Central Arizona College offers 3 nutrition and dietetics credentials:
- A.A.S., Nutrition and Dietetic Technician
- Certificate, Nutrition and Foodservice Professional Training
- Certificate, Dietary Manager Training
Program Tracks Overview
| Program | Est. Tuition | Est. Duration | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.A.S. | $5.9K / $11.7K | About 2 years (4 to 5 semesters) | 65–69 |
| NFSPT Certificate | $990 / $2.0K | About 1 year (2 to 3 semesters) | 11 |
| DMT Certificate | $630 / $1.3K | Up to 1 year (1 to 2 semesters) | 7 |
Central Arizona College’s defining feature is an ACEND-accredited dietetic technician degree taught entirely online and open to students outside Arizona. It leads to the Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR) credential, not the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and none of the three programs is an RD pathway.
Quick Facts
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Types | Associate of Applied Science and two dietary manager certificates |
| Format | Online. Supervised practice is in person at an approved facility you arrange |
| Credit Hours | 65–69 (A.A.S.), 11 (NFSPT), 7 (DMT) |
| ACEND Accreditation | Yes, the A.A.S. only. Accredited since 1978; current term through June 30, 2029 |
| RD/RDN Eligibility | No. The A.A.S. leads to NDTR exam eligibility, not the RDN |
| Supervised Practice | 450 hours minimum (A.A.S.); 150 hours (NFSPT). Students secure their own site |
| Other Credentials | Both certificates qualify completers for the CDM, CFPP exam |
| Intake | A.A.S.: fall only, applications February 1 to June 15, up to 25 admitted |
| Prerequisites | Chemistry within five years, biology, college algebra, English, and NTR 200 before applying |
| GPA Floor | 2.5 cumulative (A.A.S.); 2.0 (both certificates) |
| Enrollment Restrictions | Colorado residents must work in a hospital or similar setting when applying |
| Tuition | $90 per credit in-state, $180 out of state (2026–27) |
| Institutional Accreditation | Higher Learning Commission (HLC) |
Associate of Applied Science, Nutrition and Dietetic Technician
The estimated tuition for the A.A.S. in Nutrition and Dietetic Technician at Central Arizona College is approximately $5,850 for Arizona residents (65 credits at $90/credit). The program requires 65 to 69 credits and can generally be completed in about 2 years, a derived estimate, since the college publishes only a three-year maximum from program start.
A.A.S. Curriculum
The degree splits into 24 to 28 general education credits and a fixed 41-credit nutrition (NTR) block. The four-credit spread comes from the science requirement: introductory anatomy and physiology with chemistry totals 8 credits, while the two-semester anatomy and physiology sequence with chemistry totals 12.
A term-locked sequence. Several NTR courses run in one term only. Applied Food Science, the program orientation, and Medical Nutrition Therapy I are fall only, while Community Nutrition and Medical Nutrition Therapy II are spring only. With a single fall intake, this fixes the order in which admitted students move through the block.
A technician-level science load. The required science is one introductory chemistry course plus anatomy and physiology. There is no organic chemistry or biochemistry, which suits technician practice but leaves a gap for anyone who later applies to a Didactic Program in Dietetics.
- NTR 200 Human Nutrition (completed before applying)
- NTR 123 Nutrition Throughout the Life Cycle
- NTR 222A Medical Nutrition Therapy I (fall only)
- NTR 222B Medical Nutrition Therapy II (spring only)
- NTR 219 Community Nutrition (spring only)
- NTR 223 Food Service Management
- NTR 244 Nutrition Management and Leadership
- NTR 191 Nutrition Counseling and Skill Development
More curriculum details are available here.
You Should Know
- The chemistry, biology, math, and English requirements, plus NTR 200, must be finished with a C or better before you apply.
- Chemistry and nutrition coursework older than five years does not count toward the program.
- The 2-year estimate is derived from the 65-credit minimum at a typical full-time load. The college’s firm rule is that all requirements must be finished within three years of starting the program.
