CDR (Commission on Dietetic Registration) Certification
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Good nutrition is profoundly important to a healthy and resilient life. Evidence substantiating this conclusion has been visible worldwide, dating back centuries and even millennia.
Among the world’s industrialized nations, the United States ranks poorly in the quality of nutrition the average American experiences. A paper published on July 20, 2020, in an issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition noted that poor nutrition is the number one cause of illness in the United States and is directly implicated in the deaths of more than half a million Americans annually. Compared to the death toll caused by Covid-19 in 2020, poor nutrition was responsible for a roughly equivalent death rate in the American populace. The rate of diabetes is another sobering statistic.
Obesity among children and adults is a major and growing concern. Since roughly 1970, federal healthcare spending has more than quintupled, from 5 to 28 percent of the federal budget. And 85 percent of that spending is attributable to managing diet-related chronic disease. The American economy and even its military readiness in the world is undermined by the issue of obesity. According to the aforementioned paper from 2020, nearly three of every four people between the ages of 17 and 24 are ineligible for military service due to a medical issue. And the leading medical disqualifier for this age cohort is obesity.
Research indicates various factors positively correlate to a higher risk of obesity. Some of these factors include social factors like poverty and race, environmental factors such as income, where people live, and the quality of local communities, developmental factors such as childhood experiences of nutrition in both the home and school environments, and lifestyle factors such as levels of both physical activity and stress.
With an increase in obesity rates in recent decades, the physical, mental and economic toll caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and the mental health toll of frequent dissatisfaction and unhappiness resulting from the excessive number of hours many poor and undereducated people are compelled to work just to meet their basic needs, unsurprisingly, professionals trained in any skill that contributes to human wellness are very much needed throughout the country. This high demand characterizes the dietetic and nutrition industry.
According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2022), the employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 7 percent from 2021 to 2031. This is somewhat larger than the growth rate of 5 percent, which is the projected average rate across all occupations. Approximately 5,600 fresh openings for dietitians and nutritionists are projected during that period. Many openings will result from people changing careers and attrition as people leave the workforce upon retirement.
If you enjoy supporting the wellness of both individuals and communities through education, counseling, meal planning and other related services a career in the field of dietetics and nutrition may prove a rewarding one.
What is CDR Certification? Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) vs. Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR/NDTR)
Individuals seeking to work in the dietary and nutrition industry generally must secure a credential to do so. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) is the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). CDR provides certification for dietary and nutrition professionals.
CDR offers two primary certifications: the RD/RDN credential and the DTR/NDTR credential. The acronyms stand for the following:
- Registered Dietitian (RD)
- Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
- Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR)
- Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR)
The prerequisite requirements, certifying examination details, and ongoing certification requirements for both types of credentials are detailed further below.
An RD is a food and nutrition expert who has met CDR criteria to earn an RD credential. RDs can be found working in various employment settings such as health care, business, community and public health, education, research, the public sector, and private practices.
Though there is a slight difference in terminology, there is no intended distinction in meaning between having an RD credential and having an RDN credential. The RDN credential is available to RDs who wish to highlight their knowledge of or particular focus on nutrition. In other words, a person passing the certification exam can elect to identify as an RD or an RDN.
Given the pejorative meaning some people ascribe to the word “diet” based on their own negative experiences, some practitioners may prefer to identify themselves as having an RDN credential to improve the effectiveness of marketing their services and inspire trust and interest by potential clients.
Using the word “nutritionist” can also convey a broader view of health and wellness and thus be a more appealing term for those seeking to make and sustain significant lifestyle changes to achieve a greater degree of wellness.
Prospective students should note that as of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Individuals considering a career in dietetics and nutrition who have yet to begin the required academic education should incorporate this change in credentialing requirements into their career discernment process.
Prerequisites for CDR Certification – Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN)
Professionals seeking this designation have eight pathways available to complete the requirements necessary to take the credentialing examination. A bulleted listing of these different options appears below.
- Option 1 – Dietetic Internship (DI)
- Option 2 – Coordinated Program (CP)
- Option 3 – Graduate Program
- Option 4 – DPD ISPP
- Option 5 – Doctorate ISPP
- Option 6 – Registration Eligibility Reciprocity
- Option 7 – Canadian Registered Dietitian
- Option 8 – Foreign and International Dietitian Education Program (FDE/IDE)
These options generally require some combination of education (bachelor’s or graduate-level degree training), an internship (DI), and a didactic program (DPD). Options 6-8 focus specifically on individuals who seek certification within the United States after gaining education and/or experience abroad.
CDR Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) Exam
Upon successful completion of current eligibility requirements as well as being validated by CDR, individuals are permitted to take the exam. Candidates receive information via email from testing vendor Pearson VUE regarding scheduling the exam. Candidates are also required to read the RD Handbook for Candidates.
The RD exam is offered year-round at hundreds of Pearson VUE test sites throughout the United States. Exam appointment availability varies by test center. Details on examination format, policies, and procedures can be found in the Examination FAQ section of the CDRNET website.
