Per the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, dietitians work in hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, cafeterias, and for state and local governments. Dietitians plan and construct food service or nutritional programs to help people lead healthy lives. 

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RDN credential:

• Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree required starting 2024) at a US regionally accredited university or college and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Search for accredited programs on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ website.
• Completed an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
• Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website.
• Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration. 

A Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM®, CFPP®) has the education and work experience to competently perform the responsibilities of a dietary manager and has proven this by passing the nationally recognized CDM Credentialing Exam and fulfilling the requirements needed to maintain certified status. 

CDM, CFPPs are experts at managing foodservice operations and ensuring food safety. They are responsible for implementation of menus, foodservice purchasing, and food preparation. They apply nutrition principles, document nutrition information, and manage work teams.

A CDM, CFPP has achieved defined competencies in five key areas:

• Nutrition
• Foodservice
• Personnel and Communications
• Sanitation and Safety
• Business Operations

CDM, CFPPs work together with Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) to provide quality nutritional care in a variety of non-commercial settings and perform a myriad of specialized tasks and roles within a foodservice operation.

Pikes Peak State College offers an Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP)-approved program.

Every year the PPSC Foundation offers hundreds of thousands of dollar's worth of scholarship money for eligible and in need students.

The Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals. Learn more about the Foundations mission and vision, grants, and scholarships.