Professional Standards & Training

Professional Standards for school nutrition professionals is a key provision of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 (HHFKA). The rule requires a minimum amount of annual training hours for all state directors of school nutrition programs, state directors of distributing agencies, school nutrition program directors, managers, and staff.

Professional Standards also includes minimum hiring standards for new state directors of school nutrition programs, state directors of distributing agencies that oversee USDA Foods, and school nutrition program directors.

SY 2025-2026 Continuing Education Calendar -- LINK MAY REQUIRE UPDATING

• USDA Professional Standards website
• Professional Standards & Hiring Standards for School Service Directors
• Professional Standards Training Topics & Learning Objectives
• New! - Montana Team Nutrition Professional Standards Handbook