CDR credentialing exam covering the science and practice of dietetics across clinical, foodservice, and community settings.
Who it's for
Graduates of an accredited dietetics program who have completed a supervised practice requirement — the credentialing step that turns a dietetics degree into a practicing Registered Dietitian, required before you can use the RD/RDN title.
What's covered
- Principles of dietetics
- Nutrition care process — the core clinical framework used across the profession
- Foodservice systems management
- Food and nutrition program management
What to expect
The exam is computer-adaptive — question difficulty adjusts in real time based on your previous answers — so expect the test to keep pushing until it can confidently determine whether you're above or below the passing standard, rather than presenting a fixed question set to everyone.
How to prepare
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), CDR's parent organization, offers the primary official practice questions and study materials; CDR itself publishes the exam outline and eligibility pathway, and most candidates study using their supervised-practice program materials plus AND's official practice tests.
Certification details
- Certifying body: Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
- Eligibility: Completion of an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics, a supervised practice program, and a bachelor's degree (moving to a master's degree requirement for new candidates).
- Exam format: Computer-adaptive test, 125-145 questions, 2.5-hour time limit, administered at Pearson VUE test centers.
- Content outline: Principles of dietetics, nutrition care for individuals and groups, management of food and nutrition programs/services, and foodservice systems.
- Recertification: Every 5 years, via continuing professional education units.
