Accreditation and Credentials

Commission on Dietetic Registration

The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), is the credentialing agency and organization unit of the Academy. The purpose is to serve the public by establishing and enforcing standards for certification, recertification and the Code of Ethics and by issuing credentials to individuals who meet these standards.  The Academy owns the credentials; however CDR has independent authority in matters pertaining to certification, including standard setting, establishment of certification fees and administering credentialing programs. CDR maintains a registry of over 100,000 credentialed dietetics practitioners.

Learn more about the CDR

Requirements and Process to Becoming a Registered Dietitian 

Reference and more details can be found at https://www.eatright.org/become-an-rdn. 

Credentialing

Commission on Dietetic Registration establishes requirements for eligibility to take the entry-level registration examinations for dietitians and dietetic technicians. Current requirements include academic preparation and supervised practice. These requirements are periodically reviewed and are subject to change.

Academic Degree Requirements 

A master's degree is required to be eligible for the RDN exam. Some accredited programs include a master's degree, while other students complete their undergraduate in dietetics and earn a master's degree in another field (e.g. public health, communications, etc.)

Supervised Practice Requirements 

Individuals must complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice to gain real-world experience and apply knowledge learned in the classroom to the context of a variety of work settings. 

Credentialing Exam 

Once you complete your degrees and supervised practice, you may schedule to take CDR's Registration Examination for Registered Dietitians to become a credentialed as registered dietetics nutritionist. This is called "RDN eligibility," meaning you have completed the requirements to become eligible to take the national exam.  

Dietetic Education Programs 

All dietetic education programs accredited by ACEND are ensured to meet requirements for graduates to obtain the education required to qualify for the national RD exam. There are several kinds of programs that lead to RD exam eligibility:

• Accredited Dietetic Internship Program (DI): This pathway consists of two education programs: Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) and Dietetic Internship (DI). DPD program is classroom coursework typically at the baccalaureate level. Following completion of the DPD, enrolling in an accredited Dietetic Internship will satisfy the supervised practice requirement. A master's degree must be completed prior to entering a DI program or during the DI program. The Augusta University Program is a Dietetic Internship program that offers a master's degree. 
• Accredited Coordinated Program (CP): Coordinated programs combine classroom learning with supervised practice experiences within one program. This program satisfies both the graduate degree and supervised practice requirements for eligibility to take the national RDN exam. 
• Accredited Graduate Program (GP): This is an accredited program that combines specific graduate-level coursework and supervised experiential learning. This program satisfies both the degree and supervised practice requirements to be eligible to take the national RDN exam.