to compete at the National ProStart Invitational. 

Culinary Competition

The culinary competition highlights each team’s creative abilities through the preparation of a three-course meal in 60 minutes, using only two butane burners, and without access to running water or electricity. Students are evaluated on taste, skill, teamwork, safety and sanitation.

Management Competition

Management teams develop a proposal for the next promising restaurant concept and present it to a panel of industry judges. Their problem solving skills are tested as they quickly solve challenges faced by managers daily.

2025 CT PROSTART INVITATIONAL