Career Pathways Overview

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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.

Here is a short description of some common WIC jobs in WIC clinics. 

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.

WIC RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist)  

  • Provides nutrition counseling for WIC participants with complex nutritional needs.
  • Must have the RDN credential. In some WIC clinics, must have the Washington State Certified Dietitian (CD) certification.

WIC Certifier 

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

WIC Clerk

  • Answers questions about WIC services. Schedules appointments for applicants and participants. Creates records in the WIC computer system.  

 

Some WIC clinics also offer Breastfeeding-focused WIC positions:

Peer Counselor

  • Provides problem solving 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.
  • Must not have extensive medical, nutrition or lactation management training and must not be a licensed or credentialed healthcare providers.
  • Must have personal breastfeeding experience, can portray breastfeeding in a positive manner, and can offer positive breastfeeding support to participants.

Peer Counselor Lead

  • Trains 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.

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.

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.

 

Job descriptions, educational requirements, and experience requirements may vary slightly from clinic to clinic. It’s best to reach out to them to find out.

 

 

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.