ICN’s Impact

STRENGTHENING CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

THROUGH PUBLIC INVESTMENT IN WORKFORCE, INFRASTRUCTURE, AND OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE

Established by Congress in 1989 through the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act, the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) is the only federally funded national center dedicated to applied research, education and training, and technical assistance for child nutrition programs.

ICN partners with USDA to translate policy into action by offering research-based education and trainings nationwide, providing school nutrition professionals with certificates that align with USDA’s Professional Standards requirements.

By enhancing professional credibility and career growth, ICN’s certificates strengthen local child nutrition programs, building a qualified workforce that delivers healthier outcomes for America’s children.

Three Key Impact Areas:

  • Empowering America’s Child Nutrition Workforce
  • Advancing Nutrition Excellence for Children
  • Optimizing Program Efficiency and Accountability

USDA funding enables the Institute to deliver technical assistance, research, and workforce development resources—free of charge—to child nutrition professionals across all 50 states and 6 U.S. territories.

2,655

Research-based resources offering insights on best practices and operational excellence

322,695

Certificates issued in 2024, supporting annual training requirements

440,622

* Registered child nutrition professionals nationwide advancing their professional development and career growth

* Cumulative Numbers. The statistics on this page highlight the Institute of Child Nutrition’s (ICN) impact throughout the 2024 calendar year

Key ICN Traning Topics

  • Administration
  • Culinary and Menu Planning
  • Nutrition and Operations
  • Communications and Marketing
  • Financial Management and Procurement
  • Food Safety
  • Human Resources and Leadership
  • Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP)

2024 Professional Development Certificates by State and Territory

50 States +6Territories

Child Nutrition Professionals — Filled Positions by State

This map shows the number of child nutrition professionals currently employed across all 50 U.S. states, based on verified data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (May 2024). It covers three occupational categories: institutional cooks, food service managers, and dietitians and nutritionists — the core workforce behind school meal programs and CACFP. Darker shades indicate higher total filled positions. Click any state to see its exact count and national rank. Small states along the Northeast coast are shown with callout labels for readability. All figures reflect filled positions only — open vacancies are not included.

Data note: These figures represent a point-in-time snapshot of employment as of May 2024. BLS OEWS estimates are derived from six semiannual survey panels pooled over a three-year period (May 2022 – May 2024) to ensure statistically reliable state-level estimates. The three-year design increases sample reliability but does not make this a cumulative count — it remains an estimate of workers employed at a single point in time. See bls.gov/oes/oes_ques.htm for full methodology.

760,390
Total Filled (50 states)
3
SOC Codes
May 2024
BLS Reference Date

Detail Panel

Click a state · or browse SOC codes & sources

Click any state on the map to see filled position counts and national rank.

3 Occupational Categories · BLS OEWS May 2024
35-2012
Cooks, Institution and Cafeteria
Prepare and cook large quantities of food in schools, hospitals, cafeterias, and other institutional settings. Largest frontline group in child nutrition programs.
11-9051
Food Service Managers
Plan, direct, and coordinate food service departments. Includes school nutrition directors, supervisors, and site managers at district and school level.
29-1031
Dietitians and Nutritionists
Plan and conduct food service or nutritional programs. Includes WIC nutritionists, school dietitians, CACFP nutrition staff, and state-level child nutrition specialists.

Colorado (29-1031) and Maryland (11-9051) were suppressed by BLS and counted as zero — both states are slightly understated.

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
✓ Actual data — verified from uploaded file
Reference date: May 2024 — point-in-time snapshot of employment
Sample design: Estimates are based on six semiannual survey panels pooled over three years (May 2022 – May 2024). This is not a cumulative count — it is a single employment estimate anchored to May 2024, with the multi-panel design used solely to increase statistical reliability at the state level.
File: oesm24st.zip → state_M2024_dl.xlsx
Coverage: 50 states (DC excluded)
Total positions: 760,390
Suppressed: CO (29-1031), MD (11-9051) — counted as 0
→ bls.gov/oes/tables.htm → Direct download: oesm24st.zip
Top 5 — Total Positions
Child Nutrition Professionals — iLearn Enrolled Users by State

Derived from anonymous registered user data from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) iLearn portal. Job roles were self-reported at registration and filtered to active child nutrition practitioners — including school nutrition directors, managers, and frontline staff; CACFP food service coordinators; state agency staff; and dietitians. Non-practitioner registrant types were excluded. Data is aggregated at the state level and reflects all-time cumulative enrollments. Figures represent workforce engagement with professional development resources, not a census-level headcount of employed professionals.

277,059
Total Enrolled (51 states + DC)
51
States & DC
All-time
LMS Enrollment Period

Detail Panel

Click a state · or browse sources

Top 5 — Enrolled

Click any state on the map to see enrollment counts and national rank.

Data Source
✓ Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) iLearn
Derived from anonymous registered user data from the Institute of Child Nutrition (ICN) iLearn portal. Job roles were self-reported at registration and filtered to active child nutrition practitioners — including school nutrition directors, managers, and frontline staff; CACFP food service coordinators; state agency staff; and dietitians. Non-practitioner registrant types were excluded. Data is aggregated at the state level and reflects all-time cumulative enrollments. Figures represent workforce engagement with professional development resources, not a census-level headcount of employed professionals.
Coverage: 51 states + DC
Total enrolled: 277,059
Note: Texas (89,488) likely reflects centralized statewide registrations

Participating in ICN’s Leadership Training affirmed my commitment and strengthened my confidence that I am the right leader for School Food and Nutrition Services.

THE TRAINING GAVE ME THE CONFIDENCE I NEEDED TO IMPLEMENT MY IDEAS and pursue the SMART goals developed in each session. I’m grateful to our trainer and the ICN team for their expertise and unwavering support throughout the experience. I look forward to participating in more ICN training opportunities in the future.

Executive Assistant Child Nutrition Director, Louisiana

Our staff regularly uses ICN resources and training, which have played a key role in their professional growth and success.

Seventeen managers from my county have earned certifications through ICN programs, and I’ve helped guide 60 colleagues to take advantage of these valuable opportunities. As a result, our entire team now qualifies for the annual professional development bonus. TheICN.org is an outstanding resource, and we deeply appreciate the dedication and support of the Institute.

Child Nutrition Director, Maryland

The ICN Child Nutrition Archives preserves the historical and professional legacy of child nutrition programs. Through a comprehensive archive of 150+ manuscript and artifact collections, 30 curated photo collections with over 3,000 images, and 270 oral histories, the archives continues to serve as a vital national reference and educational tool.