Dietary managers, under the direction of a dietitian, assist with nutrition therapy, dietetics, employee management and food safety.

A certified dietary manager works with registered dietitians to provide quality nutritional care for clients in a variety of settings, including health-care facilities, nursing homes, rehab facilities, senior living communities, hospitals, correctional facilities and schools. They perform a variety of specialized tasks that may include overseeing large-scale meal planning and preparation, budgeting for and purchasing food, equipment and supplies, enforcing sanitary and safety regulation and preparing records and reports. They may provide supportive nutrition screening, documentation and care planning.

Once you’ve been admitted to Stark State, you’ll need to apply to the certificate program and complete all the requirements. The short-term certificate is 16 credit hours while the one-year technical certificate is 33 credit hours. Classroom hours are taught by qualified and experienced instructors while the 150 field experience hours are precepted by qualified professionals with a dietitian preceptor for a minimum of 25 nutrition hours.

Most students are able to complete the certificate in two semesters with a fall start.

As a student, you’ll be  eligible for the Association of Foodservice & Nutrition Professionals (ANFP) pre-professional membership and graduates are eligible to take the national certification exam offered by the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers, www.CBDMonline.org, and to join ANFP as a professional member. Two credentials are earned upon passing the exam: certified dietary manager (CDM) and certified food protection professional (CFPP). Students also earn the nationally recognized certificate of ServSafe Food Protection Certification, accredited by the American National Standards Institute – Conference for Food Protection.

A dietary manager certificate and work experience can qualify you for a number of positions. A dietary manager credential allows you to work in the field while pursuing an advanced degree. Some positions in dietary management, such as a director of nutrition at a hospital or government agency, require a bachelor’s or master’s degree, and the dietary manager certificate can serve as the first step toward a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or nutrition. Credit hours from the dietary manager certificate can be applied to the associate degree for a nutrition and dietetics technician major.

Stark State’s dietary management program is approved by the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP), 406 Surrey Woods Drive, St. Charles, IL 60174, 800-323-1908, ANFPonline.org.