School Nutrition Association
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

MISSION
To advance good nutrition for all children .
• SNA strives to see that all children have access to healthful school meals and nutrition education. The primary activities of the association are:
 Providing education and training
 Setting standards through certification and credentialing
 Gathering and transmitting regulatory, legislative, industry, nutritional and other types of information related to school nutrition
 Representing the nutritional interests of all children
• SNA has 52 state affiliates, hundreds of local chapters and over 55,000 members.
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• Increased skills and knowledge of food safety and nutrition to create a healthy school environment
• Enhances the profession’s overall image with parents, child and school administrators
• Formal recognition of professional achievement
• Updates on current issues around school meals and nutrition
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

Required Work
Experience
Minimum
Academic
Education
Requirement
Specialized
Training
Requirement
Continuing
Education
Requirement
Certification
Period
Level 1
1 year
Less than high school diploma/
GED
30 hours
15 hours
3 years
Level 2
1 year
High School diploma/
GED
90 hours
30 hours
3 years
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org
Level 3
1 year
Post-secondary
150 hours or 9 semester hours
45 hours
3 years

• Sanitation & Safety
– Serving It Safe (SNA/CNF/USDA) *
– ServSafe (NRA)
– Sanitation & Safety Exam (DMA)
– SNA-approved State Association course
• Nutrition
– Healthy EDGE (CNF) *
– SNA-approved State Association course
*This course is available at www.schoolnutriton.org in Child Nutrition U (CNU).
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• One sanitation and safety course and one nutrition course, per state, may be submitted and approved to meet this requirement
• State association determines course to be submitted for approval
• Once a course is approved, anyone may use the course
• Specialized training may be used as
CEUs, but CEUs may not be used for specialized training
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

Food Service Sanitation – New York
Food Service Sanitation – Indiana
Serving Safe Food – Illinois
Washington’s Serve Safe – Washington
Principles of Food Safety - California
Ken-Safe – Kentucky
Food Service Sanitation - Texas
Foodservice Sanitation and Safety – North Dakota
Serving It Safe and More – Maine
Connecticut’s Sanitation Course – Connecticut
Florida’s Sanitation and Safety Home Study Course – Florida
Food Service Sanitation - Kansas
Montana Serving It Safe - Montana
Orientation for Nutrition Employees (ONE) - Georgia
Food Service Sanitation - Alabama
Sanitation & Safety – Michigan
Safe Food Handling - Nevada
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

It’s Time for Nutrition – Arkansas
Fundamentals I & II
– Minnesota
Shaping Healthy Meals - California
Healthy Meals: The Kentucky
Short Course (4 different courses)
– Nebraska
Obligation - Kentucky
Michigan’s Healthy EDGE 2001 – Michigan Basic Nutrition
Orientation for Nutrition Employees (ONE)
– Georgia
- Washington
Going for the Gold in Child Nutrition – Utah
Nutrition – Planning for Healthy Meals (Home Study)
– Florida
Kansas Healthy EDGE
– Kansas
Nutrition at Work: Dietary Guidelines 2000 – Connecticut
Healthy Challenge: Gaining Skills for a Better Future
– Ohio
Practical Nutrition – North Dakota
Making Every Bite Count
– Vermont
Building Healthy Habits Using the Dietary Guidelines
– South Carolina
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

Key Area #1: Operations
Level 1 Level 2
Sanitation/Safety
Required: (choose one): Serving It Safe, ServSafe,
DMA’s exam or SNA -State Approved Course
Electives
Suggested topics:
HACCP
Purchasing/Inventory
Menu Planning
(Recommended Course: Trimming the Fat)
Food Preparation/Culinary
Baking
Fruits/Vegetables
Entrees/Main Dishes
Desserts
Food Presentation/Garnishing
(Recommended Course: Now You’re Cooking)
Facility Design/Management
Occupational Safety
Commodities
10 10
Total Operations Course Hours 10 10
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org
Level 3
10
10
20

Key Area #2: Nutrition
Required: Healthy EDGE 2000 or SNA- State
Approved Course
Electives
Total Nutrition Course Hours
Level 1
10
10
Key Area #3: Administration
Electives
Suggested Topics:
Personnel Management/ Human
Relation/Interpersonal Skills
Business Management:
Financial Management
Cashiering
Organizational Management
Record-keeping
Accounting
Computers
Total Administration Course Hours
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org
Level 2
10
10
10
10
Level 3
10
10
20
20
20

Key Area #4: Communications/Marketing
Electives
Suggested topics:
Marketing
Promotion
Customer Service
Merchandising
Recommended Course: Promoting Healthy Eating
Total Communications/Marketing Course Hours
General Electives (Taken from above suggested topics in any key areas)
Total Hours Required
Level 1
10
30
Level 2
10
College Courses (semester hours)
Sanitation & Safety/Microbiology
Nutrition
Foodservice Management
Total Semester Hours
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org
10
50
90
Level 3
20
20
70
150 or
9 semester hours
3
3
3
9

• Continuing education must be job related
• Courses must have prior approval from
SNA or state association, except for approved sponsors
• Each full hour of instruction equals one unit
• CEUs may not be carried over from one certification period to the next
• Individuals are responsible for verifying attendance at each educational activity
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• Certificates of completion
• College/University transcripts
• Registration or confirmation notices of attendance at conferences
• Letter from educational provider
• Copies of rosters
• Documentation from allied associations
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• SNA & State Associations
• Child Nutrition Foundation (CNF)
• USDA
• State Departments of Education & Health
• Post-secondary education institutions
• National Food Service Management Institute
(NFSMI), National Restaurant Association (NRA)
& Dietary Managers Association (DMA)
• Vocational/Technical schools
• American Dietetic Association (ADA) & State
Affiliates
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• Certificants must be an SNA member all three years to renew certification at member rate
• Certification levels:
 Certification level may be changed at the time you are eligible for the higher level
 When upgrading, you only have to meet the difference in the requirements between current certification level and applying level
 When changing levels, your certification dates may be subject to change
• View and print your submitted Continuing
Education Units (CEUs) in MY SNA of www.schoolnutrition.org
• Additional Certification information is located on www.schoolnutrition.org
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• Credentialing refers to a formalized process, including a standardized examination, designed to assess the competency of personnel against established standards.
• Personnel who pass the examination and meet all other prerequisites are awarded the designation - School Nutrition
Specialist (SNS).
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• Associate’s Degree or education equivalent
(60 college semester hours);
• One year of experience in school foodservice and nutrition in the past five years;
• Thirty semester hours of specialized training or substitute additional years of work experience in school foodservice.
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• The Credentialing Exam Handbook contains the exam application. Available from SNA Service
Center or www.schoolnutrition.org
• You receive results six to eight weeks after taking the exam
• You must:
 Submit supporting documentation with the application verifying you meet the eligibility requirements.
 Submit copies of your transcript or diploma.
 Complete 45 CEUs within the three year credentialing period in order to renew.
• Purchase the SNS Credentialing Exam Study
Guide from the Emporium at (800) 728-0728 or online at www.schoolnutrition.org
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org

• For a complete listing of upcoming exam dates, locations and registration deadlines, visit www.schoolnutrition.org
• Over 900 Child Nutrition Professionals have earned the SNS credential!
Copyright © 2007 School Nutrition Association. All Rights Reserved. www.schoolnutrition.org