Degree and Certificates In-depth
After many months of analysis, consultation, and consideration, the Cosumnes River College decided that it must close its Dietetic Technician Program.
The program is closing because of a variety of factors such as declining enrollment, labor market data and forecasts for DTRs. As such, no new students will be allowed to complete the Dietetic Technician Program. However, the NUTRI department is actively working on an A.S. degree in nutrition for interested students.
CRC offers two tracks of the online program for becoming a Registered Dietetic Technician. The first track is the degree program is considered the traditional route and is for individuals who have graduated from high school and want to pursue a degree. The second track is a certificate program and is considered the more advance route and is for individuals who have completed a bachelor’s degree in an accredited didactic program in dietetics. For these individual, they only need to complete the supervised practice hours to be able to sit for the registration exam.
The two tracks are described below.
DTP- Degree Program is for students with a high school diploma or GED. This track is considered the more “traditional” route. Students are required to take the general education courses and a series of Nutrition courses and practicums (The ADA requires a minimum of 450 clock hours for technician programs in supervise practice—the practicums will address these hours). The nutrition courses will all be offered online. Students are responsible for taking the other requisite courses (non-nutrition courses) that are not offered online. Students will need to transfer these courses to CRC if the courses were taken elsewhere. Upon completion of this program, students will receive an Associate of Science Degree and be eligible to sit for the national registration exam for Dietetic Technician.
DTP-Certificate Program is considered the more advanced program. This route will draw students who have graduated from a four-year institution with a B.A./B.S. degree from an accredited program in dietetics. Certificate Program students will be required to take the dietetic practicum courses in the DT Program (to obtain their 450 hours of supervised practice). The respective courses to the practicum are recommended but not required since they should have taken similar courses in their bachelor’s program. In addition, the student must provide an official transcript as well as a Verification Statement from a four-year accredited institution. Upon completion of the practicum hours (supervised practice) and with verification of documents, the Certificate Program student will be eligible to sit for the Registration Exam for Dietetic Technician. They will not earn an associate degree or a certificate. This track allows them to complete requirements necessary in order to sit for the national registration exam.
Verification Statement
Students will be issued a verification statement upon completion of the program. The Verification Statement ensures ADA that stipulated qualifications for membership or requirements set by the Commission on Dietetic Registration have been met. Individuals receiving a Verification Statement are also eligible to take the Registration Exam.