Season 2 Episode 1: Exploring the Dietetic Technician Credential
Candice Jones, MEd, RD, LD, CDE, FAND
We’ve seen the letters DTR/NDTR but what exactly do they mean? What is the job outlook for a Dietetic Technician and how is the process similar or different from becoming an RDN? Dietetic Technicians (DTR/NDTR), as our guest Candice Jones describes, are the Watson to the RD’s Sherlock Holmes, the Robin to Batman, the C3PO to R2D2 (I think you get the point). They bring a complementary set of skills that are key to the profession, as well as to patients and clients. As the Dietetic Technology Program Chair at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, Candice knows the ins and outs of this growing profession.
Today, Candice talks with us about:
What the DTR credential is and the process for becoming a Dietetic Technician.
DT vs DTR vs NDTR what’s the difference?
The traditional and non-traditional career paths for DTR professionals and how to grow your salary as a DTR.
New research on the exciting (and slightly unknown) future of the DTR educational pathway.
& we will find out, is this a good pathway for people of color?
About Candice:
Candice Jones is the Dietetic Technology Program Chair at Cincinnati State Technical and Community College. She oversees three programs, Dietetic Technician, an Associate of Applied Science degree, Pre-Nutrition Science an Associate of Science degree, and the Dietary Management Certificate. Candice attended the University of Connecticut (UCONN), where she obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Nutritional Sciences and remained at UCONN for her Dietetic Internship. Candice moved to Cincinnati, Ohio were she attended the University of Cincinnati and received her Masters of Education in Health Promotion and Education. While completing graduate school, she began her career in Dietetics at the Christ Hospital working as a diabetes educator. Candice became a Certified Diabetes Educator, and in 2014, accepted an Adjunct Instructor position at Cincinnati State that essentially led to a career change and her current position as DT Program Chair.
Although for the past 3 ½ year, Candice has been the Dietetic Technology Program chair at Cincinnati State, she still works PRN for the Christ Hospital Diabetes Center, to “stay current’ in the field. Professionally, she also serves as the Programming Chair of the local networking group DECA (Diabetes Educators of Cincinnati Association). She is also a member of the Ohio Academy of Dietetics and Nutrition (OAND) Diversity Task Force and newly, the Diversity Recruitment board member of the Greater Cincinnati Dietetic Association (GCDA). This past summer, Candice became a Fellow of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (FAND). Outside of work, she enjoys, camping, cooking, playing softball and tennis, and traveling to anywhere that has an ocean view!