Dietetic Technicians

Career summary

Dietetic technicians may also be called nutrition therapy technicians.

#from 8137, check 3/4/15 lh

Dietetic technicians work closely with dietitians. They work in many settings, including:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes
• Retirement centers
• Home health care programs

Technicians help dietitians create nutritional care plans. They gather information about patients' dietary needs. They may talk to doctors, nurses, or family members to get this information. Technicians observe patient food intake and report progress to dietitians.

Dietetic technicians educate people about nutrition. They teach people how to plan healthy meals based on their nutritional needs. They also teach people how to select and prepare foods.

Some dietetic technicians supervise food production. They work in institutions, such as prisons, day care centers, and schools. They budget and plan the menus following federal and state guidelines. Sometimes dietetic technicians supervise food service workers. They create job descriptions, work schedules, and make sure employees follow procedures.

Related careers

This career is part of the Health Science cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
• Chefs and Dinner Cooks
• Child Care Workers
• Dental Assistants
• Dietitians
• Farm and Home Management Advisors
• Food Service Worker Supervisors
• Home Health Aides
• Medical Assistants
• Personal and Home Care Aides
• Physical Therapist Aides
• Veterinary Assistants

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to dietetic technicians.

• Monitor patient food intake and report progress and problems to dietician.
• Use recipes and nutrition guidelines to prepare meals.
• Create new recipes and test new foods for use in the facility.
• Supervise food production and service.
• Follow procedures for cutting costs.
• Develop job descriptions.
• Create work schedules for employees.
• Gather information about patients' dietary needs and habits. Evaluate the information and plan diets.
• Schedule and lead programs for educating workers.
• Teach people how to select and prepare foods. Teach them how to look at their nutritional needs when planning menus.
• Assist dieticians with research.
• Refer patients to nutrition workers outside the health care facility.

Common work activities

Dietetic technicians perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Assist and care for others
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Get information needed to do the job
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Process information
• Evaluate information against standards
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Coach others
• Coordinate the work and activities of others
• Document and record information
• Teach others
• Analyze data or information
• Perform activities that use the whole body
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Develop and build teams
• Guide, direct, and motivate others
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Perform for or work with the public
• Monitor and control resources
• Schedule work and activities
• Develop goals and strategies
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Think creatively

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, dietetic technicians:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of social interaction. They constantly work with patients, dietitians, health care workers, and food service workers.
• Are responsible for the health and safety of patients.
• Are often placed in conflict situations in which patients may be rude or frustrated.
• Are somewhat responsible for the work done by other technicians and assistants.
• Work as part of a health care team.
• Communicate with patients and coworkers daily in person or by telephone.
• Sometimes deal with patients who may be rude or upset about making dietary changes.

Physical work conditions

• Always work indoors.
• Often wear safety attire.
• Work very near other people and have little space between self and others.
• Are exposed to hazardous situations weekly. They use sharp knives and slicers during food preparation.
• Are often exposed to contaminants, diseases, and infections.

Work performance

• Must be very exact in performing the job. This is very important when calculating the nutritional needs of patients.
• Must repeat the same mental and physical tasks.
• Make decisions that affect their patients.
• Must meet strict daily and weekly deadlines.
• Can make most decisions without talking to a supervisor.
• Can set some tasks and goals without talking to a supervisor.

Hours/travel

• Work a regular 40 hour week.

Physical demands

Dietetic technicians frequently:

• Stand for long periods of time.
• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Repeat the same movements.
• Walk or run for long periods of time.
• Bend or twist their body.

It is important for dietetic technicians to be able to:

• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for dietetic technicians to be able to:

• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.

Skills and abilities

Dietetic technicians need to:

Communicate

• Understand spoken information.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Think of new ideas about a topic.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Look for ways to help people.
• Teach others how to do something.
• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Dietetic Technology
• Dietetics
• Dietitian Assisting
• Food, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies

Training

To work as a dietetic technician, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• complete a formal training program.

Education after high school

Most dietetic technicians learn their skills through formal training programs. Two-year colleges offer these programs and grant an associate degree. In this type of program you learn about nutrition, menu planning, and nutritional counseling. You also gain hands-on experience in an internship through these programs.

On-the-job training

Many new dietetic technicians receive training on the job. The length of training varies by employer. In general, you receive about one to three months of training. You are likely to be trained by other dietetic technicians or by registered dieticians. Part of your duties may be to help order and prepare food. If you work for an agency, you may make home visits to teach and counsel people about food and nutrition.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Fundamentals
• Family and Consumer Sciences
• Food and Nutrition
• Food Service
• Introduction to Health Care

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Employers look for applicants with a high school diploma or equivalent. They look for applicants that work well with others and have good communication skills.

Some employers require applicants to have an associate degree and be registered.

Some employers prefer technicians who are registered with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics which is listed in the Other Resources section of this description. Registration requirements include completion of at least an associate degree from an US regionally accredited college or university, completion of a dietetic technician program approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), and successfully passing a national computer-based exam. Technicians must also take continuing education courses to maintain their registration.

#Verified the above information 3/30/11 lh & 3/4/14 cj. Updated name of association above that does registration; rest of info ok, 4/4/16 cj.

Tips

Talk with people who work in this occupation to learn more about what their jobs are like.

Costs to workers

Dietetic technicians may wish to join a professional association, which may have annual dues. Others may be required to join a union. Those who choose to become registered through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics must pay an examination application fee.

Licensing/certification

A few states require that dietetic technicians have a license or be registered. Requirements vary by state.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Dietetic Technicians 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

The minimum wage for Washington State as of January 1, 2020 is $13.50 per hour. Some areas of the state may have a higher minimum wage.

Pay varies by the worker's level of education and responsibilities. The area of the country may also affect wages.

Full-time dietetic technicians usually earn benefits such as sick leave, paid vacation, and health insurance.

Employment and outlook

State Outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Major employers:

• Hospitals
• Nursing homes

National outlook

The need for dietetic technicians is expected to increase since people are paying more attention to their eating habits. In addition, the aging population will increase demand. Nursing homes, home health agencies, and other groups that work with the elderly will all need dietetic technicians. Job openings will also result from replacing workers who leave the field.

Other resources

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 

American Society for Nutrition 
9211 Corporate Boulevard, Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20850
240.428.3650

Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals 
406 Surrey Woods Drive
St. Charles, IL 60174
800.323.1908
630.587.6336

Becoming an RDN or DTR (from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics) 

Career Planner 
(from the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals)

Nutrition.gov 

Washington State Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics 
PO Box 46998
Seattle, WA 98146
206.935.5104

References

Career cluster

• Health Science

Career path

• Social

O*Net  occupation

• Dietetic Technicians (29-2051.00) 

O*Net job zone 

• Job Zone 2 - Some preparation needed. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful in these occupations, but usually is not needed.

DOT occupation

• Dietetic Technician (077.124-010) 

Holland occupational cluster

• Social/Investigative/Realistic

COPSystem

• Consumer Economics