Registered Dietitians (RDs) are nutrition professionals who have met academic and experiential education requirements of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). To become a Registered Dietitian requires completion of the following steps: 

• A bachelor’s degree
•  DPD course requirements of an accredited program.
• An ADA accredited dietetic internship (DI).
• The national (RD) examination administered by the ADA Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)

Questions and Answers

What is DPD?

An accredited DPD (Didactic Program in Dietetics) includes the current knowledge and skill requirements of the American Dietetic Association. (ADA) A DPD program, leading to a B.S. degree, is available at the C.W. Post Campus and has been accredited by the commission on Accreditation for Dietetic Education (CADE) of ADA. DPD requirements may also be met at C.W. Post through completion of appropriate coursework, a second BS or as part of the BS/MS program.

What are DPD course requirements?

Academic requirements for the DPD include courses in:  natural sciences (chemistry, anatomy, physiology, and microbiology); food science and technology; cultural foods; food service management; principles of nutrition; medical nutrition therapy; community nutrition; psychology/sociology; statistics; communication and education techniques; and research methodology.

What is the DI?

The Dietetic Internship (DI) is accredited by the CADE. The student must have a baccalaureate degree with completion of an ADA-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics before entering a Dietetic Internship. The curriculum includes a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice, and at C.W. Post, graduate courses are required in addition to clinical hours. The DI at the C.W. Post Campus is limited to 20 students.  Upon successful completion of the DI a student is eligible to apply to the American Dietetic Association/Commission on Dietetic Registration (ADA/CDR) to sit for the RD exam.