2027 Standards and Templates

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics 2027 Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Programs (CP); Supervised Practice Experience Programs (SPE), also known as Dietetic Internship (DI program); Didactic Programs (DPD); and Associate Programs (AP), includes Dietetic Technician (DT) Option are provided below. Resources and templates are also provided below. International institutions seeking ACEND accreditation must refer to Appendix B within each standards document for exceptions and allowances.

New programs applying for candidacy must first submit an eligibility application.

2027 Standards Compliance Timeline

Programs must come into compliance with the 2027 Standards on the effective date except for the following Standards which have a delayed effective date of August 1, 2028:

Coordinated Programs (CP) and Supervised Practice Experience Programs (SPE)

• Standard, 1, Required Element 1.5d: Required minimum FTE allotment that must be devoted to program leadership
• Standard, 1, Required Element 1.6b: Clinical rotation must include experience in settings with high-acuity patients

Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD)

• Standard, 1, Required Element 1.5d: The required minimum FTE allotment that must be devoted to program leadership is 0.25

All Program Types

• Standard 3: Incorporate Competency Based Education curriculum (C&PIs) and clinical skills

2027 ACEND Accreditation Standards

• 2027 Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Coordinated Programs (CP) (.pdf)
• 2027 Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Supervised Practice Experience Programs (SPE) Formerly Dietetic Internship Programs (DI) (.pdf)
• 2027 Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Programs (DPD) (.pdf)
• 2027 Accreditation Standards for Nutrition and Dietetics Associate Programs (AP) includes Dietetic Technician (DT) Option (.pdf)

Self-Study Report Templates

• CP Self-Study Report Template (.docx)
• SPE (formerly DI) Self-Study Report Template (.docx)
• DPD Self-Study Report Template (.docx)
• AP Self-Study Report Template - includes DT option (.docx)
• CP for International Programs Self-Study Report Template (.docx)
• SPE (formerly DI) for International Programs Self-Study Report Template (.docx)
• DPD for International Programs Self-Study Report Template (.docx)
• AP for International Programs Self-Study Report Template (.docx)
• Candidacy Teach Out Plan Template (.docx)
• CP Self-Study Appendices Checklist (.docx)
• SPE (formerly DI) Self-Study Appendices Checklist (.docx)
• DPD Self-Study Appendices Checklist (.docx)
• AP Self-Study Appendices Checklist - includes DT Option (.docx)

Guidance Information

• Guidance Information Document (.pdf)
• CP Onsite Evidence Checklist (.docx)
• SPE (formerly DI) Onsite Evidence Checklist (.docx)
• DPD Onsite Evidence Checklist (.docx)
• AP Onsite Evidence Checklist - includes DT Option (.docx)
• Guidance for Determining Quality of Master's Degree (.pdf)
• Quality Master's Degree Checklist (.pdf)

ACEND Decision Calendar

The ACEND Board follows the decision calendar for program accreditation reviews.

Summary and Signature Page Templates

• Introduction CP Summary and Signature Page (.docx)
• Introduction SPE (formerly DI) Summary and Signature Page (.docx)
• Introduction DPD Summary and Signature Page (.docx)
• Introduction AP Summary and Signature Page - includes DT Option (.docx)
• Introduction CP for International Programs Summary and Signature Page (.docx)
• Introduction SPE (formerly DI) for International Programs Summary and Signature Page (.docx)
• Introduction DPD for International Programs Summary and Signature Page (.docx)
• Introduction AP for International Programs Summary and Signature Page (.docx)

Nutrition and Dietetics Standard-Specific Templates

• Required Element 1.5 Program Director Position Description (all program types) (Optional) (.docx)
• Required Element 1.6 Planned Supervised Practice Hours (all programs except DPD) (.docx)
• Required Element 1.6 Planned Supervised Practice Hours (international DPD) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (CP) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (SPE) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (DPD) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (AP includes DT Option) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (International CP) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (International SPE) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (International DPD) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.1-2.2 Program Evaluation Plan (International AP) (.docx)
• Required Element 2.3 Continuous Program Improvement Plan (.docx)
• Required Element 3.1 Competency Assessment Table (CP) (.docx)
• Required Element 3.1 Competency Assessment Table (SPE) (.docx)
• Required Element 3.1 Competency Assessment Table (DPD) (.docx)
• Required Element 3.1 Competency Assessment Table (Grad-DPD) (.docx)
• Required Element 3.1 Competency Assessment Table (AP includes DT Option) (.docx)
• Required Element 3.2 Curriculum Maps (CP) (Word | Excel )
• Required Element 3.2 Curriculum Map (SPE) (Word | Excel )
• Required Element 3.2 Curriculum Map (DPD) (Word | Excel )
• Required Element 3.2 Curriculum Map (Grad-DPD) (Word | Excel )
• Required Element 3.2 Curriculum Map (AP includes DT Option) (Word | Excel )
• Required Element 3.3 Summary of Learning Activities (CP, SPE, DPD) (.docx)
• Required Element 3.3 Summary of Learning Activities (DT) (.docx)
• Required Element 5.1 Faculty Roster (all program types) (.docx)
• Required Element 5.2-6.1 Preceptor and Facility Roster (CP, SPE, International DPD, DT) (.docx)
• Required Element 5.2 Preceptor Qualifications Form (Optional) (.docx)
• Required Element 7.2 Information to the Public Checklist (all program types) (.docx)
• Required Element 8.1 Policies and Procedures Checklist (all program types) (.docx)