Dietetic Technician Registered Jobs

A Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) can most easily be described as an assistant to a Registered Dietitian. These food and nutrition practitioners work with RDs in hospitals, clinics and healthcare centers.

Community and public health DTR jobs are also available in schools, daycares, correctional facilities, weight loss clinics and with government food programs.

To become a DTR individuals must earn a two year associate’s degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university as approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Students must also complete a dietetic technician program which includes 450 hours of supervised practice that has been accredited by the CADE. Finally, students must successfully pass the national exam conducted by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to earn the DTR credentials.

To maintain the Dietetic Technician, Registered title, completion of continuing education is required. Continuing education credits are earned by taking courses or attending professional conferences throughout the year which have been approved by the ADA.

A DTR performs many day-to-day duties which assist a Registered Dietitian. This can include conducting nutritional screenings, working with food service budgets and placing food orders, working in community nutrition and providing nutrition education classes for the general public, developing menus for patients or clients, conducting food safety assessments, and performing nutrient analysis of foods and meals.

If you plan to seek a nutrition job as a DTR, you should know that those who assist RDs working with consumers and the general public are required to work hours outside of the typical 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. work day.

For example, assisting with and teaching evening and weekend educational classes are often necessary to provide an accessible time for those in the community wishing to attend.

The most recent data collected by the ADA regarding expected salaries for a DTR was in 2007. Half of full-time DTRs with four years or less of experience reported making $30,000 to $40,000 per year.