Commission on Dietetic Registration
Professional Development Portfolio Process Responses to Commonly Asked Questions

As a credentialing agency, CDR’s aim for recertification is to protect the nutritional health and well-being of the public by fostering, facilitating and documenting lifelong learning. Although CDR cannot ensure continuing practitioner competence, it can provide the profession with tools to assist the dietetics professional in professional self-reflection, learning needs assessment, planning and evaluation. Research shows that these processes enhance the effectiveness of CPE.

The Portfolio is a five-step process:

Step 1: Professional Reflection: Identify short- and long-term goals.

Step 2: Learning Needs Assessment: Identify the knowledge and skills needed to achieve your goals. This step is where you identify the Learning Need Codes needed for Step 3.

Step 3: Learning Plan: Using the results from Step 1 and Step 2, you develop a plan that maps out how to address your goals through your learning needs. Your Learning Plan must be submitted to CDR no later than 120 days after you complete your first CPE activity.

Step 4: Learning Activities Log: This is where you record your CPE activities that relate to the Learning Need Codes on your Step 3: Learning Plan. Submit your Activities Log to CDR after you’ve completed your required number of CPEUs (75 for RDs, 50 for DTRs), but no later than the last day of your 5-year recertification cycle.

Step 5: Learning Plan Evaluation: Evaluate progress toward accomplishing your goals. This becomes a starting-point for self-reflection for your next recertification cycle.

Research shows that untargeted CPE is ineffective in improving practitioner behaviors or patient outcomes. The Professional Development Portfolio process helps the dietetics professional target professional development activities to his or her professional practice circumstances. This kind of adult education is more effective in positively affecting patient outcomes and practitioner behaviors.

To maintain your RD/DTR registration status, you must:

• Pay the annual registration fee,
• Successfully complete the PDP process as detailed in the PDP Guide, and
• Abide by the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics.

You should complete all five steps, but you only send your Step 3: Learning Plan and Step 4: Learning Activities Log to CDR. Documentation of your CPE activities is sent to CDR only if you are audited.

Your Step 3: Learning Plan must be postmarked no later than 120 days after you complete your first CPE activity, and not later than the end of your 5-year recertification cycle.

Your completed Step 4: Learning Activities Log must be postmarked no later than the end of your 5-year recertification cycle. Do not submit partial Logs (<75 CPEUs for RDs, <50 CPEUs for DTRs).

If you complete your CPE hours early, it is a good idea to submit early so that if, in the remote event, there are any complications, we still have time to resolve the matter before your certification expires.

Learning Plans will be reviewed within 4 weeks of receipt by CDR. Learning Activities Logs will be reviewed within 8 weeks of receipt by CDR. You will receive a letter of verification (or if there are problems, a letter of denial) in the mail. Be sure to contact CDR if you do not receive verification within these time frames. If you submitted online, you can check the status of your Plan or Log by logging in online.

The choice to submit online or hardcopy is up to you. Please submit online or hardcopy, not both. There are many benefits of online submissions including:

Learning Plan: Your postmark date is the same date you enter your Plan online, and you don’t have to worry about your Plan getting lost in the mail or scanning errors when we convert your hardcopies into electronic files. It’s especially easy to update your learning plan online, since you have to mail in a complete replacement plan (not just the changes) when you submit an updated learning plan through the mail.

Learning Activities Log: Entering your learning activities online is helpful, as your entries will be checked in real time to be sure that they match a Learning Need Code on your Learning Plan(s), fall within the acceptable date range (no earlier than 120 days before you submitted your Learning Plan), and that the activity does not exceed established limits for the CPE activity type (e.g., 15 CPEU maximum for Exhibits). Also, a summary of your activities can be found online for your convenience.

Due to fax transmission distortion, please do not use fax to submit Steps 3 and 4.

Your registration number should be entered without any preceding “Rs” or zeros. For example: R123456 and 00123456 should be entered as 123456. Your password can be found on your annual CDR registration maintenance fee statement. If you’ve forgotten your password, first click on "Forgot your password?" Next, you can reset your password by clicking "You may reset your password with your Social Security Number and ID number “. Alternatively, you can contact CDR at 800-877-1600 ext. 5500 to have your password reset.

Instructions will soon be available on CDR’s homepage www.cdrnet.org.

Learning Need Codes are listed on your yellow Step 2: Learning Needs Assessment worksheets in your PDP Guide, in Appendix D of your PDP Guide, or online at www.cdrnet.org.

Your Learning Plan can be rejected if your goals are not dietetics-related, if you do not have at least one Learning Need Code under each goal, or if you do not fill out the forms correctly.

Goals can be as general or as specific as you want, depending on your individual professional circumstances and the learning needs you identified in Step 2. Goals must be dietetics-related. Goals are usually phrased “To develop/increase/learn/maintain/obtain….” and are supported by one or more Learning Need Codes.

