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Bridge Quality Approval

As nutrition and dietetics education transitions to the 2027 Standards, ACEND has introduced Bridging, a quality-approved option for students to gain the academic or supervised-practice competencies that their current program cannot provide. Bridging gives Supervised Practice Experience (SPE) Programs (also known as Dietetic Internship (DI) programs) and ACEND-accredited programs a flexible way to fill curriculum gaps.

Bridging provides a streamlined, ACEND-approved pathway that helps nutrition and dietetic students meet the academic and supervised practice competencies required under the 2027 ACEND Standards.

Bridging is intended to support all types of students and professionals:

  • Nutrition and Dietetics Didactic Programs (DPD) students completing SPEs who need the graduate-level academic competencies.
  • Internationally educated and second-career professionals who wish to obtain prerequisites needed before entering their dietetics program.
  • Dietetics practitioners who aim to build competence in a new skill outlined in the 2027 ACEND competencies.

When an institution or an academic program earns ACEND's quality-approved designation for Bridge, it tells the public, students, employers, and other academic programs that the curriculum has been independently vetted against a defined set of nutrition and dietetics competencies and quality indicators; it also gives bridge providers a clear, consistent standard to build toward excellence in quality.

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Programs and Institutions Apply Now

Programs that wish to apply for a bridge must complete the online application, which includes providing specific documented evidence that the Bridge meets ACEND's seven quality indicators.

To apply, complete and upload the required Bridge documents

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Bridge Types

Degree-Granting Bridge

Covers all 11 ACEND graduate-level academic competencies and leads to a graduate degree in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, public health, food systems management, or an equivalent field. Awards an ACEND Academic Certificate.

While the degree-granting bridge is primarily intended for DPD students in SPEs/DIs, it may also serve other individuals (students and practitioners) seeking a graduate degree.

Module-Based Bridge

Offers shorter, focused modules or courses tied to specific ACEND competencies or skills, such as swallowing assessments, diagnostic imaging, injections, genetics, epidemiology, technology, enteral and parenteral nutrition, foodservice management, and health promotion. Available to all types of students and practitioners.

Module-based bridge can be offered to all types of students and practitioners.

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Who Can Apply to be a Bridge

Eligibility for programs and institutions depends on the type of bridge and the competencies it addresses.

ACEND-accredited Coordinated Programs, Graduate Programs, graduate-level Didactic Programs in Dietetics, and any non-ACEND-accredited master's or doctoral program. Dietetic Internships (DIs or SPEs under the 2027 Standards) and non-academic institutions are not eligible to apply.

Any graduate program housed in an academic institution. DIs/SPEs and non-academic institutions are not eligible to apply.

ACEND-accredited DIs/SPEs and Coordinated Programs/Graduate Programs, and non-ACEND-accredited institutions including colleges/universities as well as hospitals, health centers, and government agencies accredited by a recognized body (e.g., The Joint Commission).

Any program located in an academic institution may apply, regardless of ACEND-accreditation. This includes associate, bachelor, and graduate-level programs.

Bridge Quality Indicators, Application, and Templates

ACEND's Bridge quality approval is a short process that evaluates the Bridge curriculum and related policies across seven quality indicators and the aligned ACEND competencies.

To apply, complete and upload the required Bridge application documents to the ACEND Bridge Approval Submission system.

ACEND Bridge Approval Submission

Degree-Granting Bridge Application Documents

Module-Based Bridge Application Documents

To access the ACEND competencies, refer to the ACEND accreditation standards below

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For Bridge review and annual fee rates, see the ACEND fee schedule.

Notes

  • No initial fee for ACEND-Accredited programs.
  • Reduced initial fee for non-ACEND-Accredited programs and organizations until June 2027.
  • The annual fee applies to both ACEND-accredited and non-accredited programs.

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For More Information

  • For questions, contact EARN.
  • For additional information about Bridge policies and process, refer to the Bridge Policy Manual

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