USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

United States Department of Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

FNS-486

June 2015

Professional Standards

for

School Nutrition

Program Employees

Hiring standards for new SFA Directors

The hiring standards for School Food Authority 

(SFA) Directors are based on the size of their Local 

Educational Agency (LEA):

 

 2,499 or fewer students

 2,500-9,999 students

 10,000 or more students

See the USDA Professional Standards Web site 

for additional information.

visit

http://professionalstandards.nal.usda.gov/

and 

www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/professional-standards

for:

State Agency Directors of School Nutrition 

Programs and State Distributing Agencies 

also must meet hiring and training standards. 

See the Professional Standards Web site for 

specific information.

 Information on training and hiring 

requirements

 A database of hundreds of trainings 

available in various formats

 Additional background information

on Professional Standards

 A downloadable tracking tool to 

manage your training records

Check with your State agency for availability of 

training and other resources to meet 

education/training standards - many are free!

EFFECTIVE

JULY 1, 2015

http://teamnutrition.usda.gov
As part of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act 

(HHFKA), the USDA has established minimum hiring 

requirements for some, and training requirements 

for all school nutrition program employees. 

This is an important step toward ensuring that 

ALL of America’s children receive safe, nutritious 

meals through efficient, cost-effective programs.

what the new standards are.

your District leadership of the new 

standards.

your organization’s hiring and 

education/training needs. 

the Professional Standards Website to 

select training opportunities to meet 

your specific needs.

completed training using the 

Professional Standards Tracking Tool.

the new standards throughout your 

school and community.

What Should School Food Authorities Do?

KNOW

INFORM

ASSESS

REVIEW

TRACK

PROMOTE

New State Director of 

School Nutrition Programs

New State Director of 

Distributing Agencies

Existing State Director of 

School Nutrition Programs 

and/or Director of 

Distributing Agencies

New SFA Directors

Existing SFA Directors

All Other SFA Managers & Staff

Who is impacted by the 

Professional Standards 

Regulation?

Professional standards:

 ASSIST State agencies and School Food 

Authorities (SFAs) with recruiting, hiring, training, 

and retaining qualified school nutrition staff.

 ENHANCE the image of school nutrition 

professionals and their influence in the community. 

 BUILD skills and empower school nutrition staff to 

lead and operate nutrition programs that:

 EXCEED the expectations of students, 

parents, and the local community.

 COMPLY with Federal meal pattern 

requirements for healthy meals.

 MEET food safety standards.

 MAXIMIZE the use of USDA Foods.

 USE available resources to plan and 

serve cost-effective meals.

 ACCOMMODATE students’ special 

dietary needs.

.

Hiring 

Standards

Annual

Training 

Requirements

Professional standards are here!

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 Contact your State agency for additional 

information and flexibilities.

Staffing Level SY 15-16

(working less than

20 hours per week)

DIRECTOR 8 12

MANAGER 6 10

ALL OTHER STAFF 4 6

PART-TIME STAFF 4 4

SY 16-17

& Beyond

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Highlights of the minimum training standards 

for School Nutrition Program Employees

 Continuing education/annual training standards 

apply to all employees

 The number of TRAINING HOURS varies for

four staffing levels:

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