CAREER GUIDE FOR Dietetic Technicians
SOC Code: 29-2051
Pay Band(s): 2 (Salary Structure)
Standard Occupational Description: Assist dietitians in the provision of food service and nutritional programs. Under the supervision of dietitians, may plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.
Dietetic Technician positions in the Commonwealth are assigned to the following Role in the Direct Service Career Group:
Although Dietetic Technician positions in the Commonwealth primarily are located in the Direct Service Career Group, individuals may want to pursue related occupational or management opportunities depending upon individual education, training and experience.
Dietetic Technicians may also have career opportunities in the following Career Group(s):
SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES AND TASKS
(Technical and Functional Expertise)
Skills
Note: The technical and functional skills listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Dietetic Technicians commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the skills listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
1.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
3.
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
4.
Teaching others how to do something.
5.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
6.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
7.
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
8.
Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
9.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
10.
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Knowledge
Note: The technical and functional knowledge statements listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Dietetic Technicians commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the knowledge listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Knowledge of:
- The principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- The principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
- Plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
- The structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Abilities
Note: The technical and functional abilities listed below are based on general occupational qualifications for Dietetic Technicians commonly recognized by most employers. Typically, you will not be required to have all of the abilities listed to be a successful performer. Recruitment and selection standards for an individual state job must be based on the specific knowledge, skills, and abilities for that job as indicated in the job announcement and job description in the Employee Work Profile.
The Ability to:
1.
Communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
2.
Listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
3.
Speak clearly so others can understand you.
4.
Tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
5.
Identify and understand the speech of another person.
6.
Arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
7.
See details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
8.
Apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
9.
Read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
10.
Come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Tasks
Note: The following is a list of sample tasks typically performed by Dietetic Technicians. Employees in this occupation will not necessarily perform all of the tasks listed.
1.
Observe patient food intake and report progress and dietary problems to dietician.
2.
Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
3.
Analyze menus and recipes, standardize recipes and test new products.
4.
Supervise food production and service, or assist dietitians and nutritionists in food service supervision and planning.
5.
Obtain and evaluate dietary histories of individuals to plan nutritional programs.
6.
Plan menus and diets or guide individuals and families in food selection, preparation, and menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
7.
Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
8.
Develop job specifications, job descriptions, and work schedules.
9.
Select, schedule, and conduct orientation and in-service education programs.
10.
Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition and food service systems.
INTERESTED?
Like people, occupations have traits or characteristics. These characteristics give important clues about the nature of the work and work environment, and give you an opportunity to match your own personal interests to a specific occupation. When you choose a job in an occupation that matches your own interests you have taken an important step in planning a successful and rewarding career.
The Dietetic Technician occupation has the following characteristics:
Social-Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Realistic- Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative- Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
LICENSURE, REGISTRATION, OR CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
This is generally not required for Dietetic Technician positions in state government. However, specific training per the US Department of Agriculture may be required before Dietetic Technicians can work in certain state agencies.
Registration information can be found on the web site for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), http://www.cdrnet.org, the credentialing agency for The American Dietetic Association. To be registered an exam must be passed.
Registration may enhance professional growth and career progression.
EDUCATIONAL, TRAINING, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
The Virginia Area Health Education Centers Program http://www.ahec.vcu.edu/index.htm provides the following information:
Dietetic technicians help Asses, 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.
Those 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's degree program approved by the American Dietetic Association.
Two Virginia educational institutions offer these programs. They are Norfolk State University and Rockingham Memorial Hospital.
Continuing education may be expected for Dietetic Technicians. Sources of educational, training, and learning opportunities include:
Professional Development Resource Center (Commission on Dietetic Registration)
http://www.cdrnet.org/pdrcenter/index.htm
The Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE)
http://www.webdietitians.org/Public/Careers/94_13280.cfm
COMMONWEALTH COMPETENCIES
Competencies are a set of identified behaviors, knowledge, skills, and abilities that directly and positively impact the success of employees and the organization. Competencies can be observed and measured. When consistently demonstrated, competencies make employees particularly effective in their work. Competencies help lay out a road map to career success. You can use the Commonwealth Competencies to help improve your individual performance by adopting behaviors that make high performing employees successful in their jobs. In this way, you can use the Commonwealth Competencies for your further professional development.
The Commonwealth Competencies are:
1.
Technical and Functional Expertise
2.
Understanding the Business
3.
Achieving Results
4.
Serving the Customer
5.
Teamwork
6.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
7.
Leadership and Personal Effectiveness
The above competencies may be applied to employees throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. They can be rank-ordered by agencies and hiring managers to represent the needs of a specific job. The rank ordering will change depending upon the occupation, an organization's priorities, the actual job requirements, and the supervisor's preferences.
Career success is both about what you do (applying your technical knowledge, skills, and ability) and how you do it (the consistent behaviors you demonstrate and choose to use) while interacting and communicating with others. Hopefully, by studying the Commonwealth competencies, identifying your developmental opportunities, and working to refine your own competence, you can take charge of your career!
For additional information about the Commonwealth Competencies go to: http://jobs.virginia.gov/cd_main.html. For the competencies, we first list the competencies and then define each. Finally, we list competency indicators; to describe what successful performance looks like.
COMMONWEALTH CAREER PATH
Career opportunities in the Commonwealth are not limited to moving “up” to the next highest role and pay band, changing positions, or to becoming a supervisor. That's because most roles describe a broad group of occupationally related positions that perform a range of work that requires increased knowledge and skills. For that reason, Commonwealth roles describe the career paths within the same or higher-level role for the same or different Career Group. The broad salary range and the Commonwealth's pay practices provide flexibility in recognizing career development and advancement. (Salary Structure)
For example: Dietetic Technicians
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PAY BAND |
Practitioner Roles |
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2 |
Direct Service Associate II |
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3 |
Direct Service Associate III |
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Sample Career Path for Dietetic Technicians
Direct Service Associate II
The Direct Service Associate II role provides career tracks for dietetic technicians who perform dietetic support responsibilities ranging from entry-level to journey-level. Duties are varied, requiring specialized knowledge in dietetic programs and services to perform tasks and procedures.
Direct Service Associate III
The Direct Service Associate III role provides career tracks for health care support specialists that are either service delivery experts or supervisors. As service delivery experts, employees provide or lead specialized services that support the work of interdisciplinary treatment teams, licensed clinical staff, and professional counselors. This role also provides career tracks for human rights advocates. As supervisors, employees supervise other Direct Service Workers, develop staff schedules, evaluate staff performance, serve as members of interdisciplinary treatment teams, make minor changes in treatment and program plans, write reports, make oral presentations, and review client records for appropriate documentation.
ADDITIONAL OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND AT:
http://online.onetcenter.org/
Virginia Employment Commission
http://www.alex.vec.state.va.us/
Virginia Career Resource Network
Careers in Dietetics
http://www.webdietitians.org/Public/Careers/94.cfm
Virginia Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright-va.org/
American Dietetic Association
http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/index.html
The American Society for Clinical Nutrition
http://www.ascn.org/