Graduate School Nutrition Director Certification Program (SNDCP)

 

• Overview
• Transcript Evaluation
• Letter of Notification for Employer
• How to Apply
• Requirements for Completing SNDCP
• Required Courses and Program of Study
• Tuition
• Certificate Program
• Frequently Asked Questions

The School Nutrition Director Certification Program (SNDCP) is designed for individuals interested in becoming a Certified School Nutrition Director. The program requires 21 hours of graduate courses in human nutrition, nutrition education, school fiscal and human resource management, and educational leadership. Other requirements include ServeSafe Certification, a passing score on Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE) or other basic skills test approved by the Professional Standards Commission, and completion of a master’s degree.

Please review this website for more information about the SNDCP and about submitting your materials for evaluation, applying to UGA as a non-degree seeking graduate student in the Department of Foods and Nutrition and completing a master’s degree at UGA or another university.

If you need immediate certification for employment purposes, then email us at sndcert@fcs.uga.edu. Include the following: employer's name, title, and address. Also, submit all of required information listed under "Transcript Evaluation."  We will mail a letter of explanation to your employer (or potential employer) regarding the certification program. We will send a copy of the letter to you for your records.

Send your questions to the SNDCP coordinator: sndcert@fcs.uga.edu.

Potential applicants may submit materials to be evaluated for meeting the proposed School Nutrition Director program.  Submit the following for evaluation:

• Contact information
• Statement of purpose
• Resume
• One official copy of transcripts from the institution that awarded your highest degree and any institutions with coursework relevant to your intended program
• Course title, number, institution, and course description (from internet or university handbook) for any courses that you wish to be considered as meeting course requirements.
• If completed, official documentation of a passing score on the Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE, http://www.gace.nesinc.com/) or an exemption score acceptable to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission on the SAT, ACT, or GRE (http://www.gapsc.com/documentation/basicskillsinfo.asp)
• If completed, documentation of ServSafe Certification (http://www.garestaurants.org/education/workshops.asp, http://www.arches.uga.edu/~eandress/ExtSSTrainings.pdf) or an alternative (Certified Professional Food Manager, http://www.prometric.com/foodsafety/default.htm or National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, http://www.nrfsp.com/).

Submit this information to School Nutrition Director Program, Dept. Foods and Nutrition, Dawson Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602.  After receipt of all materials, applicants will be notified by the Department of Foods and Nutrition about the outcome of this evaluation within two weeks.

If you need a letter of notification for your employer concerning certification for employment purposes, then email us at sndcert@fcs.uga.edu.

Include the following: employer's name, title, and address. Also, submit all of required information listed under “Transcript Evaluation.” After we have received all of your materials, we will mail a letter of notification to your employer (or potential employer) regarding the certification program. We will send a copy of the letter to you for your records.

Application For Graduate Admission To The University Of Georgia

Two options are available: 1) non-degree seeking or 2) masters degree. Choose one and follow the instructions below.

1. The non-degree seeking option is for those who already have a masters degree or who want to start taking the recommended courses. Non-degree seeking applicants must submit the following to the Office of Graduate Admissions (http://www.grad.uga.edu/):

• Application for admission
• Statement of purpose completed in the space provided on the application for admission; an academic major must be entered in item 4 on the application for admission (choose Foods and Nutrition)
• $50 application-processing fee
• One official copy of transcripts from the institution that awarded the highest degree

Submit the following to the School Nutrition Director Program, Dept. Foods and Nutrition, Dawson Hall, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602:

• Application to UGA Department of Foods and Nutrition Graduate Program (http://www.fcs.uga.edu/fdn/graduate/docs/fdn_grad_application.pdf)

And, if not previously submitted, then submit:

• Statement of purpose
• Resume
• One official copy of transcripts from the institution that awarded your highest degree and any institutions with coursework relevant to your intended program
• If completed, official documentation of a passing score on the Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE, http://www.gace.nesinc.com/) or an exemption score acceptable to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission on the SAT, ACT, or GRE (http://www.gapsc.com/documentation/basicskillsinfo.asp)
• If completed, documentation of ServSafe Certification (http://www.garestaurants.org/education/workshops.asp, http://www.arches.uga.edu/~eandress/ExtSSTrainings.pdf) or an alternative (Certified Professional Food Manager, http://www.prometric.com/foodsafety/default.htm or National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, http://www.nrfsp.com/).

Letters of recommendation are optional and not required. All application materials should be submitted at least three months before the first day of the semester in which you wish to enroll. Applicants will be notified by the graduate school about their admission status within four weeks after receipt of all required application materials.

2. The degree seeking option is for those who do not have a masters degree. Degree seeking applicants should follow the instructions for admission to the University of Georgia (http://www.grad.uga.edu). Possible programs include Masters of Education in Adult Education or Masters of Education in Workforce Education. These and other master’s programs are described at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/programs/. Information about admission to the UGA graduate school is at: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/requirements.html. All application materials should be submitted at least three months before the first day of the semester in which you wish to enroll. Applicants are usually notified by the graduate school about their admission status within six to eight weeks after receipt of all required materials.

After the School Nutrition Director Certificate/Certification Program (SNDCP) is approved by UGA, the following will be required:

• Before admission to the SNDCP, you must have a master’s degree or be admitted to a master’s degree program from a US regionally accredited college or university. For international applicants, the foreign degree equivalency statement must be obtained from one of the following not-for-profit agencies that provide this service. For a listing of these agencies, see http://www.cdrnet.org/programdirector/desk ref.html. If you would like to obtain your master’s degree at the University of Georgia (http://www.grad.uga.edu/), then some possible programs include Masters of Education in Adult Education or Masters of Education in Workforce Education. These and other master’s programs are described at http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/programs/. Information about admission to the UGA graduate school is at: http://www.uga.edu/gradschool/admissions/requirements.html.

