RDN Education and Credentialing 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: CDR requires RDNs to complete how many Continuing Professional Education (CPE) units per 5-year recertification cycle?
- 50 CPE units
- 75 CPE units
- 100 CPE units (Correct answer)
- 150 CPE units
Correct answer: 100 CPE units
RDNs must complete 75 CPE units every 5-year recertification cycle, with at least 1 unit in ethics.
Question 2: Which of the following is NOT an accepted activity type for CDR Continuing Professional Education credit?
- Attending a professional conference
- Reading a peer-reviewed journal article with post-test
- Receiving personal nutrition counseling sessions (Correct answer)
- Completing an online accredited course
Correct answer: Receiving personal nutrition counseling sessions
Personal nutrition counseling sessions do not qualify as CPE activities; CDR requires documented learning activities tied to professional development.
Question 3: The RDN credential must be maintained through CDR's Professional Development Portfolio (PDP). What is the primary purpose of the PDP?
- To document salary history and job promotions
- To guide individualized professional development based on self-assessment (Correct answer)
- To track disciplinary actions taken by state licensing boards
- To record years of clinical experience for credentialing renewal
Correct answer: To guide individualized professional development based on self-assessment
The PDP is a self-directed tool requiring RDNs to conduct a self-assessment and create a learning plan aligned with their professional goals.
Question 4: Which state was the first to enact licensure legislation for dietitians in the United States?
- California
- New York
- Louisiana (Correct answer)
- Texas
Correct answer: Louisiana
Louisiana enacted the first dietitian licensure law in the United States in 1984.
Question 5: An RDN practicing in a state with statutory certification law must:
- Hold the RDN credential to use protected titles but may practice without a license (Correct answer)
- Obtain state licensure before using any nutrition-related title
- Practice only under physician supervision regardless of credential
- Submit CPE credits to the state board instead of CDR
Correct answer: Hold the RDN credential to use protected titles but may practice without a license
Statutory certification restricts use of protected titles (such as 'licensed dietitian') but does not limit the scope of practice for uncredentialed individuals.
Question 6: What does a 'scope of practice' framework for RDNs primarily define?
- The geographic regions where an RDN may practice
- The range of activities an RDN is qualified and authorized to perform (Correct answer)
- The minimum salary an RDN must earn in clinical settings
- The number of patients an RDN may see per day
Correct answer: The range of activities an RDN is qualified and authorized to perform
Scope of practice defines the breadth of services, procedures, and activities that a credentialed professional is qualified and authorized to provide.
Question 7: Which document outlines the entry-level competencies that newly credentialed RDNs are expected to demonstrate?
- CDR Candidate Handbook
- ACEND Standards of Education
- Standards of Professional Performance for RDNs
- Entry-Level Dietetics Practice Competencies (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Entry-Level Dietetics Practice Competencies
The Entry-Level Dietetics Practice Competencies outline the specific knowledge and skills expected of an RDN upon entering the profession.
RDN Education and Credentialing 3
CDR requires RDNs to complete how many Continuing Professional Education (CPE) units per 5-year recertification cycle?