CRITERION
Completed a minimum of a bachelor's degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college or foreign equivalent and possess a verification statement from an accredited didactic program in dietetics.
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Completed required supervised practice/experience through an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship (DI), Coordinated (CP), Future Graduate (FG) or International Dietitian Education (IDE) Program or an Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) offered through an ACEND-accredited program. Information on ACEND-accredited programs is at www.eatrightpro.org/acend.
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Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR's Website at www.cdrnet.org. In order to maintain the credential, an RDN must complete continuing professional educational requirements.
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Licensure may be required. Information for specific states is available at www.cdrnet.org. While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found on your home state licensure website.
PROCESS & REQUIREMENTS
TO BECOME AN RDN
HOW DOES KADDI FIT INTO THE
PROFESSIONAL PATHWAY
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Applicants to KADDI must have earned a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics.
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A cumulative grade point average of ≥3.0 and grades of A or B is expected in all didactic coursework.
KADDI IS AN ACEND-ACCREDITED SUPERVISED PRACTICE PROGRAM
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In order to graduate, an intern must pass all of the assignments in the program, thus fulfilling all the ACEND required competencies. Interns must also take a final competency exam in order to receive a verification statement which is required by the Commission on Dietetic Registration in order to sit for the national credentialing examination.
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KADDI staff sends the required paperwork to CDR within two weeks of graduation from the internship. Graduates are usually notified they can schedule the exam shortly thereafter.
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KADDI provides five verification statements with original signatures at program completion.
The ACEND Accreditation Standards require programs to publish “Information about the requirements and process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), including education, supervised practice, passage on the CDR credentialing exam, and state certification/licensure, states for which the program meets State requirements for licensure/certification; and how the program fits into the process” (RE 7.3.d). It is recommended that programs add the statement, “While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license.
More information about state licensure and certification can be found on your state licensure website. If you need assistance locating your state licensure, please reach out to KADDI at kaddi@consultingdietitians.com or 918-574-8598.
NOTE: Effective 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). In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited [program type] program at [Institution name] are eligible to [apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program/apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN].
I do think that KADDI helped push me to chase my dreams of wanting to start my own business here in the near future. I also think it allowed me to gain confidence more quickly given I did feel like I was on my own for most of it.
- Deserai Settles, 2022 Intern