Career Pathways Overview

Group of people plain outlines watercolor

One-on-One Career Counseling with Toi

Have you been...

  • pondering a next step in your WIC career?
  • a new career direction you've become interested in at WIC?
  • a desire to get a degree in nutrition or dietetics? 

Maybe you would like a friendly ear to bounce your career growth ideas off of.

If that is you, we got you! 

Check in with your supervisor and reach out to me for a one-on-one career counseling session to explore your career dreams together.

You can reach me, Toi, at Toi.Sennhauser@doh.wa.gov.

WIC Job Positions Overview

Are you interested in starting or growing your career in nutrition or lactation support? Join us to support WIC families in Washington.

WIC services are provided by many county health departments, community clinics, hospitals, and through other community organizations. Each WIC clinic is responsible for hiring their own staff.

Job titles, job descriptions, educational requirements, and experience requirements will differ slightly from clinic to clinic. It’s best to reach out to WIC clinics near you to find out.

 

Here is an overview of common WIC jobs in WIC clinics. 

WIC Clerk

  • Schedules appointments for WIC families and creates records in the WIC computer system.  
  • Provides a welcoming atmosphere for WIC families and answers questions about WIC services.
  • Some WIC clinics combine the Clerk position with the Certifier position (see next job description.)

 

WIC Certifier 

  • Determines WIC eligibility.
  • Provides nutrition education and basic lactation support for WIC participants.
  • In most WIC clinics, will need to have a high school diploma or GED.

 

WIC Nutritionist  

  • Provides nutrition counseling for WIC participants with complex nutritional needs.
  • Must have either an ACEND-accredited Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential or a master’s degree in the field of nutrition. A RDN credential is preferred.
  • In some WIC clinics, must also have the Washington State Certified Dietitian (CD) certification.

 

WIC Coordinator

  • Manages WIC clinic staff and oversees clinic workload and funding.  
  • In some WIC clinics, may need to have a bachelor's degree in the field of nutrition or a RDN credential.

 

Designated Breastfeeding Expert

  • Provides breastfeeding support to breastfeeding participants in complex breastfeeding situations.
  • Must have successfully completed a State-approved competency-based breastfeeding training that is consistent with the FNS WIC Breastfeeding Curriculums and have a minimum of one year of experience in counseling breastfeeding dyads.
  • Some WIC clinics combine this position with the Breastfeeding Coordinator position (see next job description.)

 

Breastfeeding Coordinator

  • Manages breastfeeding program and Coordinates breastfeeding promotion and support activities with other agency programs, organizations and community partners.
  • Must have a minimum of 1 year experience in counseling breastfeeding participants, have the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification, or completed an intensive lactation management course, or other state approved breastfeeding training.

 

Some WIC clinics provide the Loving Support© Breastfeeding Peer Counseling program. Those clinics will also offer these job options:

Peer Counselor

  • Offers encouragement, guidance, and support for common breastfeeding situations, such as latch or keeping milk supply up when returning to work or school.
  • Supports WIC participants outside of normal clinic hours.
  • Ideal candidates are current or former WIC participants who exclusively breastfed/chest-fed for at least six months.
  • Must not have extensive medical, nutrition or lactation management training and must not be a licensed or credentialed healthcare providers.

 

Peer Counselor Lead

  • Trains, mentors, and supervises Breastfeeding Peer Counselors, provides leadership to the breastfeeding peer counseling program (BFPC).
  • Must have the International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) certification, or completed state approved lactation management training within the last five years or within six months of hire. At least one year of experience providing breastfeeding support is required.

 

 

Career Growth Investments

Career growth investment can range from smaller, one-time efforts to larger, multi-year, degree-seeking ones.

If you are interested in growing your career, consider investing in yourself by partaking in one or more of these actions: 

 

Currently, this career growth resources webpage focuses primarily on the RDN pathway. We’ll expand resources over time and in response to feedback from staff regarding career growth interests.