Dietetic Technician

What does a Dietetic Technician do?

Dietetic technicians help assess, plan, implement and evaluate nutrition services and programs for hospitals, schools, businesses and others. They usually work as members of health care teams and are supervised by a registered dietitian and/or administrator.

What might a Dietetic Technician do in a workday?

Depending on their work setting, dietetic technicians:

  • obtain patients’ diet histories.
  • help patients plan meals within their food budgets and prescribed diets.
  • counsel individuals or groups at risk for poor nutrition.
  • assist with food service operations.
  • develop and/or test nutritional products.
  • arrange for the purchase and storage of food, supplies and equipment.
  • supervise food production and service, including quality control, sanitation and safety.
  • use computers to calculate payroll, record laboratory data and verify diet orders.

How much salary do Dietetic Technicians make?

Annual Mean Wage
$27,350

How do I become a Dietetic Technician?

Students interested in becoming dietetic technicians should take well-rounded course work in high school, including science, English and business.

Most employers prefer applicants who are graduates of a two-year associate degree program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. To be registered, graduates also must pass an exam given by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Where else can I learn about becoming a Dietetic Technician?

Professional Associations:

Virginia Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
P.O. Box 7061
Fairfax, VA 22039
(703) 815-8293
www.eatrightvirginia.org

American Dietetic Association
120 S. Riverside Plaza
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60606-6995
(312) 899-0040
(800) 877-1600
www.eatright.org

American Society for Nutrition
9211 Corporate Blvd 
Suite 300
Rockville, MD 20850
(240) 428-3650
www.nutrition.org

Find Local Support

Blue Ridge Region AHEC – Shenandoah Valley

Capital Region AHEC – Richmond Metro and surrounding areas

Eastern Virginia Region AHEC – Southeast Virginia and Peninsula

Northern Virginia Region AHEC – Northern Virginia

Rappahannock Region AHEC – Northern Neck, Fredericksburg, and Middle Peninsula

South Central Region AHEC – Lynchburg, Danville, and surrounding area

Southside Region AHEC – South of Richmond

Southwest Virginia Region AHEC – Roanoke Valley and West