High School
The educational preparation required for this career includes a high school diploma or its equivalent, plus completion of a two-year, Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)-approved program leading to an associate's degree.
During high school, you should take as many science courses as possible. Biology and chemistry should provide a good background for both success in college and on the job. Mathematics, business, and computer science courses will also prepare you for aspects of this work such as record keeping, purchasing of supplies, and adjusting recipes. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) suggests that you take sociology and psychology classes to broaden your understanding of human behavior. English and foreign language classes will help you improve your communication skills, which will be very important when working as part of a health care team and with a variety of clients.
Postsecondary Training
The associate's degree program, which is available in many junior and community colleges, combines classroom studies with practical instruction and experience in the field under real working conditions. There are approximately 20 dietetic technician training programs that have been approved by ACEND, the AND's accrediting agency for educational programs. Visit https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/program-directory for a list of programs.
When attending an associate's degree program, you can expect to take a mix of general education courses, such as English, biological sciences, humanities, social sciences, and business mathematics, as well as technical courses. The technical instruction is likely to include such topics as normal nutrition and menu planning, therapeutic diets, food preparation, nutrition counseling, quantity food production, and food purchasing and storage.
During a two-year college program, you also receive a certain amount of supervised clinical experience, sometimes called a practicum. This provides a close look at the work of a dietetic technician and experience that will be valuable during postgraduate employment. For your practicum, you may be assigned to a patient-care facility, where you help with preparing schedules, ordering food, cooking, or instructing patients. If you are assigned to a health agency, you might accompany a nutritionist on home visits, help with teaching individuals, assist in demonstrating cooking techniques to groups, or observe and analyze information on the types of food people purchase at local grocery stores.
Certification
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers online certificates of training in prevention strategies for childhood, adolescent, and adult obesity; food allergies; restaurant menu labeling; leadership development; and other topics. Contact the academy to learn more.
Other Education or Training
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics offers a variety of in-person and online continuing education opportunities for dietetic technicians. Recent classes included Food Additives: Impact on Consumers and Clients, Non-Traditional Career Paths in Dietetics, Set Yourself Up to Earn the Internship, and Confused about Nutrition and Technology? Don't Worry. Be Appy. Contact the academy for a complete list of available classes.
- Addiction Therapists
- Adult Day Care Coordinators
- Advanced Practice Nurses
- Aerospace Medicine Physicians
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors
- Allergists/Immunologists
- Anesthesiologist Assistants
- Anesthesiologists
- App Services Workers
- Bakery Workers
- Baristas
- Bartenders
- Bed and Breakfast Owners
- Beekeepers
- Behavioral Health Technicians
- Beverage Industry Workers
- Biologists
- Biomedical Equipment Technicians
- Brewers
- Cancer Exercise Specialists
- Canning and Preserving Industry Workers
- Cardiologists
- Cardiovascular Technologists
- Career and Employment Counselors
- Career and Employment Technicians
- Caterers
- Chemical Engineers
- Child Life Specialists
- Chiropractors
- Clinic Managers
- Clinical Applications Specialists
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Clinical Pharmacist Practitioners
- Community Health Nurses
- Community Health Program Coordinators
- Community Health Workers
- Community Nutrition Educators
- Confectionery Industry Workers
- Conflict Resolution Specialists
- Contact Tracers
- Cooking Instructors
- Cooks and Chefs
- Cosmetic Surgeons
- Creative Arts Therapists
- Critical Care Nurses
- Cytogenetic Technologists
- Cytotechnologists
- Dairy Products Manufacturing Workers
- Dental Assistants
- Dental Hygienists
- Dental Laboratory Technicians
- Dental Therapists
- Dentists
- Dermatologists
- Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
- Dialysis Technicians
- Dietitians
- Directors of Telehealth
- Directors of Volunteers
- Dispensing Opticians
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialists
- Electroneurodiagnostic Technologists
- Emergency Medical Technicians
- Emergency Nurses
- Endocrinologists
- Endodontists
- Endoscopy Technicians
- Enologists
- Epidemiologists
- Ergonomists
- Ethical Sourcing Officer
- Event Planners
- Family and Consumer Scientists
- Farmers
- Fast Food Workers
- Fishers
- Food Service Workers
- Food Technologists
- Food Writers and Editors
- Gastroenterologists
- General Practitioners
- Genetic Counselors
- Geriatric Care Managers
- Geriatric Nurses
- Geriatric Psychiatrists
- Geriatric Social Workers
- Geriatricians
- Grant Coordinators and Writers
- Grief Therapists
- Health Advocates
- Health and Regulatory Inspectors
- Health Educators
- Health Informaticists
- Hematologists
- Histologic Technicians
- HIV/AIDS Counselors and Case Managers
- Holistic Physicians
- Home Health Care Aides
- Home Health Care and Hospice Nurses
- Hospice Workers
- Hospitalists
- Hosts/Hostesses
- Hotel Restaurant Managers
- Human Services Workers
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists
- Informatics Nurse Specialists
- Kinesiologists
- Licensed Practical Nurses
- Manufacturing Production Technicians
- Meatcutters and Meat Packers
- Medical Assistants
- Medical Laboratory Technicians
- Medical Screeners
- Medical Scribes
- Medical Technologists
- Microbiologists
- Molecular and Cellular Biologists
- Music Therapists
- Naturopaths
- Neonatal Nurses
- Neurologists
- Neuropsychologists and Clinical Neuropsychologists
- Neuroscientists
- Nuclear Medicine Physicians
- Nuclear Medicine Technologists
- Nurse Anesthetists
- Nurse Assistants
- Nurse Managers
- Nurse Practitioners
- Nurse-Midwives
- Nursing Home Administrators
- Nutritionists
- Obstetricians/Gynecologists
- Occupational Health Nurses
- Occupational Therapists
- Occupational Therapy Assistants and Aides
- Oncological Nurses
- Oncologists
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Ophthalmic Medical Technologists
- Ophthalmologists
- Optometrists
- Organic Farmers
- Oriental Medicine Practitioners
- Orientation and Mobility Specialists
- Orthodontists
- Orthoptists
- Orthotic and Prosthetic Technicians
- Orthotists and Prosthetists
- Osteopathic Physicians
- Packaging Engineers
- Packaging Machinery Technicians
- Pathologists
- Pediatricians
- Pedorthists
- Perfusionists
- Periodontists
- Personal Care Aides
- Personal Chefs
- Pharmacists
- Pharmacologists
- Pharmacy Technicians
- Phlebotomy Technicians
- Physiatrists
- Physical Therapists
- Physical Therapy Assistants
- Physician Assistants
- Physicians
- Podiatrists
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
- Product Development Directors
- Product Management Directors
- Product Managers
- Prosthodontists
- Psychiatric Nurses
- Psychiatric Technicians
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Public Interest Lawyers
- Radiologic Technologists
- Radiologists
- Recreational Therapists
- Registered Nurses
- Rehabilitation Counselors
- Remote Health Care Engineers
- Respiratory Technicians
- Respiratory Therapists
- Restaurant and Food Service Managers
- School Nurses
- Senior Care Pharmacists
- Sign Language and Oral Interpreters
- Social Workers
- Special Procedures Technologists
- Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists
- Speech-Language Pathology Assistants
- Sports Physicians
- Sports Psychologists
- Surgeons
- Surgical Technologists
- Toxicologists
- Transplant Coordinators
- Tutors and Trainers
- Urologists