The exam evaluates a dietitian’s ability to perform at the entry level. During the period of 2022 to 2026, the exam consists of the following segments of content:
- Principles of Dietetics (21 percent)
- Nutrition Care for Individuals and Groups (45 percent)
- Management of Food and Nutrition Programs and Services (21 percent)
- Foodservice Systems (13 percent)
Maintaining RD/RDN Certification
As is true of many professions within the human health and sciences fields, diet and nutrition professionals practice in a field characterized by ever-evolving knowledge and credentialing standards. They are thus required to be aware of and fulfill ongoing certification requirements.
Diet and nutrition professionals must remain current in their skills and knowledge base. When expected to assess the effectiveness, accessibility, and accuracy of programs, services, and initiatives as part of their work duties, these professionals should consult the scope of practice, standards of excellence, standards of practice (SOP), and standards of professional performance (SOPP) tools as one source of information to guide not just their daily work lives but also their career trajectory. Professionals are also expected to continually assess their own skills, education, training, and knowledge and be cognizant of matters of autonomy, responsibility, and accountability in the daily execution of their responsibilities.
Maintenance of a professional certification generally involves fulfilling two requirements. First, individuals must pay a yearly registration maintenance fee. Fees are billed every June and are due on August 31st of that summer. A person may pay $70 for RD certification renewal or $350 at the beginning of a five-year cycle. Secondly, all RDs must complete continuing education to maintain their credential. RDs need 75 credits in their five-year cycle (one credit must be in ethics). Practitioners must submit a Learning Plan and Activity Log.
Prerequisites for CDR Certification – Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR/NDTR)
As noted in the previous section focused on RDs and RDNs, dietitians and nutritionists hold a variety of responsibilities, including client assessment, interviewing, food journals, and diagnostic laboratory testing. They will utilize the results of their assessments and monitoring to advise clients on behavior modifications and intervention plans needed to prevent disease and stimulate recovery from an existing illness.
A DTR/NDTR may hold similar responsibilities but often will work in a more supportive capacity under the supervision of an RD or RDN.
Professionals seeking this designation have two pathways available to complete the requirements necessary to take the credentialing examination. They are:
Option 1: Associate Degree
- Completion of an associate degree granted by a university accredited by a USDE-recognized accrediting agency (or a foreign equivalent)
- Completion of an ACEND-accredited dietetic technician program (featuring a minimum of 450 supervised practice hours)
Option 2: Bachelor’s Degree and DPD
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree granted by a university accredited by a USDE-recognized accrediting agency (or a foreign equivalent)
- Completion of an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics (DPD)
Similar to the aforementioned RD/RDN credentials, those who are a DTR have the option to use the credential “nutrition and dietetics technician, registered” (NDTR) but are not required to do so. As with the RD/RDN credentialing framework, those seeking to use the NDTR credential may do so to emphasize the nutrition aspect of their credential.
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Board of Directors supports the use of the NDTR credentialing option because it builds off the bachelor’s degree eligibility option and allows for differentiation between degree levels achieved by individuals seeking the NDTR. This credentialing framework mimics that of the nursing profession (where individuals holding an AS, BS or MS can take the RN exam and, upon successful passage of the exam, identify themselves as AS-RN, BS-RN or MS-RN). Those holding an NDTR credential can, depending on the highest degree they achieve, identify themselves as PhD-NDTR, MS-NDTR, BS-NDTR or an AS-NDTR.
The NDTR designation offers distinct advantages. They are:
- Maintenance of the integrity of current professional designations (RDN, RD, NDTR, DTR)
- Provides an opportunity for eligible DPD graduates to become certified and remain connected to the AND
- Allows AND to collect and analyze data on the utilization and practice implications of the enhanced DTR eligibility options
This revision in the credentialing scheme has been motivated in part by AND’s recognition of the important and growing role it plays in increasing awareness about the subject of food and nutrition.
CDR Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR/NDTR) Exam
Upon completing all current eligibility and other requirements individuals are permitted to take the DTR credentialing exam.
The registration exam evaluates a dietetic technician’s ability to perform at the entry level. During the period of 2022 to 2026, the exam consists of the following segments of content:
- Nutrition Science and Care for Individuals and Groups (41 percent)
- Foods Science and Food Service (21 percent)
- Management of Food and Nutrition Services (38 percent)
Maintaining DTR/NDTR Certification
As is true of many professions within the human health and sciences, diet and nutrition professionals practice in a field characterized by ever-evolving knowledge and credentialing standards. They are thus required to be aware of and fulfill ongoing certification requirements. Diet and nutrition professionals must remain current in their skills and knowledge base.
When expected to assess the effectiveness, accessibility, and accuracy of programs, services, and initiatives as part of their work duties, these professionals should consult the scope of practice, standards of excellence, standards of practice (SOP), and standards of professional performance (SOPP) tools as one source of information to guide not just their daily work lives but also their career trajectory.
Professionals are also expected to continually assess their own skills, education, training, and knowledge and be cognizant of matters of autonomy, responsibility, and accountability in the daily execution of their responsibilities.
Maintenance of a professional certification generally involves fulfilling two requirements. First, individuals must pay a yearly DTR registration maintenance fee. Fees are billed every June and are due on August 31st of that summer. A person may pay $60 for DTR certification renewal or $300 at the beginning of a five-year cycle. Secondly, all DTRs must complete continuing education to maintain their credential. DTRs need 50 credits in their five-year cycle (one credit must be in ethics). Practitioners must submit a Learning Plan and Activity Log.
