- Is the BPCC DM Program Approved by the Dietary Managers Association? Why is that important?
- Are DMs required to sit for a certification examination? How do your graduates do on the national DMA certification examination?
- I live outside the Shreveport-Bossier City area. May I still apply to your Program?
- Do your graduates have any trouble finding employment after graduation? What kind of salaries are they making?
- I don’t currently live in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Would I have to move to Bossier City to complete this degree?
- I already have a degree (Associate’s/Bachelor’s/Master’s). Am I ready for application to DM clinicals?
- How many students do you accept each year into the DM Program? How many people usually apply for clinicals each year?
- How much does the Dietary Management Program cost?
- What is the difference between a CDM and a RD?
- Can becoming a CDM help me to eventually become a RD?
- I want to pursue this degree. What do I need to do first?
- Why should I take an on-campus program when I can take dietary management as a correspondence or online program?
- If I am employed by a healthcare facility with a Registered Dietitian, what do I need to do?
Is the BPCC DM Program Approved by the Dietary Managers Association? Why is that important?
Bossier Parish Community College is proud to have an excellent, fully approved DM Program. The DM Program is approved by the Certifying Board of Dietary Managers (the Dietary Managers Association), which is a requirement for graduates to be eligible to sit for the national DMA certification exam. We encourage you to research the criteria for accreditation and view the most current list of accredited programs at www.dmaonline.org.
Are DMs required to sit for a certification examination? How do your graduates do on the national CDM certification examination?
After completion of the DM clinical program, graduates are eligible to take and pass the CDM, CFPP Certification Examination to practice as a CDM in the state of Louisiana. At the current time in Louisiana, Medicare-approved nursing facilities only require that the dietary manager has completed, or is currently enrolled in, an approved educational program.
To this date, more than 57% of our graduates who chose to take the exam have passed it.
I live outside the Shreveport-Bossier City area. May I still apply to your Program?
Absolutely. While the majority of our applicants and clinical students live and plan to work in this area, we encourage and are in fact actively recruiting students from other regions of the state. If you are from out of town and are interested in pursuing a DM TCA from BPCC you are encouraged to contact the DM advisor for additional information.
Do your graduates have any trouble finding employment after graduation? What kind of salaries are they making?
Our program has a good reputation in the community and our graduates who seek a job have a high rate of employment in the field (currently 85% within 6 months of graduation). The job market and salaries in the Shreveport-Bossier City area are fair given the education required. Starting salaries range from $21,000 to $32,000 per year.
More information on the job descriptions, job outlook and salaries for food service managers can be found on the website for the Bureau of Labor Statistics at http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos024.htm website.
I don’t currently live in the Shreveport-Bossier City area. Would I have to move to Bossier City to complete this degree?
The reading class for this Program may be completed at any accredited university or community college (near your home). The scheduled clinical practice experience that occur during the clinical component of the program (each 15 weeks in length) may be scheduled in hospitals/PT clinics in or near your hometown. Your required time in Bossier would include:
- A 15-week fall semester for classroom clinical curriculum (DMTP 101, DMTP 110 or DMTP 111). Courses during this 15-week period meet 2 evenings a week.
- A 15-week spring semester for classroom clinical curriculum (DMTP 115 or 116 and DMTP 120 or 121). Courses during this 15-week period meet 2 evenings a week.
I already have a degree (Associate’s/Bachelor’s/Master’s). Am I ready for application to Dietary Management clinicals?
Very likely. You should request that the DM Program Director review your transcript.
How many students do you accept each year into the DM Program? How many people usually apply for clinicals each year?
We accept a maximum of 20 students per year into the DM Program. The number of applicants varies from year to year, but has averaged around 6 for the past 2 years.
How much does the Dietary Management Program cost?
The program has those costs associated with regular tuition per credit hour which is the same for all BPCC students. The tuition would be for 7 hours per semester for full time (2 courses) or 3 or 4 hours for part time study (one course). If the applicant has field experiences waived due to 2 years as a dietary manager, tuition is reduced by three hours. Once accepted into the clinical component of the program there are additional costs
related to clinical fees, uniforms, immunizations, etc.
What is the difference between a RD and a CDM?
| Registered Dietitian | Certified Dietary Manager |
|---|---|
| Education | Education |
| Bachelor degree in Dietetics | Technical Competency Area |
| Starting Salary | Starting Salary |
| approximately $50,000 in Shreveport, LA | approximately $27,000 in Shreveport, LA |
| Responsibilities | Responsibilities |
| Assess patients. Develop plan of care to improve patients’ nutritional status. Treat patients. |
Work under the supervision of dietitian. Treat patients. |
| Patient Conditions Treated | Patient Conditions Treated |
| Medical nutrition therapy in hospitals and nursing homes | Same as dietitian |
| Work Place | Work Place |
| Hospitals Nursing Homes |
Same as dietitian |
| Requires Licensure Exam To Work | Requires Licensure Exam To Work |
| Yes | Not at this time in Louisiana |
| Area Schools That Offer Training | Schools That Offer Training |
| Louisiana Tech University |
Bossier Parish Community College Delgado Community College (New Orleans, LA) SOWELA |
Can becoming a CDM help me to eventually become a Registered Dietitian?
In order to become a Registered Dietitian, a student must complete a Bachelor Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and a CDR-accredited dietetic internship listed at http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/career_401_ENU_HTML.htm. While completing a dietary management program is not the most typical route to take in pursuing a degree in dietetics, it is one option. Being a CDM offers primarily the advantage of providing earlier opportunities for work experience and income earning in the field of nutrition.
I want to pursue this program. What do I need to do first?
- Contact a DM advisor to answer any questions related to the Program. While you are welcome to call, the most efficient way to correspond and receive responses is by e-mail.
- Contact the admissions office on the main campus of Bossier Parish Community College (318-678-6000) to request an application for admission to the college.There is a $15.00 application fee that must be paid at the time of submission. They will give you a catalog that includes information about the Dietary Management program. Discuss which field of study to mark on the application with the DM Program Director.
- Ask for an Academic Bulletin/Schedule of Classes. The academic bulletin will contain information on new student orientation, tuition and fees, financial aid, student services, reading placement test schedules and courses that will be offered during registration. It will also include the date and time you should come for registration.
- Request information on financial aid by visiting the Financial Aid Office on the main campus, or by calling 318-678-6026. Be aware that if you do not qualify for financial aid, you may still request a deferment of fees, which allows you to pay tuition in three parts rather than all at once. There is fee exemption for students age 55 and older. The Hormel Health Lab awards 10 scholarships of $1,000 for dietary management students enrolled as of April each year http://www.dmaonline.org/educ/HHLScholarshipForm.pdf.
Why should I take an on-campus program when I can take dietary management as a correspondence or online program?
BPCC’s on-campus program offers two registered dietitians as faculty and classmates to support your success in the program in addition to your preceptor in the field experience. Success in a correspondence or online course requires the ability to work independently and to motivate oneself. Face to face classes assist the non-traditional student returning to the classroom. The courses provide up to 14 hours of college credit. BPCC will make arrangements for clinical experiences that meet DMA requirements.
If I am employed by a healthcare facility with a Registered Dietitian or Certified Dietary Manager, what do I need to do?
- Contact the BPCC Dietary Management Program Director to advise you on questions to ask the dietitian or dietary manager about serving as your preceptor.
- Read the Student Acknowledgement of the Employer Waiver of Dietary Management Program Clinical Requirement and Employer Waiver of Dietary Management Program Clinical Requirement. If you and your employer submit signed forms, you may omit the asterisked items on the Clinical Student Disclosure of Clinical Requirements.