Professional Standards
Professional Standards require a minimum amount of annual training hours, or continuing education, for School Nutrition Program Directors, Managers, and Staff. Training hours should be obtained during the program year, which runs July 1 – June 30. Required training topic areas vary according to position and job requirements.
There are also minimum hiring standards for School Nutrition Program Directors.
| Title | Required Hours |
|---|---|
| Program Directors | 12 hours |
| Program Managers and Vended Site Director/Manager (onsite meal service) | 10 hours |
| Program Staff and Vended Site Staff (20+ hours/week) | 6 hours |
| Program Staff and Vended Site Staff (less than 20 hours/week) | 4 hours |
Training hours earned in excess of the annual requirement may be applied to the school year directly preceding or directly following the date of training; however, some hours must be completed each year.
For example, if the number of training hours earned in School Year 2023-2024 did not meet the annual requirement, extra hours earned in School Year 2024-2025 can be used to make up the difference.
Resources with Continuing Education Opportunities
Look for the graduation cap icon and a corresponding button, as seen below, for a continuing education certificate!