Becoming an RDN

Accreditation

The Coordinated Master’s Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (CMP) is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The program is accredited for enrollment of 18 first-year and 18 second-year students each year, with two capstone experiences: Nutrition and Dietetics and Sports Nutrition.

Accreditation by ACEND requires the program to submit a self-study report and undergo a rigorous site visit every seven years, which is peer-reviewed for adherence to the ACEND accreditation standards. In 2019, the CMP was comprehensively reviewed and recognized for providing quality dietetics education.

You can learn more about the importance of accreditation for dietetics programs.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

The Coordinated Master’s Program (CMP) of the University of Utah is a Coordinated Program (CP) offered at a Master’s Level. Students complete all coursework and supervised practice requirements prior to graduation. Upon graduation from our program, students are eligible to take the RD exam.

EDUCATIONAL & PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria and earned the RDN credential:

Completed a minimum of a Master's degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college or foreign equivalent, and coursework through an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic (DPD), Coordinated (CP), Future Graduate (FG) or Foreign (FDE) or International Dietitian Education (IDE) program. For a list of accredited programs, see www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/program-directory.

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 at www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/program-directory. For details on the University of Utah Coordinated Master's Program (CMP), visit our supervised practice experiences webpage.

Passed 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. To maintain the credential, an RDN must complete continuing professional educational requirements.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information about this requirement, visit CDR's website. 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). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Coordinated Master's Program at the University of Utah are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

The University of Utah CMP graduates meet all performance requirements for academic and supervised practice hours required by ACEND, in addition to earning a master's degree.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. Read more about state licensure requirements.

Read more information about educational pathways to become an RDN.

NATIONAL REGISTRATION & STATE CERTIFICATION

After passing the registered dietitian examination, graduates will participate in the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) re-certification program, which assists credentialed practitioners in planning their professional development with the Professional Development Portfolio. The Capstone instructor (Amy Reeder) will provide information about the Portfolio process which is also available here.

A re-certification cycle is 5 years. The first action item required by those who pass the registration exam is to submit a Learning Plan. A Flash presentation is available on the link above that will describe the process.

Additionally, dietitians in Utah require a state license for certification. This application is an easy online process that can be completed once you have passed the national registration examination for dietitians. The cost is $30 per year. Alternatively, the process can also be completed in person at the following location:

Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL)
P.O. Box 146741, 160 East 300 South, Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6741
Phone: 801-530-6628
Fax: 801-530-6511
Email: dopl@utah.gov

PROGRAM COMPLETION, GRADUATION & ISSUANCE OF THE VERIFICATION STATEMENT

Upon successful completion of all program requirements, including degree requirements, the student will receive a verification statement as required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics and will submit an application to the Program Director to apply to the Commission on Dietetic Registration to sit for the RDN credentialing exam.

COMPLETION RATE, PASS RATE ON RD EXAM & EMPLOYMENT

In the past five years, 100% of students starting the program completed it in 36 months or less. Our graduates have been very successful in taking the RD examination, with a 90% first-time pass rate over the past five years. 100% of CMP graduates seeking employment in nutrition and dietetics were employed within 12 months of graduation.

Program outcomes data are available upon request.