A.A.S. Supervised Practice
- Minimum of 450 supervised hours: 66 in NTR 295 Professional Practice Internship and at least 384 in NTR 296 Dietetic Technician Internship
- Three competency projects: food service and management, education and training, and the Nutrition Care Process with medical nutrition therapy
- NTR 296 is completed in one 16-week semester, typically three days and 24 hours a week on site
- Students find their own facility and preceptor anywhere in the United States, its territories, or on military bases; CAC must approve both
- An affiliation agreement is completed during NTR 295, and the internship cannot start until it and the facility’s requirements are in place
- Background check, drug screen, immunizations, and a two-step TB test are required, and the internship is unpaid
Four hundred fifty hours is the ACEND standard for technician programs, well short of the roughly 1,000 hours on the dietitian pathway, so the internship is one intensive semester rather than a year-long placement. The real gate is placement, not hours. Because students arrange their own site, applicants already employed in a hospital, long-term care facility, or institutional kitchen have a clear advantage, and anyone working full time elsewhere needs a plan for 24 on-site hours a week for 16 weeks.
A.A.S. Admissions
Admission is competitive, with one fall intake and a maximum of 25 students accepted each year.
- Application window: February 1 to June 15 for fall entry, with acceptance letters sent by July 20
- Applicants must already be admitted to CAC and hold a CAC student ID
- Materials: letter of intent, current resume, prior college transcripts, and professional memberships, scored against a published rubric
- Prerequisites: chemistry, biology, college algebra, English composition, and NTR 200, each with a C or better
- Colorado residents must be employed in a hospital or similar setting when applying, under Colorado distance education rules
- Maine residents: the college states the program meets the educational requirement for Maine’s NDTR license
You Should Know
- The program page lists two GPA figures: a 2.5 cumulative GPA under degree requirements and 2.0 under graduation requirements. Plan to meet 2.5.
- Chromebooks do not meet the program’s technology requirements.
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership is mandatory for the internship.
Certificate, Nutrition and Foodservice Professional Training
The estimated tuition for the Nutrition and Foodservice Professional Training certificate at Central Arizona College is approximately $990 for Arizona residents (11 credits at $90/credit). The program requires 11 credits and can generally be completed in two or three 16-week semesters, part time and online.
NFSPT Curriculum
This certificate is the college’s route to the Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP) exam under Certifying Board for Dietary Managers Pathway I, meant for students without qualifying management experience. Food Service Management is shared with the A.A.S., so it counts toward both.
- NTR 105 ServSafe (1 credit; exam preparation only, no ServSafe certificate issued)
- NTR 223 Food Service Management (3)
- NTR 240 Clinical Nutrition (3)
- NTR 196 Dietary Manager Internship (4)
NFSPT Field Experience
- 150 hours total: 50 precepted hours plus at least 100 hours compiling a portfolio
- Of the 50 precepted hours, 25 are supervised by an RDN (or an approved NDTR with a year of experience) and 25 by a CDM, NDTR, or RDN
- Usually completed at the student’s own workplace, with the student finding the facility and preceptor
- Completion requires a C or better in each course, a 2.0 cumulative GPA, and at least 3 credits earned at CAC
Certificate, Dietary Manager Training
The estimated tuition for the Dietary Manager Training certificate at Central Arizona College is approximately $630 for Arizona residents (7 credits at $90/credit). The program requires 7 credits and can generally be completed in one or two 16-week semesters online.
DMT Curriculum and Eligibility
This is the accelerated Pathway IIIb route, and it drops the internship because it assumes the field experience has already happened on the job. Applicants need at least two years of institutional food service management experience that meets the certifying board’s requirements.
- NTR 105 ServSafe (1)
- NTR 223 Food Service Management (3)
- NTR 240 Clinical Nutrition (3)
You Should Know
- Approval from the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals (ANFP) for both dietary manager certificates runs through August 31, 2028.
- Completers apply for the CDM, CFPP exam through the certifying board, which accepts applications and fees online only.
Tuition
Central Arizona College charges $90 per credit for Arizona residents in 2026–27, the published rate for 100- and 200-level courses, which covers every course in these programs. Out-of-state students pay 200 percent of that rate, or $180 per credit. Full-time students from Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE) states may qualify for 150 percent, or $135 per credit. Rates are listed on the college’s tuition and fees page.
These rates took effect July 1, 2026. There is no program-specific differential rate for nutrition courses, so costs beyond tuition come from course fees and outside expenses.
| Credential | Credits | AZ Resident | Out of State |
|---|---|---|---|
| A.A.S., 8-credit science option | 65 | $5,850 | $11,700 |
| A.A.S., 12-credit science option | 69 | $6,210 | $12,420 |
| NFSPT certificate | 11 | $990 | $1,980 |
| DMT certificate | 7 | $630 | $1,260 |
Totals are credits multiplied by the per-credit rate and exclude fees. Transfer credit lowers them, though the A.A.S. requires at least 20 credits earned at CAC.
