"Alerted.org

Summary Clinical Dietetic Technician (CDT) is responsible for screening patients, collecting nutritionally relevant data such as diagnoses, medications, clinical symptoms, laboratory values, dietary history, and anthropometrics; receives and records patient information regarding allergies, patient meal preferences and enters this information into the applicable software program(s) including the medical record. Responsibilities Major duties include but are not limited to: Conducts the screening and evaluation of the nutrition care needs of patients Assists the RDN in the development of nutritional care plans including nutrition interventions, nutrition focused physical exam, and diet counseling in collaboration with the RDN. Collects nutritionally relevant data from the medical record for medications, clinical symptoms, laboratory values, diet history and anthropometrics. Makes recommendations for adjustments to the plan of care to improve patient's recovery and document outcomes on nutrition intervention Modifies diet orders for texture/consistency, tolerance, and supplemental feedings as appropriate under the oversight of the RDN. Educates patients or employees, in groups or individually, and/or those accompanying the patient, regarding medical nutrition therapies. Serves as a preceptor for dietetic technician affiliated programs and associated tasks as applicable. Assists with administrative or clerical functions associated with food service operations. Assists in related duties that support performance improvement activities for the service. Conducts nutrient intake analysis and meal rounds Works collaboratively with interdisciplinary team members Completes test trays and tray studies Completes patient satisfaction surveys May perform other duties as assigned as appropriate for the grade and assignment and which are within the scope of the occupation. Work Schedule: Full Time, Monday - Friday, 0800 - 1630 Telework: This position may be authorized for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Position Description/PD#: Clinical Dietetic Technician/PD99792S Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959 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. You may be required to serve a probationary period Subject to background/security investigation Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Required Documents" below for details. Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 07/28/2025. BASIC REQUIREMENTS. To qualify for appointment to this position, all applicants must possess the following: a. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). b. Experience and/or Education. (1) Education. Completion of an associate's or higher degree program in Dietetic Technology, Dietetics or another related field of study that is accredited by ACEND®. A list of ACEND® accredited programs are located on the ACEND® website or at ACEND Accredited Programs Directory (https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/program-directory). OR (2) Experience. Completion of one (1) year of clinical experience in dietetics, and the possession of an active Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) certification. The experience must have been received after possession of the CDM certification. OR (3) Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. c. Licensure/Certification/Registration. (1) List of Licensure/Certification/Registration. Possession of the DTR credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). (2) Exception for Non-registered CDT (a) Non- registered applicants who otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for licensure, may be given a temporary appointment as a CDT under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7405(c)(2). (b) Non-registered individuals shall only provide care under the supervision of a credentialed CDT at or above the full performance level. (c) Non-registered individuals may only be appointed at the entry level and may not be promoted/converted until certification is obtained. (d) Temporary appointments of non-registered CDTs may not be extended beyond two years or converted to a new temporary appointment. (3) Failure to Obtain Registration. In all cases, CDTs must actively pursue meeting requirements for registration starting from the date of their placement into the occupation. At the time of appointment, the Human Resources (HR) Office staff in collaboration with the supervisor will provide the employee with the written requirements for registration, including the time by which the registration, must be obtained and the consequences for not becoming registered by the deadline. Failure to obtain registration during this time period may result in termination of employment. (4) Loss of Credential. Management officials, in collaboration with HR office staff must immediately relieve employees who fail to maintain the required registration of the duties and responsibilities associated with this occupation, which may also result in separation from employment. (5) HR Office staff must appoint CDTs according to the provisions in Chapter 3, Section B, paragraph 16 of this part, who have, or have ever had, their CDT registration revoked, suspended, denied, restricted, limited, or issued/placed in a probationary status. d. Grandfathering Provision. Employees in VHA in this occupation, under a permanent, appropriate, and legal placement on the effective date of the qualification standard, are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade and/or assignment held, including positive education and licensure/ /registration/certification. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard but met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journey) level or changed to lower grade within the occupation but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure/certification/registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure/certification/registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. (3) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (4) Employees retained in this occupation under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of re-entry to the occupation. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure/certification/registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. NOTE: This provision is not intended to regularize appointments/placements. e. Foreign Education. To be creditable, education completed outside the U.S. must be deemed at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. program by a private organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. f. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. g. English Language Proficiency. CDT candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English in accordance with 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). You may qualify based on your experience and/or education as described below: Specialized Experience: You must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade GS-06 in the normal line of progression for the occupation in the organization. Examples of specialized experience would typically include, but are not limited to: Knowledge in Medical Nutrition Therapy pertaining to completing nutrition assessments. Knowledge of food service operations. Skill in conducting nutrition intervention, patient interviewing, and nutrition counseling as part of the nutrition care process. Ability to organize, evaluate, and execute teaching plans to provide nutrition education for selected groups of patients and individuals. Ability to effectively communicate nutrition education and care plans with patients, family members, coworkers, internal customers, and external customers. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Education There is no educational substitution at this grade level. A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information "Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act." Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced VA competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation (a copy of the agency notice, your most recent performance rating, and your most recent SF-50 noting current position, grade level, and duty location) and be found well-qualified for this vacancy. To be well-qualified: applicants must possess experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the required competencies of the job. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM's Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.