• After the SNDCP is approved, documents previously submitted to the Department of Foods and Nutrition can be applied toward the application to the SNDCP.  After receipt of all application materials, applicants will be notified by the Department of Foods and Nutrition about their admission to the SNDCP within four weeks.

• During the first year of admission to the SNDCP and before you can become certified, you must be ServSafe Certified. More information can be found at http://www.garestaurants.org/education/workshops.asp, http://www.arches.uga.edu/~eandress/ExtSSTrainings.pdf.  It is also acceptable to complete an alternative to ServSafe (Certified Professional Food Manager, http://www.prometric.com/foodsafety/default.htm or National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, http://www.nrfsp.com/).

• Before you can become certified by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission, you must submit official documentation of a passing score on the Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE, http://www.gace.nesinc.com/) or an exemption score acceptable to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission on the SAT, ACT, or GRE (http://www.gapsc.com/documentation/basicskillsinfo.asp).
• Course requirements are listed on the next page. In some cases, the evaluation of your transcripts may show that you have already met some of these course requirements.  Within four weeks after all course requirements and all other requirements noted above are satisfied, then Department of Foods and Nutrition will recommend to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission that you receive School Nutrition Director Certification.  The Georgia Professional Standards Commission will notify applicants about their decision on certification.  Also, if all UGA requirements are met, then we will notify the UGA Graduate School that you have completed all UGA requirements for the School Nutrition Director Certificate.

Proposed Program Of Study (Subject To Approval By Uga) School Nutrition Director Certificate/Certification Program

Information about courses offered through Independent and Distance Learning is available at: http://www.georgiacenter.uga.edu/idl/

In-state tuition and fees, and phone numbers (706-542-1625) for further information beyond what the Department of Foods and Nutrition can provide, are posted at this website:
https://busfin1.busfin.uga.edu/bursar/semester_program.cfm.

According to the Bursar's office, graduate students taking 5 or less credits must pay the $105 technology fee.  Other fees are waived, except in some cases students must pay the transportation fee of $90.  For the fall 2007 course offering, FDNS 6660 Foods and Nutrition Education Methods, we are attempting to have the transportation fee waived.  We should know about this in a few weeks.  At this time, our estimate of the cost of the application to the UGA graduate school, tuition, and fees for those taking the FDNS 6660 course in fall 2007 at UGA is:

- $50 application fee (plus the cost for transcripts)
- $50 application fee is a one time fee
- $633 tuition for 3 hours
- $105 technology fee
- $90 transportation fee (not sure at this time if this must be paid by those taking FDNS 6660)

However, if you are taking 6 or more credits at UGA, then you may need to pay the other fees posted at the website above. Please call 706-542-1625 with the exact courses you will be taking and they can provide you with the correct information that meets your particular situation.  It is best that you contact them directly with your particular situation if you have additional questions or concerns.

Students who complete at least six of the seven graduate course requirements and all other requirements for the School Nutrition Director Certification program may be eligible for the SND Certificate program.  The main differences between the "certification" program and the "certificate" program are that the certificate requires that the majority of the coursework be completed at UGA, the certificate is awarded by the UGA Graduate School and completion of the certificate will be documented on the student's official UGA transcript.  Certificate approval is pending and is expected by July 1, 2008.  Applicants will be notified by the SND coordinator about their eligibility certificate program.

1. What basic skills test is required?

The requirement is a passing score on the Georgia Assessment for Certification of Educators (GACE, http://www.gace.nesinc.com/) or an exemption score acceptable to the Georgia Professional Standards Commission on the SAT, ACT, or GRE (http://www.gapsc.com/documentation/basicskillsinfo.asp).  For more information on the GACE exam and testing dates and locations, go to http://www.gace.nesinc.com/.

The GACE has replaced the Praxis exam as the Gold Standard in Georgia for assessing the knowledge and skills of prospective Georgia public school educators.

Please see the Professional Standards Commission (PSC) website for information about Teacher Certification and Educator Assessment Requirements: http://www.gapsc.com/TeacherCertification.asp. 

2. What information other than my college transcripts do you need for evaluation?

Please see the Evaluation of Transcripts information on this website.

3. Where or to whom should I go to get answers to questions regarding certification?

For information on certification in the state of Georgia, read the information listed on the Georgia Professional Standards Commission website—specifically, all information listed on the Home Page and also under the Certification tab. The web address is http://www.gapsc.com/.

For information about the School Nutrition Director Certification Program, read the information posted on the web as well.

4. What do I need to do to pursue a masters degree?

Please see the “Application for Graduate Admission” section on this website for information about applying to UGA. If you are going to apply to another university, then contact that university for more information.

5. Will any of the courses be offered on-line, or will I have to come to UGA?

Please see the “Proposed Program of Study” section on this website for the required courses and their format.  Currently, the majority of the program is not offered online.

6. Is this program covered by the HOPE Scholarship?

HOPE scholarship and other financial aid information is available online at http://www.uga.edu/admissions/finaid.html.

7.  Can you write a letter stating that I have been accepted into a State-approved School Nutrition Director's Program?

Yes.  Please request a letter by contacting sndcert@fcs.uga.edu.  This letter can substitute for a non-renewable clear certificate. 

8. Can I complete my training while still employed?

Yes. Most individuals seeking certification earn their masters degree and/or certification while holding a full-time job. The courses will be offered on a regular basis and some course content will be offered online.