What is a Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR)?

Nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered (NDTRs) are educated and trained at the technical level of nutrition and dietetics practice for the delivery of safe, culturally competent, quality food and nutrition services. NDTRs are an integral part of healthcare and food service management teams.

NDTRs work under the supervision of a registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) when in direct patient/client nutrition care in practice areas as:

• Hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, retirement centers, hospices, home health-care programs and research facilities conducting patient/client screens, gathering data and performing assigned tasks to assist RDNs in providing medical nutrition therapy.

NDTRs may work independently in providing general nutrition education to healthy populations in a variety of settings as:

• Schools, day-care centers, correctional facilities, restaurants, health-care facilities, corporations and hospitals, managing employees, purchasing and food preparation and maintaining budgets within foodservice operations.
• Women, Infants, Children (WIC) programs, public health agencies, Meals on Wheels and community health programs, assisting registered dietitians with the implementation of programs and presentation of classes for the public.
• Health clubs, weight management clinics and community wellness centers, helping to educate clients about the connection between food, fitness and health.
• Food companies, contract food management companies or food vending and distributing operations developing menus, conducting nutrient analysis and data collection, and overseeing foodservice sanitation and food safety.