Online Certified Dietary Manager Courses
Learn about the top seven online courses for becoming a certified dietary manager and find answers to commonly asked questions.
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<p>A certified dietary manager (CDM) is responsible for the daily operations of a food service department, typically in a healthcare facility.
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<p>The CDM ensures that all food is prepared according to the dietary requirements of the patients who will be served the food.
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<p>A CDM also ensures that all food meets the necessary nutritional requirements and conforms to the facility's standards.
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<p>If this sounds like a great career for you, you've come to the right place. Read on to find out about CDM <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Distance_Learning_and_Online_Education_FAQs.html">online courses</a> you can take to get started.
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<h2 id="section---TopOnlineCoursesForDietaryManagementCertification">Top Online Courses for Dietary Management Certification</h2>
<p>The quickest path to becoming a CDM is to take a course that prepares you for the certification exam. Here are some great online options.
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<h3 id="section---1.CollegeOfWesternIdaho">1. College of Western Idaho</h3>
<p>The College of Western Idaho (CWI) offers a fully online credentialing course to prepare you for CDM certification.
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<p>Anyone who is currently employed in food service and wants to <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Career_Training_FAQs.html">advance their career</a> is eligible to take this course.
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<p>The program does require a single, in-person appearance at the Idaho Health Care Association Convention in Boise.
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<p>Tuition starts at $1,399 and doesn't include the costs for convention attendance or the required textbook.
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<h3 id="section---2.DesMoinesAreaCommunityCollege">2. Des Moines Area Community College</h3>
<p>Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) offers a non credit online program leading to CDM credentialing.
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<p>The six-month program has two yearly start dates, in January and in June. Upon completion, you're eligible to sit for the CDM exam.
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<p>DMACC boasts that its program is the only online program of its type in the state of Iowa.
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<p>Tuition and fees for the course start at just $650, not including required textbook or CDM exam fees.
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<h3 id="section---3.MadisonAreaTechnicalCollege">3. Madison Area Technical College</h3>
<p>Madison Area Technical College (MATC) offers a five-course program to prepare you for CDM credentialing.
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<p>Three of the courses are offered 100% online. The remaining courses are taught at MATC's Madison, WI, campus.
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<p>The program also includes 150 hours of supervised field experience for students without prior non-commercial food service experience.
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<p>Each course costs $349, not including required textbooks or fees to take the CDM exam.
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<h3 id="section---4.SoutheastCommunityCollege">4. Southeast Community College</h3>
<p>Southeast Community College (SCC) has a 100% online CDM program that can be completed in one or two semesters.
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<p>Since the program is partially asynchronous, you can study when it's convenient for you and complete it at your own pace.
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<p>No prior experience in food service is required to enroll in this course. Graduates earn a certificate and are qualified to sit for the CDM exam.
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<p>Tuition starts at $1,854. The program is designed to meet the educational requirements for CDMs in Nebraska.
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<h3 id="section---5.TennesseeCollegeOfAppliedTechnology">5. Tennessee College of Applied Technology</h3>
<p>At the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), you can take a dietary manager training program 100% online.
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<p>The course includes one or two classes per week and can be completed in as little as eight months.
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<p>TCAT's program also includes 150 hours of supervised field experience training so you'll be fully prepared to start your CDM career.
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<p>Total tuition and fees for the program start at $2,738.38, with an additional $895 for textbooks and supplies.
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<h3 id="section---6.UniversityOfFlorida">6. University of Florida</h3>
<p>The <a href="https://learn.org/browseby/company/University_of_Florida.html">University of Florida</a> (UF) offers three different pathways you can take toward becoming a CDM.
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<p>If you have no food-service training or experience, take the program with online coursework and field training.
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<p>Students with prior food-service training or experience can go for accelerated options that can be completed in as few as two months.
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<p>Tuition runs $225 to $525, depending on the pathway. These self-paced programs take six to 15 months to complete on average.
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<h3 id="section---7.UniversityOfNorthDakota">7. University of North Dakota</h3>
<p>At the <a href="https://learn.org/browseby/company/University_of_North_Dakota.html">University of North Dakota</a> (UND), you can take a 100% online program that prepares you for a career as a CDM.
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<p>All courses are asynchronous and self-paced, so you can complete your studies when it's convenient for you.
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<p>UND notes that program graduates routinely exceed the national average pass rate for the CDM exam.
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<p>Tuition runs from $575 to $625, depending on the pathway you choose. You can also enroll course by course at a rate of $250 per course.
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<h2 id="section---FAQsAboutCertifiedDietaryManagers">FAQs About Certified Dietary Managers</h2>
<p>Keep reading to find the answers to some of the most common questions about online courses for dietary management certification.
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<h3 id="section---HowLongDoesItTakeToBecomeACDM">How Long Does It Take to Become a CDM?</h3>
<p>Typically, you can finish training and sit for the exam within a little over one year.
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<p>Some courses can be completed in as little as six months but don't include the required supervised field training.
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<h3 id="section---CanITrainToBeACDMEntirelyOnline">Can I Train to Be a CDM Entirely Online?</h3>
<p>There are many CDM courses that are entirely online. However, you need supervised training in addition to classroom education.
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<p>The supervised training must be completed on-site rather than virtually, so it's not possible to complete all aspects of the training online.
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<h3 id="section---HowMuchDoesItCostToBecomeACDM">How Much Does It Cost to Become a CDM?</h3>
<p>To be eligible to sit for the CDM exam, you need a combination of classroom training and work experience.
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<p>Online CDM programs range in cost from a few hundred dollars to nearly $3,000 or more.
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<p>The CDM exam fee is an additional $399. Some courses include exam fees in the total tuition cost, but many do not.
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<h2 id="section---FindTheRightOnlineCourseForDietaryManagementToday">Find the Right Online Course for Dietary Management Today</h2>
<p>If you're interested in becoming a certified dietary manager, be sure to choose a course from our list of the <a href="https://learn.org/article_directory/Distance_Learning_FAQs.html">best online programs</a> for dietary management certification.</p>