Registered dietetic technicians work independently or in teams with registered dietitians in a variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, public health, foodservice and research.
What is dietetics?
Dietetics is the science of managing food and nutrition to promote health. It's a vital, growing field open to creativity and opportunity and the possibilities are endless.
How do you become a Dietetic Technician?
- Complete a dietetic technician program approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA), including 450 hours of supervised practice experience in various community programs, health care, and food-service facilities.
- Pass a national, written examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
The associate degree course work for dietetic technicians includes a variety of classes in food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management and a range of general science courses.
DTRs work in:
- Hospitals, HMOs, clinics, nursing homes, retirement centers, hospices, home health care programs, and research facilities, helping to treat and prevent disease and administering medical nutrition therapy as an important part of health care teams.
- Schools, day-care centers, correctional facilities, restaurants, health care facilities, corporations, and hospitals, managing employees, purchasing, and food preparation, and preparing budgets within foodservice operations.
- WIC programs, public health agencies, Meals on Wheels, and community health programs, developing and teaching nutrition classes for the public.
- Health clubs, weight management clinics, and community wellness centers, helping to educate clients about the connection between food, fitness, and health.
- Food companies, contract food management companies, or food vending and distributing operations, developing menus, overseeing foodservice sanitation and food safety, and preparing food labeling information and nutrient analysis.
Who should consider a career in dietetics?
If you enjoy working with people and have a strong interest in food and nutrition, you'd enjoy being a dietetics professional.. If you have good judgment and an understanding of human nature, the motivation and initiative to work independently and the ability to identify and solve problems, dietetics offers variety and challenge.
What are the employment opportunities?
Dietetics is a profession in demand and offers a world of challenge and diversity. The job market for dietetic technicians, registered is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2005 because of increased emphasis on disease prevention, a growing and aging population and public interest in nutrition.
For more information contact the American Dietetic Association. The ADA represents the largest group of food and nutrition professionals in the world and can be reached at 1-800-877-1600. E-mail: education@eatright.org
Last updated: October 2004