Dietetic technicians are skilled members of the health care team who provide nutrition and food-related services to individuals or groups.

Clinical dietetic technicians, with the guidance and/or consultation from registered, licensed dietitians, perform nutritional screening and assessment; develop and implement care plan goals; evaluate the effect of nutrition intervention; and communicate with clients/patients and the medical staff. They also provide nutrition education through counseling and diet therapy. Foodservice dietetic technicians work as foodservice directors and design menus; supervise personnel, food procurement, food production and service; participate in budget and equipment planning; and monitor food safety, sanitation and quality improvement. Community dietetic technicians direct individuals to information networks and public agencies related to nutritional care.

The Dietetic Technology program at Sinclair is currently accredited by the American Dietetic Association's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), located at Suite 2000, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60606, Phone: (800) 877-1600. CADE is a specialized accrediting body recognized by the council of Post-secondary Accreditation and the United States Department of Education. CADE serves the public by establishing and enforcing standards for the educational preparation of dietetics professional and by recognizing dietetic education programs that meet those standards. The Dietetic Technology (DT) is an academic program awarding an Associate of Applied Science degree. The DT program at Sinclair Community College has 107 credit hours that integrates the didactic instruction with 462 hours of directed practice in health care and management settings. Students are empowered with knowledge, skills, and competencies that enhance productive lives and lead to employment opportunities as ethical members of the health care delivery team. Because the number of students is limited, the faculty/student ratio is small. Personal and individual attention to student needs is provided by the faculty. All courses in nutrition, dietetics, and food science are taught by registered/licensed dietitians with post-baccalaureate degrees and credentials. They also have extensive practitioner experience. In addition, the DT program will accept graduates of a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) who wish to complete program requirements to attain dietetic technician registration eligibility. A maximum of two DPD graduates per year will be accepted under the Pathway II route. The official DPD transcripts will be reviewed and personal interviews with these students will be conducted to determine their placement in the didactic courses. Pathway II students will complete all 462 hours of the directed practice experience and the DIT 255 capstone course as required in the Sinclair DT program. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the written national examination for dietetic technicians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Upon successful completion, they may become registered technicians members of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Dietetic technicians are also eligible to join the Dietary Managers Association (DMA), a national organization of dietary foodservice managers. Continuing education upon successful completion of a national examination is also required by this organization.

Positions are available in hospitals, nursing homes, retirement centers, community health services, day care centers, foodservice systems, sports organizations, wellness clinics, research centers, hospitality business, and other mass feeding operations in the government and private industry.

Salaries for dietetic technicians vary with individual positions, responsibilities, and geographic locations. With the present demand for dietetic technicians, employment compensation is higher than some health disciplines.