How To Become A Dietary Aide: What It Is and Career Path - Zippia (2024)

Key steps to become a dietary aide

1. Explore dietary aide education requirements

   The educational requirements for a dietary aide are varied, with 0.0969% requiring no formal education, 0.0754% needing a high school diploma, 0.2685% needing a certificate, 0.4921% needing an associate degree, 0.06709999999999999% needing a bachelor's degree, and 0% needing a master's or doctorate degree. According to the data, an associate degree is the most common educational requirement for a dietary aide. In terms of certifications, dietary aides may need to obtain credentials such as Advanced First Aid & CPR, Certified Billing and Coding Specialist, First Aid Certification, OSHA Safety Certificate, and Certified Dietary Manager. Popular majors for dietary aides include Business, General Studies, Nursing, Criminal Justice, and Medical Assisting Services.

   Most common dietary aide degrees

   High School Diploma

   49.8

   %

   Bachelor's

   15.9

   %

   Associate

   15.4

   %

2. Start to develop specific dietary aide skills

   Dietary aides do many tasks. They prepare and serve nutritious meals, follow physician dietary specifications, and maintain a clean and sanitary kitchen. They also communicate with residents, coordinate menu planning, and work with industrial equipment. They must pay attention to detail and adapt to individual needs. They also follow safety and infection control procedures.

   Skills	Percentages
   Patients	15.10%
   Meal Trays	13.18%
   Food Service	10.60%
   Food Handling	9.24%
   Food Carts	5.88%

   See Also

   Dietary Aide Job Description: Salary, Duties, Career & MoreDietary Aide Job Description [Updated for 2024]Highest-Paying Dietary Aide Jobs [2023] - Zippia

   Show more

3. Complete relevant dietary aide training and internships

   Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New dietary aides learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a dietary aide based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real dietary aide resumes.

4. Gain additional dietary aide certifications

   Dietary aide certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific dietary aide certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

   The most common certifications for dietary aides include Advanced First Aid & CPR and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

   More About Certifications

5. Research dietary aide duties and responsibilities

   A dietary aide's responsibilities include preparing meals according to specific dietary requirements, maintaining a clean and sanitary environment, and communicating with residents to determine their preferences. They must also be able to adapt to individual needs, such as patients with compromised immune systems. Melinda Valliant Ph.D., Professor and Chair of the Department of Nutrition & Hospitality Management at the University of Mississippi, emphasizes the importance of good listening and empathetic skills for dietary aides, as well as seeking mentoring from more seasoned professionals. They must be able to work in a fast-paced environment and maintain high standards of customer service.

   • Use of slicers, grinders, deep fryers, ovens, grills and cash register.
   • Prepare cooked foods following HACCP guidelines.
   • Operate stoves, grills, fryers, ovens and microwaves.
   • Interview WIC applicants for income eligibility, nutrition foods, and health.

6. Prepare your dietary aide resume

   When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your dietary aide resume.

   You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a dietary aide resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

   Choose From 10+ Customizable Dietary Aide Resume templates

   Build a professional

   Dietary Aide

   resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume.

   Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Dietary Aide resume.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

7. Apply for dietary aide jobs

   Now it's time to start searching for a dietary aide job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

   1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
   2. Consult your professional network
   3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
   4. Watch out for job scams

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The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.