Confirmed costs
From the college’s 2026–27 A.A.S. cost estimate:
- Technology fees: $100 (NTR 163) and $250 (NTR 295)
- Internship fee: $200
- Textbooks: about $1,500
- Malpractice insurance: $25
- Background check, drug screen, and immunizations: about $127
- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics student membership: $116 ($58 a year for two years)
- NDTR exam fee: $140
- College’s published total: $8,108 resident, $13,958 out of state
Be aware that:
- The listed items add up to $8,308 resident and $14,158 out of state, $200 more than the college’s own totals. Budget to the itemized figure.
- The college’s estimate assumes 65 credits. The 12-credit science option adds $360 resident or $720 out of state.
- WUE eligibility is unclear for this online program. The college’s tuition page requires full-time enrollment and attending classes in Arizona, while the program page tells WUE-state students to contact the Registrar. Confirm before budgeting at $135 per credit.
- Uniforms, transportation to the internship site, a computer, and physician fees are not included.
- Course fees for the dietary manager certificates, including the NTR 196 internship, are not stated on the certificate page.
- Pinal County high school graduates may qualify for Pinal Promise, a last-dollar award covering two academic years of tuition.
For an Arizona resident, the full A.A.S. comes to roughly $8,300 including books, the exam, and internship costs, which is modest for a nationally recognized credential. Out-of-state students pay about $14,200, because tuition doubles while the fixed costs stay the same. For a self-funded student, the less visible cost is the unpaid 16-week internship at about 24 hours a week, which can mean lost wages unless it is completed at a current employer.
Why Choose This Nutrition Program?
A strong match for people already working in healthcare or institutional food service who want a registered credential without relocating or committing to a four-year degree.
An accredited credential, delivered online. The dietetic technician program has held ACEND accreditation since 1978, and every course is online and open to out-of-state students. Only the internship is in person, and it can be arranged at an approved facility near home. That combination suits working adults outside Arizona, with the Colorado employment rule as the notable exception.
Stackable food service credentials. The dietary manager certificates offer a shorter entry point. Experienced food service managers can reach CDM, CFPP exam eligibility in 7 credits, and Food Service Management counts toward both a certificate and the A.A.S. The college also runs an employer upskilling route for moving certified dietary managers toward the NDTR.
What the NDTR is, and is not. The NDTR is a registered technician credential, and NDTRs work independently or alongside registered dietitians, but it is not the RDN. The college states plainly that the A.A.S. is not designed as an RDN transfer program.
The college names two university routes onward. Arizona State University’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Applied Nutrition and Health (formerly Food and Nutrition Entrepreneurship) accepts the degree as a block, while the University of Arizona’s B.S. in Nutritional Sciences accepts only part of it. Anyone whose real goal is the RDN still needs accredited didactic coursework, a graduate degree, and supervised practice, so this degree is best valued as a finished credential rather than a shortcut.
Accreditation
Central Arizona College is institutionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC), one of the seven regional accreditors. HLC accreditation covers every program at the college and is what makes its credits transferable and its students eligible for federal financial aid.
Programmatic accreditation is narrower. The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredits the college’s Dietetic Technician Program, which is the A.A.S. in Nutrition and Dietetic Technician. It has been accredited continuously since 1978, with the current term running through June 30, 2029.
The two dietary manager certificates fall outside ACEND’s scope, which is normal for that credential. They are approved instead by the Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals through August 31, 2028, and completing either one qualifies a student for the Certifying Board for Dietary Managers exam.
A.A.S. graduates receive a verification statement and are eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s registration examination for dietetic technicians, and passing it confers the NDTR credential. None of the three programs leads to RDN eligibility. According to the college, Maine is currently the only state that licenses NDTRs, so graduates elsewhere should check their own state’s rules through the Commission on Dietetic Registration licensure map.
More Nutrition Degrees in Arizona
- Arizona State University - Phoenix
- Grand Canyon University - Phoenix
- Northern Arizona University - Flagstaff
- Paradise Valley Community College - Phoenix
- Phoenix Nutrition Programs & Online Degrees
- University of Arizona - Tucson