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.

A certified dietary manager (CDM) is responsible for the daily operations of a food service department, typically in a healthcare facility.

The CDM ensures that all food is prepared according to the dietary requirements of the patients who will be served the food.

A CDM also ensures that all food meets the necessary nutritional requirements and conforms to the facility's standards.

If this sounds like a great career for you, you've come to the right place. Read on to find out about CDM online courses you can take to get started.

Top Online Courses for Dietary Management Certification

<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. </p> <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. </p> <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. </p> <p>The program does require a single, in-person appearance at the Idaho Health Care Association Convention in Boise. </p> <p>Tuition starts at $1,399 and doesn't include the costs for convention attendance or the required textbook. </p> <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. </p> <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. </p> <p>DMACC boasts that its program is the only online program of its type in the state of Iowa. </p> <p>Tuition and fees for the course start at just $650, not including required textbook or CDM exam fees. </p> <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. </p> <p>Three of the courses are offered 100% online. The remaining courses are taught at MATC's Madison, WI, campus. </p> <p>The program also includes 150 hours of supervised field experience for students without prior non-commercial food service experience. </p> <p>Each course costs $349, not including required textbooks or fees to take the CDM exam. </p> <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. </p> <p>Since the program is partially asynchronous, you can study when it's convenient for you and complete it at your own pace. </p> <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. </p> <p>Tuition starts at $1,854. The program is designed to meet the educational requirements for CDMs in Nebraska. </p> <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. </p> <p>The course includes one or two classes per week and can be completed in as little as eight months. </p> <p>TCAT's program also includes 150 hours of supervised field experience training so you'll be fully prepared to start your CDM career. </p> <p>Total tuition and fees for the program start at $2,738.38, with an additional $895 for textbooks and supplies. </p> <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. </p> <p>If you have no food-service training or experience, take the program with online coursework and field training. </p> <p>Students with prior food-service training or experience can go for accelerated options that can be completed in as few as two months. </p> <p>Tuition runs $225 to $525, depending on the pathway. These self-paced programs take six to 15 months to complete on average. </p> <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. </p> <p>All courses are asynchronous and self-paced, so you can complete your studies when it's convenient for you. </p> <p>UND notes that program graduates routinely exceed the national average pass rate for the CDM exam. </p> <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. </p> <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. </p> <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. </p> <p>Some courses can be completed in as little as six months but don't include the required supervised field training. </p> <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. </p> <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. </p> <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. </p> <p>Online CDM programs range in cost from a few hundred dollars to nearly $3,000 or more. </p> <p>The CDM exam fee is an additional $399. Some courses include exam fees in the total tuition cost, but many do not. </p> <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>