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29-2051.00 - Dietetic Technicians


Assist in the provision of food service and nutritional programs, under the supervision of a dietitian. May plan and produce meals based on established guidelines, teach principles of food and nutrition, or counsel individuals.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
29,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
33,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
+3,900
Estimate
Change in Employment %
+13.3%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Prepare a major meal, following recipes and determining group food quantities.
  • Analyze menus or recipes, standardize recipes, or test new products.
  • Supervise food production or service or assist dietitians or nutritionists in food service supervision or planning.
  • Plan menus or diets or guide individuals or families in food selection, preparation, or menu planning, based upon nutritional needs and established guidelines.
  • Develop job specifications, job descriptions, or work schedules.
  • Select, schedule, or conduct orientation or in-service education programs.
  • Provide dietitians with assistance researching food, nutrition, or food service systems.
  • Conduct nutritional assessments of individuals, including obtaining and evaluating individuals' dietary histories, to plan nutritional programs.
  • Observe and monitor patient food intake and body weight, and report changes, progress, and dietary problems to dietician.
  • Attend interdisciplinary meetings with other health care professionals to discuss patient care.
Supplemental
  • Determine food and beverage costs and assist in implementing cost control procedures.
  • Deliver speeches on diet, nutrition, or health to promote healthy eating habits and illness prevention and treatment.
  • Refer patients to other relevant services to provide continuity of care.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 96%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 English Language
  • 91%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Education and Training
  • 84%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 Mathematics
  • 79%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Public Safety and Security
  • 79%
    Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
 Administration and Management
  • 79%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Food Production
  • 78%
    Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
 Clerical
  • 76%
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 75%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Production and Processing
  • 72%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Personnel and Human Resources
  • 68%
    Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
 Law and Government
  • 63%
    Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
 Communications and Media
  • 57%
    Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
 Psychology
  • 57%
    Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
 Therapy and Counseling
  • 54%
    Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
 Medicine and Dentistry
  • 53%
    Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
 Economics and Accounting
  • 50%
    Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Medical exam size measuring devices
  • Body-fat calipers
  • Medical measuring tapes
 Food preparation equipment
  • Commercial kitchen food slicers
  • Commercial kitchen mixers
  • Food scales
 Cookware and kitchen tools
  • Commercial kitchen knives
 Cooking and warming equipment
  • Commercial kitchen microwave ovens
  • Commercial kitchen ovens
  • Commercial kitchen stoves
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
  • Laptop computers
  • Personal computers
 Medical weight scales
  • Medical floor scales
 Calculating machines and accessories
  • Programmable calculators
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Appointment scheduling software
  • Desktop publishing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
  • Presentation software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Word processing software
 Industry specific software
  • Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
  • Computrition Nutrition Care Management NCM Select
  • ESHA Research The Food Processor
  • Gnutrition
  • MEDITECH softwareHOT
  • NutriGenie Optimal Nutrition
  • Patient electronic medical record EMR software
  • The Nutrition Company FoodWorks
 Data management and query software
  • CBORD Nutrition Service Suite
  • CyberSoft NutriBase
  • DietMaster Systems Clinical Nutrition
  • Microsoft AccessHOT
  • USDA Child Nutrition Database
  • ValuSoft MasterCook
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Cybersoft Primero Software SuiteHOT
  • eTritionWareHOT
  • LunchByte Systems NUTRIKIDSHOT
 Business function specific software
  • Food Service Solutions FoodCo
  • Microsoft OfficeHOT
 Information exchange software
  • Microsoft OutlookHOT
 Network applications software
  • Web browser software
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
 Specialty
 Advanced
 Core
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Online Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
J Sargeant Reynolds Community College
 Programs
Mountain Gateway Community College
 Programs
Northern Virginia Community College
 Programs
Virginia Peninsula Community College
 Programs
Wytheville Community College
 Programs