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Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is the accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists or nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered.

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About ACEND

  • ACEND Mission and Vision
  • ACEND Board, Staff and Reviewers
  • Ad Hoc Panel for Appeals
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • ACEND Data
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Standards, Fees and Policies

  • 2022 Standards and Templates
  • Future Education Model Standards and Templates
  • Doctoral Standards and Templates
  • Policies and Procedures: Manual, Substantive Change Guidelines and Templates
  • Decision Calendars
  • Fee Schedule
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Accredited Program Directory

  • Advanced Practice Doctorate (APD)
  • Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP)
  • Didactic Programs in Dietetics (DPD)
  • Dietetic Internships (DI)
  • Foreign Dietitian Education (FDE)
  • Graduate Programs in Nutrition and Dietetics (GP)
  • Nutrition and Dietetics Technician Programs (DTR)
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Accreditation Process

  • Introduction to Accreditation
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Candidacy for Accreditation
  • Application for Future Education Model
  • Candidacy for Non-U.S. Based Programs
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Public Notices and Announcements

  • ACEND Updates
  • Noteworthy Practices
  • Filing a Complaint
  • Accreditation Decisions
  • Programs Under Review
  • Virtual Town Hall Meetings
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Students and Advancing Education

  • Professional Information and Scholarships
  • International Students
  • Application Process for Students
  • Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways
  • ACEND Board Dietetic Student Representative Application
  • Filing a Complaint
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Program Directors

  • ACEND Portal
  • Application Process for Program Directors
  • Program Director FAQs and Resources
  • ISPP for Directors
  • Competency Software Resources
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ACEND Training and Volunteer Opportunities

  • Program Directors
  • Program Reviewers
  • Preceptors and Mentors
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Non-ACEND Accredited Master and Doctorate Program Directory

  • Master and Doctorate Programs
  • ACEND Advanced Practice Residency Programs
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ACEND® can be contacted by:

Email: Click to email
Phone: 800/877-1600, ext. 5400
Mail: 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL, 60606-6995

ACEND serves and protects students and the public by assuring the quality and continued improvement of nutrition and dietetics education programs. ACEND is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education as a Title IV gatekeeper for ACEND accredited free-standing Dietetic Internship programs located in hospitals, county boards of health, other health facilities, and school systems. This recognition affirms that ACEND meets national standards and is a reliable authority on the quality of nutrition and dietetics education programs. USDE can be contacted by:

Phone: 1-800-USA-LEARN (1-800-872-5327)
Mail: U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20202

The ACEND accredited free-standing dietetic internship program and its governing organization/institution may use ACEND accreditation to establish eligibility to participate in Title IV programs of the Higher Education Act as amended. For DT, DPD, CP and GP programs which are located in higher education institutions, ACEND may not be used to establish Title IV eligibility. Title IV does not apply to programs outside the U.S. or its territories.

ACEND accredited free-standing dietetic internship program interested in learning more about their eligibility to receive federal funding through Title IV should contact their Federal Student Aid (FSA) regional office.

ACEND is also a member of the Association of Specialized and Professional Accreditors and abides by its code of good practice.

ACEND hosts periodic conference calls to answer your questions about ACEND's work. All stakeholders are invited to participate. Learn more about Virtual Town Hall Meetings.

How are we doing? If you would like to provide feedback, please take a survey. Your comments are appreciated.

Find an ACEND-Accredited Program

ACEND has more than 600 accredited programs across the United States and select countries internationally, with in-person and online options. Use the search filters to find the program that fits your needs.