Qualifications

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• Dietitian candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f)
• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) or Registered Dietitian (RD) - Must be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) the credentialing branch of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics formerly known as the American Dietetic Association (ADA)
• Exception for Dietitians who do not possess the RDN credential
• Non-credentialed Dietitians who meet the basic qualification requirements and have fulfilled the requirements below, but do not possess the RDN credential, may be given a temporary full-time appointment not to exceed one year under the authority of 38 U.S.C. 7405(c)(2)
• Non-credentialed Dietitians must have fulfilled each of the following: Earned a bachelor's or higher degree from a U.S. regionally accredited college or university or foreign equivalent
• Foreign Education: To be creditable, college and/or university degrees earned outside the U.S and its territories must be evaluated by ACEND and meet ACEND's International Dietitian Education standards which are designed to provide graduates with the knowledge and competencies to sit for the CDR credentialing exam
• ~AND~ Completed an ACEND accredited experiential or supervised practice program and provide a verification statement from the program director that conveys eligibility to take the CDR registration exam as a prospective RDN
• A list of ACEND accredited programs are located on the ACEND website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory
• Non-credentialed Dietitians may only be appointed at the GS-07 or GS-09 grade level and may not be promoted/converted until they obtain their RDN credential
• Non-credentialed Dietitians must provide care under the supervision of a RDN at or above the full performance level
• Temporary appointments of non-credentialed Dietitian will not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment Current VHA Dietitians that qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision may not be promoted to a higher grade if they do not meet the current RDN/RD requirements
• Grade Determinations: All individuals assigned to this occupation must meet all the basic qualification requirements as well as the Grade Level Requirements below
• Grade Determinations: For Supervisory Dietitian (Informatics), GS-11 Experience: One year of experience as an RDN Dietitian equivalent to the next lower grade, GS-9. Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs
• (a) Skill in managing computer software programs relative to food service systems
• (b) Skill in applying nutritional knowledge to develop menus ensuring nutritional standards are met
• (c) Skill in developing training and reference materials
• (d) Skill in evaluating data to improve outcomes
• (e) Skill in providing training related to food service systems technology.(f) Skill in collaborating with stakeholders
• Certification: Must hold a Register Dietitian Certification Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: The work required does not inherently include any physical requirements essential for successful job performance that could not otherwise be performed with accommodation or workplace adjustment
• A pre-placement physical examination is not required.