TCAT — The online Certified Dietary Manager training program at TCAT Elizabethton that takes eight months to complete is growing by leaps and bounds and jobs are being filled.

Lisa Blackburn, program coordinator, told members of the CDM Advisory Committee Wednesday (Nov. 13) that the CDM program at TCAT Elizabethton has a 97 percent program completion rate and 100 percent job placement rate. There are 54 students (16 current students and 34 new students) currently enrolled in the program, according to Blackburn.

One addition to the program mentioned yesterday is OSHA culinary certification that has been added to completers in the first trimester. Careersafe online is offering the 10 hour OSHA course.

Patricia Henderson, student services coordinator at TCAT Elizabethton, told the committee she had made contacts with American Job Center to recruit students to the online program. Congressman Phil Roe had also been contacted to encourage veterans to enroll in the training program. “There are a number of job openings throughout the U.S. for skilled food service professionals,” Blackburn said.

In other business, the committee recommended sponsoring a 2020 Spring Conference to allow CDM instructors and receptors to receive credit for teaching. The committee is still seeking a speaker to cover New Requirements on Ethics.

CDM students at TCAT Elizabethton must have a high school diploma or equivalent and have a TB skin test or chest x-ray prior to field training. There is no out of state tuition fee.

The program consists of 714 web based hours and 150 hours of field training experience. The program is approved for the Federal Pell Grant and Tennessee Lottery Education Scholarship for Tennessee residents.

The program is designed to prepare graduates for certification by the Nutrition and FoodService Professionals. Bessie Hambrick is chairperson of the CDM Advisory Committee at TCAT Elizabethton.

For additional information, contact Blackburn at TCAT Elizabethton, 423-543-0070, ext. 1017 or visit www.tcatelizabethton.edu.