Professional Standards for School Nutrition Professionals

Overview


School Nutrition Programs  |   Program Guidance  |   Forms  |     |   Nutrition Education

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National School Lunch Program (NSLP) regulations (7 CFR 210.30 and 7 CFR 235.11(h) require professional standards for employees who manage and operate the NSLP and School Breakfast Program (SBP). The regulations require minimum hiring standards for new state and local directors of school nutrition programs and annual continuing education/training requirements for state directors and all local school nutrition personnel. Directors hired before July 1, 2015, are exempt from the hiring standards and grandfathered in based on their existing positions.

These standards ensure that school nutrition personnel have the knowledge, training, and tools needed to plan, prepare, and purchase healthy products to create nutritious, safe, and enjoyable school meals.

 Minimum Annual Training Requirements for School Nutrition Employees *
Job Category Continuing Education Hours
Directors 12
Managers 10
All Other Staff (other than the director or manager) who works an average of at least 20 hours per week 6
Part-time Staff (work less than 20 hours per week) 4
 Mid-year Hires in All Categories (January 1 or later) Half of training requirement for each job category
 * Annual requirements apply to the 12 months between July 1 and June 30.

Guidance