Program specifics about earning a Dietetic Technician A.A.S. Degree at Northland.
The Dietetic Technician Program is a 67-credit, fully online program that trains students to work either independently or with Registered Dietitians in the areas of food, nutrition, and dietetics. This program has a supervised practice component totaling 480 practicum hours. Students are required to locate supervised practice sites within their geographical area to host their supervised practice hours (DIET 2035 Community Practicum, DIET 2040 Clinical Practicum, and DIET 2045 Management Practicum). See the Dietetic Technician Program Student Policy Manual for more details on the supervised practice component of this online program.
Workers in this field promote optimum health through nutrition and are a central part of the healthcare and food service management teams. Dietetic Technicians work in a wide range of settings, including health care and public health, food service, community, and research. Graduates of this fully online program are eligible to take the Registration Examination from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) www.cdrnet.org. Upon passing the exam, graduates become a Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR). For more information on becoming a Dietetic Technician Registered, please visit The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. For more information regarding online learning, please visit become an online student.
Dietetic Technician Program Student Policy Manual (Updated: 1-11-2022)
Program Accreditation
Northland Community & Technical College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
Northland Community & Technical College’s Nutrition and Dietetics Technician AAS Education Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606
312-899-0400 x 5400
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Program Learner Outcomes
- Graduates will have a general understanding of the scientific basis of dietetics, exposure to research literature, and application to technical practice.
- Graduates will access and evaluate patient education materials and consumer information for implementation to determine if it is consistent with accepted scientific evidence.
- Graduates will develop effective oral, written, and non-verbal communication in a culturally competent manner that is consistent with the scope of Dietetics Practice and Code of Ethics for the profession of dietetics.
- Graduates will establish collaborative relationships within team and professional settings, including other healthcare and support personnel.
- Graduates will demonstrate the ability to develop and deliver information, products and services to individuals, groups, and populations at the dietetic technician level of practice.
- Graduates will apply management, supervisory, and systems principles in the provision of services to individuals and organizations.
- Graduates will demonstrate self-assessment and goal development as part of a professional development plan within the Dietetic Profession.
Employment Information
The 2021 Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Compensation & Benefits Survey of Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) credentialed dietetic technicians, registered (DTRs) revealed a median annual income of all DTRs in the United States who have been working in the field for four years or less was $43,680 or $21 per hour. This is higher than the average wage published by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) for dietetic technicians because BLS does not restrict its estimate to individuals credentialed as a DTR through the CDR. Due to increasing emphasis on nutrition and disease prevention, the growth of the dietetics field is expected to increase nationwide by 11% between 2020-2030, according to the U.S. BLS.
For more information on becoming a Dietetic Technician Registered, go to www.eatright.org. For videos regarding the employment opportunities for Dietetic Technician Registered, go to videos.
The Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) is employed in a variety of settings, including:
Healthcare
- Hospitals
- Long-Term-Care
- Clinics
- Hospice
- Assisted Living
Public Health
- Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Meals-on-Wheels
- Community Nutrition
Industry
- Food companies
- Research
- Food Sanitation and Safety
- Agriculture
Foodservice Management
- Schools
- Correctional Facilities
- Day-care Centers
- Healthcare Facilities
- Corporations
Wellness
- Health Clubs
- Weight Management Clinics
- Community Wellness Centers
Articulation Agreements
Articulation Agreements are formal agreements between two or more colleges and universities to accept credits in transfer toward a specific academic program. Northland has articulation agreements in place with the following schools:
| TRANSFER TO | MAJOR OFFERED | DEGREE |
|---|---|---|
| Minnesota State University-Moorhead | Health Services Administration | B.S. |
| University of North Dakota | Dietary Manager Program | Certificate |
Licensure & Certifications
Graduation from an ACEND-accredited dietetic technician program allows a graduate to take the National Dietetic Technician Registration Exam (DTR) administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
Frequently Asked Questions
A new class of students (cohort) completes the eligibility survey on Northland’s Dietetic Technician webpage every fall semester. Dietetics classes start every spring semester.
Program admissions are determined via individual Dietetic Technician Program admission rubric scores.
Up to 30 students can be admitted into the program each year.
If a student has met all admission requirements but is not among the 30 qualified applicants, they will be placed on the program’s alternate list.
If a student gives up their position in the program, the first student on the alternate list will be offered that position. After the beginning of the spring semester, students on the alternate list will need to reapply the following year for program admission.
Contact the Dietetic Technician Program Director.
Additional Program Resources
- 2019-22 Dietetic Technician AAS
- 2017-19 Dietetic Technician AAS
Mission: Graduates will have the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and experience required to meet the needs of their community and employers by performing competently as entry-level Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs).
Program Goals and Objectives that will be monitored for program effectiveness:
Goal #1 – Program graduates will be prepared for a career in a variety of practice settings within dietetics throughout Minnesota and the nation.
- At least 80% of students complete program requirements within 3 years full-time for 4.5 year part-time (150% of the planned program length).
- Of graduates who seek employment, at least 90% are employed in nutrition and dietetics related fields within 12 months of graduation.
- At least 70% of program graduates take the CDR credentialing exam for nutrition and dietetic technicians within 12 months of program completion.
- The program’s one year pass rate (graduates who pass the registration exam within one year of the first attempt) on the CDR credentialing exam for nutrition and dietetic technicians is at least 70%.
- At least 80% of employers responding to the one-year post graduate survey will affirm the graduate is competent for entry-level practice as a Dietetic Technician, Registerd.
Goal #2 – Program graduates will recognize the importance of continuing professional development.
- At least 80% of students who respond to the one-year post-graduation survey will rate this program as good to excellent on a four-point Likert scale in overall preparation for entry-level Dietetic Technician, Registered employment.
- At one-year post-graduation, at least 75% of those responding to the graduation survey will indicate they are members of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or other nutrition and dietetics-related organization.
Program outcomes data are available on request.
Northland’s Dietetic Technician AAS Program is accredited by the Accreditation for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND):
ACEND*
ACEND@eatright.org
800.877.1600, ext. 5400
120 South Riverside Plaza
Suite 2190
Chicago, Illinois 60606