Dietetic technician | Stark State College | North Canton, Ohio
Dietary

Dietetic technician

Dietetic technicians (DTRs) are registered professionals in the food and nutrition area working independently or as part of a team under the supervision of a registered dietitian.

As a DTR you may, under the supervision of a registered dietician,

  • interview clients for diet history
  • gather data for nutritional assessments
  • plan normal and modified diets
  • chart medical records
  • instruct clients on proper nutrition
  • help educate the public.

In food service management, the DTR may

  • plan menus
  • order and store food supplies
  • supervise food production
  • hire, supervise and evaluate employees
  • maintain high standards of sanitation and safety
  • prepare budgets and maintain cost control.

Mission of the dietetic technician program
The dietetic technician program of Stark State College will provide general and technical course work required to prepare the student to acquire the skills, knowledge and competencies defined by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for successfully passing the competency examination for the Registered Dietetic Technician. The program is designed to meet the needs of the community in regards to the constantly changing environment of nutrition and dietetics and to prepare the student for a transferable advanced education in the area of dietetics.

To become a registered dietetic technician you’ll need to graduate with at least a two-year associate’s degree that includes both lecture and hands-on experiences (450 hours minimum) in required areas of competency.

After graduation, you’ll be eligible to take the national computer-based registration exam for dietetic technicians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for AND (see www.cdrnet.org). Fifty hours of continuing professional educational requirements is required every five years.

Your pathway to a degree

Associate degree

Program learning outcomes

  • Access data, references, patient education materials, consumer and other information from credible sources and present to either clients or patients.
  • Adhere to current federal regulations and state statutes and rules, as applicable and in accordance with accreditation standards and the Scope of Dietetics Practice, Standards of Professional Practice and the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics.
  • Perform specific activities of the nutrition care process as assigned by registered dietitians in accordance with the Scope of Dietetics Practice for individuals, groups, and populations in a variety of settings.
  • Participate in quality improvement and customer satisfaction activities to improve delivery of nutrition services.

Employment opportunities (DTR career fields – PDF )

DTRs can work in

  • hospitals, HMOs, clinics, nursing homes, retirement centers, hospices, home health care programs and research facilities
  • schools, day-care centers, correctional facilities, restaurants, health care facilities, corporations and hospitals
  • WIC programs, public health agencies, Meals on Wheels and community health programs
  • health clubs, weight management clinics and community wellness centers
  • food companies, contract food management companies or food vending and distributing operations.

Average salary and job outlook

In Ohio, the average annual wage for dietetic technicians is $36,670, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

The job market for dietetic technicians is expected to grow at an average pace, thanks to an increased emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population, and public interest in nutrition. Faster-than-normal growth is anticipated in nursing homes, residential care facilities and physician clinics.

Accreditation information

Stark State’s dietetic technician program is accredited by:

ACEND

Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition & Dietetics (ACEND)
120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2190
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
800-877-1600 ext. 5400
www.eatrightpro.org/acend

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