CA Requirements for Hiring a New Director

California's Minimum Requirements for Hiring a New Director

New directors—those hired on or after July 1, 2015—are subject to these requirements. Directors hired before July 1, 2015, will be grandfathered in their current positions as well as in the Student Enrollment category that they are currently working.

Minimum Education Standards

Student Enrollment 2,499 or less

Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts,  business, or a related field; OR

Bachelor’s degree in any academic major, and at least one year of relevant School Nutrition Programs (SNP) experience; OR

Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts,  business, or a related field; and at least one year of relevant SNP experience; OR

High school diploma (or GED) and three years of relevant SNP experience.*

*Hiring Flexibility: Local educational agencies with less than 500 students enrolled may submit Form SNP 07 to request approval of the California Department of Education to hire a school food authority director who has a high school diploma or general education diploma; but less than the required three years of relevant SNP experience, if this person is the best available candidate.

Student Enrollment 2,500-9,999

Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field; OR

Bachelor’s degree in any academic major and at least two years of relevant SNP experience; OR

Associate’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field; and at least two years of relevant SNP experience.

Student Enrollment 10,000 or more

Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent educational experience, with academic major or concentration in food and nutrition, food service management, dietetics, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education, culinary arts, business, or a related field; OR

Bachelor’s degree in any academic major and at least five years of experience in management of SNPs.

Minimum Prior Training Standards in all student enrollment categories:

At least eight hours of food safety training is required either not more than five years prior to their starting date or completed within 30 calendar days of employee's starting date.