Agricultural Education

Photo of agriculture researcher Within each cluster, there are multiple career pathways that represent a common set of skills and knowledge necessary to pursue a full range of career opportunities within that pathway. Career Clusters that relate to instruction in agricultural education include:

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Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources prepares you for careers that involve the science and mechanics of improving the quality and safety of food, cultivating and preserving our natural resources and caring for livestock and other animals. Further, you can learn about the business aspects involved in this broad field.

Career Pathways

Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.

Agribusiness Systems Pathway

Contribute to the development, production, distribution, marketing and financing aspects of the agriculture industry. Increase efficiency and profitability within the agricultural industry.

Animal Systems Pathway

Develop efficient ways to produce dairy, poultry and other farm products. Advise agricultural producers on ways to improve treatment of domesticated and livestock animals.

Environmental Services Systems Pathway

Work to keep our environment clean. Analyze and research scientific data to reduce pollution and environmental hazards. Research environmental projects and perform quality control checks.

Food Products & Processing Pathway

Discover new food sources and ways to safely process and preserve what our nation consumers. Create innovative products like health foods that respond to consumer demands.

Natural Resources Systems Pathway

Maintain and protect forests, natural resources and wildlife habitats. Manage hunting of wildlife life for human consumption, animal feed, bait and other uses.

Plant Systems Pathway

Help cultivate and harvest food and supplies while preserving natural resources. Use advanced technologies to improve the nutritional value and resilience of crops.

Power, Structural &Technical Systems Pathway

Apply innovative technologies to advance the agricultural field. Design new machinery and engineer ways to improve how we cultivate and preserve our natural resources.

Architecture & Construction

Architecture & Construction prepares you for careers that allow you to design, plan, manage, build, and maintain structures such as buildings, homes and bridges, or machinery. People employed in this career cluster work on new structures, restorations, additions, alterations and repairs.

Career Pathways

Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.

Construction Pathway

Build America’s future! Build and remodel the houses, offices, roadways, airports, bridges, chemical plants and mills that make up the infrastructure of our nation.

Design/Pre-Construction Pathway

Use your artistic creativity and mathematics skills to transform an innovative concept into a design plan that creates something tangible. Guide construction professionals through the building process.

Maintenance/Operations Pathway

Help efficiency of overall operations by making quick and effective decisions. Assemble, install and repair machinery in environmental engineering plants, refineries, chemical plants and mills.

Health Science

Health Science prepares you to help keep people healthy and treat those who are not. Work directly with people by conducting research on diseases and other important health information. This field allows you to work in diverse environments such as hospitals, medical and dental offices or labs.

Career Pathways

Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.

Biotechnology Research & Development Pathway

Discover new treatments and medical technologies to improve human health and advance the overall health science field.

Diagnostic Services Pathway

Use tests and evaluations to aid in the detection, diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries or other physical conditions.

Health Informatics Pathway

Manage health care agencies by overseeing all patient data, financial information and technological applications related to health care processes and procedures.

Support Services Pathway

Assist health care professionals with a range of administrative and maintenance duties to ensure that the health care environment is maintained.

Therapeutic Services Pathway

Care and treat patients to improve their health over time. Counsel patients and give them the tools necessary to live a healthier and problem-free lifestyle.

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics prepares you for careers using science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills. Jobs within this career cluster conduct in-depth research to provide solutions to a variety of technical problems within many different fields. A postsecondary degree and relevant work experience are necessary to succeed in this field.

Career Pathways

Students may begin to follow a sequence of courses in a pathway that will allow them to specialize in a field of interest.

Engineering & Technology Pathway

Apply engineering and technical concepts to develop solutions for problems that exist throughout a broad range of fields from building bridges to flying airplanes to working in the medical industry.

Science & Mathematics Pathway

Apply mathematics and science to real-world situations. Career possibilities range from science and math teachers to lab technicians and NASA astronauts.

Agricultural Education includes programs of study designed to prepare students for occupations in horticulture, agricultural business, natural resources management, agricultural machinery and production agriculture.

Agricultural Education stresses the development of skills in all aspects of agricultural businesses and industries, including planning, management, safety, finances and leadership.

Course Revisions

The following courses were revised for implementation during the 2019-2020 school year. All curriculum frameworks are available through VERSO from the CTE Resource Center:

Agricultural Education—Development (8053)
Agricultural Education—Preparation (8050)
Biological Applications in Agriculture (8086)
Biotechnology Applications in Agriculture (8087)
Forestry Management (8042)
Forestry Management, Advanced (8043)
Operating the Farm Business (8014)
Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism Systems Management (8043)

Safety Best Practice Guide for CTE

The Safety Best Practice Guide for CTE-This is a Word document. is a collection of best practice resources used to assist school divisions in the development of a local safety school safety plan.

Instructional Resources

Agricultural Education Course Listing-This is a Word document.
Essential Competency List for Agricultural Education – Virginia's CTE Resource Center
Industry Credentialing

Equipment Resource Guide – See Equipment for CTE Programs

Hanover Turf Science Program

Courses highlighted: Turf Science Program
Produced by: Atlee High School, Hanover County Public Schools

These courses are part of the Environmental Service Systems and Plant Systems Pathways in the Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources Career Cluster.

Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO)

Virginia FFA Organization
Makes a positive difference in the lives of students by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education preparing students for careers in the food, fiber, and natural resources industries. For more information, visit the CTSO web page.

High-Quality Work-Based Learning

Career and Technical Education Work-Based Learning Guide is based on the redesigned High-Quality Work-Based Learning (WBL) methods of instruction effective July 1, 2021. This implementation guide focuses on the twelve types of High-Quality Work-Based Learning (WBL) methods of instruction used in Virginia; job shadowing, service learning, mentorship, externship, school-based enterprise, internship, entrepreneurship, clinical experience, cooperative education, youth registered apprenticeship, registered apprenticeship and supervised agricultural experience, along with opportunities for students to earn one credit toward graduation in addition to any credit earned through the associated CTE course in cooperative education, internship, entrepreneurship, youth registered apprenticeship, and supervised agricultural experience for completing 280 hours of work experience and one half credit for 140 hours of work experience in mentorship. It includes Virginia regulations and guidelines for the administration of WBL and provides training materials for High Quality Work-Based Learning coordinators. School divisions should use this guide to implement WBL offerings locally.

Federal and State Labor Laws for Youth Work-Based Learning – Know the Rules is a resource that compares federal and state labor laws for nonagricultural and agricultural occupations, parental exemption, and prohibited and hazardous occupations as they relate to youth work-based learning.

Additional Resources

Outside Resources

Virginia CTE Agricultural Education Listserv

If you are not on the Virginia CTE Agricultural Education Listserv, contact LaVeta Nutter to be added.

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