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About Accredited Programs

The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) is the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as registered dietitian nutritionists or nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered. Please use these graphics of routes to RDN Registration Eligibility to determine which program type is right for you:

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (NDTR)
Future Education Graduate symbol

Future Education Model Graduate Programs
Graduate level — competency based dietitian nutritionist program that integrates coursework and experiential learning for RDN eligibility.

 Future Education Model Bachelor's Program Symbol

Future Education Model Bachelor’s Programs
Bachelor’s level-competency based program leading to NDTR eligibility.
OR     
Coordinated Programs symbol

Coordinated Programs in Dietetics
 Bachelor's and graduate level — dietitian coursework and supervised practice for RDN eligibility (combined program)

 Dietetic Technician Symbol

Nutrition and Dietetic Technician Programs
Associate's degree — DT coursework and supervised practice for NDTR eligibility.
OR

 
DPD symbol

Didactic Programs in Dietetics
 Bachelor's and graduate level - dietitian coursework only (must be completed before the Dietetic Internship required for RDN eligibility)
PLUS
Dietetic Internship symbol

Dietetic Internships
 Post bachelor's — supervised practice only for RDN eligibility (must complete DPD and at least a bachelor's degree before entry)

 

Important Note

This information is provided in response to questions from the public about eligibility to sit for exams to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist or Dietetic Technician, Registered, and the presence of ACEND®-accredited programs at educational institutions. No other statement about the quality of an educational institution is intended or implied. Only graduates of ACEND®-accredited programs are eligible to take the exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist or Dietetic Technician, Registered. Individuals who only have degrees in nutrition, dietetics or other related areas from programs that are not ACEND®-accredited are NOT ELIGIBLE to take the exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist or Dietetic Technician, Registered. Educational institutions on the list, below, either have no nutrition program or the nutrition program is not accredited by ACEND®.

  • American InterContinental University
  • Ashford University
  • Ashworth College
  • Clayton College of Natural Health
  
  • Huntington College of Health Sciences
  • Jones International University
  • Purdue University Global*
  • University of Phoenix

Please contact the ACEND® office at 800/877-1600 ext.5400 if you have questions.

*Purdue University Global is not affiliated with the ACEND-accredited Purdue University DPD and CPD programs

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