The Organization
Dietary Managers Association (DMA) is the national professional organization for dietary managers. Founded in 1960 with just 72 members, the association's membership now exceeds 15,500.
DMA recognizes and promotes standards of competency through education and experience. Over 70% of the DMA members have earned the certified dietary manager credential. Individuals who have completed an approved dietary manager training program or passed the credentialing exam are eligible to apply for active membership in DMA. Associate and student memberships are also available.
Dietary Managers Association is headquartered in St. Charles, Illinois where administrative and membership services are located. The membership elects a board of directors each year. With 48 state DMA chapters, the association is predominately a grassroots organization. Each state has its own leadership, which represents the members' concerns with guidance and direction from headquarters.
DMA has identified a spokesperson in each state trained to coordinate legislative and regulatory activity. This person, along with an "Impact Team," is responsible for promoting DMA to legislators, regulatory officials and the public. DMA's legislative concerns are focused on issues, which directly affect the dietetic services area in healthcare facilities, schools and correctional institutions. The association's goal is to have the certified dietary manager recognized, at the state and federal level, as the foodservice professional responsible for the day-to-day operations of the foodservices area in these facilities, and to have the CFPP credential recognized by state and local health departments as an approved food manager certification program.
The CDM
A Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) is a competent professional who has completed an approved course and successfully passed a nationally recognized certification test. The exam includes testing in areas of sanitation, safety, nutrition education, personnel supervision, kitchen management and business operations.
CDMs commit to a philosophy of life long learning in order to continuously improve and enhance their knowledge and skills. A CDM professionally networks with fellow members of local, state and national organizations. The Dietary Managers Association membership exceeds, 15,500. A CDM is an advanced professional who proudly displays and promotes the values of the DMA.
The CFPP™
Offered exclusively by Dietary Manager's Association, the Certified Food Protection Professional™ (CFPP) credential is rapidly being recognized nationwide as the qualification for managing food safety. For more information, click here.
Membership Benefits
Active, certified, associate and student memberships are available. Membership benefits include ten issues of the magazine, education resources, toll free information line, representation in Washington D.C., and much more.
Credentialing Exam
The credentialing exam is given at 50 sites each year, on the last Saturday of October. Refer to the DMA magazine for dates and locations. Exam fees for the credentialing exam are $170 for members. DMA member certification is $100 and non-member certification is $200. Note: Members receive a substantial discount. The credentialing exam fee is $280 for non-members. Fees for Sanitation and Safety Exam only are $35 for members and $45 for non-members.
Continuing Education
Forty-five (45) continuing education hours must be obtained every three years to maintain certification, five (5) of which must be in the area of sanitation and food safety. An annual certification fee of $30 is required to maintain the credential as well.
DMA is an excellent source for continuing education. Its member services center has listings from various educational providers, sources of continuing education and their own publications. (See web links for listings of educational resources.)
Contact Information
For more information, or to apply for membership, visit www.dmaonline.org.
Or write:
Dietary Managers Association
406 Surrey Woods Drive
St. Charles, IL 60174-2386
Phone: 800-323-1908
Fax: 630-587-6308
For more information about AK DMA, please contact Karen Stone, CDM, CFPP by phone (907-223-5764) or email (cookieone@alaska.com).