Professional Standards

• Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
• Rules Governing the Certification and Continuing Professional Development of Child Nutrition Directors, Managers and Workers, March 2005 (PDF)
• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Professional Standards for All School Nutrition Program Employees, effective July 1, 2015 (PDF)

Food Service Assistants / Workers

• Guidance from the Institute of Child Nutrition – Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills for School Nutrition Assistants and Technicians (PDF)

Arkansas Certification Rules require at least 10 hours of documented annual Child Nutrition specific professional development.

Managers

• Guidance from the Institute of Child Nutrition - Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills for School Nutrition Managers, 2018 (PDF)

Arkansas Certification Rules and USDA Professional Standards require at least 10 hours of documented annual Child Nutrition specific professional development.

Directors

• Guidance from the Institute of Child Nutrition – Competencies, Knowledge, and Skills for District Level School Nutrition Personnel in the 21st Century (PDF)

USDA Professional Standards require at least 12 hours of documented annual Child Nutrition specific professional development.

• School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) Credentialing Exam Handbook and Application

Successfully completing the requirements for the School Nutrition Association's SNS Credential is an alternate method of becoming a Certified Child Nutrition Director in Arkansas.

Online Training from DESE Child Nutrition

Monthly Digital Learning Videos and Quizzes are available under the "Digital Education" tab on the right of this screen.

Training for the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program Grant application process and grant recipients is available under the "Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program" tab on the right of this screen.

Training Available from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN)

The Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN), part of the School of Applied Sciences at The University of Mississippi, is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs.

• ICN eLearning Portal

The eLearning Portal provides access to multiple online learning modules on a variety of Child Nutrition related topics. Simply create a log-in and password to get started.

• Professional Development Planner

This open date yearly planner provides a monthly layout for tracking goals and scheduling tasks. It also highlights ICN's eLearning Portal features, most popular courses, and frequently asked questions. Order your copy here.

• Healthy Teachers Program

This is a training for teachers to learn principles of healthy eating. Content focuses on the Standard American Diet and how it impacts our health; basic nutrition; label reading; principles of healthy eating; planning and shopping for healthy eating; cooking demos focused on putting principles of healthy eating into practice; and goal setting for healthy eating.