Visit the Dietary Managers Association website and view the educational programs they approve. Since this is the primary certifying body for dietary managers, it's important to get your education in a program approved by them.
Select at least three institutions from among the many options provided. Working people should be sure to explore the correspondence and online options.
Contact the admissions offices of the institutions you have chosen for further research. Ask them for information about the cost of classes, the availability of financial aid, the length of the program and whether students receive a degree at the end of the program. A two-year course of study, which will include a number of general courses unrelated to the field, will usually result in an associate's degree. Other shorter programs may include only courses directly related to dietary management but result in a certificate of completion rather than a degree. If a degree is desired, then ask specifically if the program results in an associate's degree in dietary management.
Assess your budget and your lifestyle for compatibility with a return to school. How will the cost of tuition and books be covered? Can time, peace and a place be created for studying? Is it better to be the tortoise, taking one class at a time, or the hare, taking a full load of classes at a time, in your pursuit of an education and career advancement? Use this information to determine which of the schools researched is most suitable.
Make further contact with the relevant offices at the college of your choice, including the registrar, financial aid offices and the department that administers the program. Get the answers to any questions you may have and follow their instructions. It's important to know the rules and procedures and to follow them so that everything goes smoothly. Don't hesitate to ask for clarification. If the first person you talk to isn't very helpful, call back and talk to someone else or ask for someone in a higher position.