A Learning Plan with such a goal may be accepted, however, it may not be a particularly useful goal in terms of advancing your professional development. You may wish to repeat Steps 1 and 2 of the PDP process to further reflect on your goals and learning needs in order to create more useful, attainable goals. Some practitioners include both general and specific goals on their Learning Plans.

You are only required to have one goal with at least one Learning Need Code supporting it. However, most people have several goals with as many Learning Need Codes supporting each goal as necessary.

No. You are required to have at least one Learning Need Code for each goal on your Learning Plan. Also, note that you are not limited to four Learning Need Codes per goal.

When you find yourself choosing most of the Learning Need Codes under one category, it may be useful to use the general Learning Need Code for that category. General Learning Need Codes end in “000”, such as “5000: Medical Nutrition Therapy”. Selecting a general code is the equivalent to selecting every code underneath it in the same category (i.e., every code that begins with 5). Choosing too many general Learning Need Codes however, defeats a main purpose of the PDP, of helping you target your CPE to your professional circumstances. It is recommended that you choose both general and specific Learning Need Codes to support your goals. Choosing specific Learning Need Codes is, in a way, “voting” for more CPE activities related to that specific Learning Need Code since Learning Need Code data is shared with CPE providers.

The RD and DTR are each active, practice credentials. Accordingly, nonpracticing RDs/DTRs must meet the same requirements for registration as practicing RDs/DTRs (i.e., there is no “inactive” status). Your Learning Plan is related to your continuing education goals and learning needs, not a specific job. You may find it useful to keep your Learning Plan general instead of specific.

We understand that life circumstances change, and that is why flexibility is built into the system to make it easy to change or modify your learning plan. Even if you do not know precisely what you will do over the next five years, planning will help you direct your own professional development, which can be adapted to new circumstances as they develop.

Yes and No. All activities must relate to a Learning Need Code on your approved Learning Plan. If you attend an activity that is not related to anything on your Learning Plan, you can still submit a revised Learning Plan within 120 days of attending the activity and get CPE credit.

You must submit a complete, revised Learning Plan. A revised Learning Plan replaces the existing Learning Plan on file. Do not simply submit a “Goal 6” or a couple of new Learning Need Codes. Rather, include goals 1-5 and then add your sixth, seventh, etc. goal. Revising your learning plan is done easiest online.

No. Provided that your previous CPE activities met all requirements under the previous Learning Plan, you can retain those CPEUs.

The CPE Database is now offered online at http://www.cdrnet.org/applications/cpe/index.cfm to assist you in locating CPE activities. Upcoming programs that have obtained prior-approval through CDR are contained in this database.

You do not need to sign-in on CDR rosters at meetings or apply for individual Subsequent Approval. You may be asked to sign an attendance roster for recordkeeping purposes for the CPE provider, however, these will be not submitted or recorded by CDR. You must track your CPE Activities on your Step 4: Learning Activities Log.

As long as your CPE activities meet the specific criteria listed in the PDP Guide and are related to Learning Need Codes on your verified Step 3: Learning Plan, you may receive CPE credit. It is not required that professional seminars or workshops have prior-approval, provided they address Learning Needs specified on your Learning Plan. Even though not required, some practitioners prefer to attend CDR prior-approved CPE activities or those provided by CDR Accredited Providers, to help ensure program quality.

Please keep in mind that all self-study programs must still be prior-approved by CDR. Also remember that you must retain the required documentation for each activity as specified in your PDP Guide.

Just as before, individual CPE activities will be assigned Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs). In most cases, one CPEU equals one contact hour of an activity. Guidelines for the number of CPEUs allowed for specific CPE activities are listed in the Professional Development Portfolio Guide.

• dietetics-related,
• related to a Learning Need Code on your learning plan,
• taught by an expert in the subject area,
• intended for professionals (not a lay audience), and
• based on scientific evidence and/or best practices.

CPEUs are typically counted "hour for hour" of educational classroom time, minus any breaks, meals, social events, registration time, etc.

Only self-study materials or complete any online courses, you should check for a statement such as, “this book has been approved by CDR for 10 CPEUs for RDs/DTRs”. CDR has an online CPE database http://www.cdrnet.org/applications/cpe/index.cfm of prior-approved self-study programs by CDR and self-study programs offered by CDR Accredited Providers.

Other approved CPE activity types that you attend in person (e.g.: conference, seminar, teleseminar or webcast with real-time interaction) that meet CDR CPE definitions (see above question) do not need prior-approval. Note: Some states require that CPE activities for state licensure are prior-approved. Please check with your state licensure board for any state licensure requirement details.

CDR recommends that Journal Clubs and Study Groups have prior-approval, but it is not required. The website http://www.cdrnet.org/pdrcenter/sgguidelines.htm has more information on Journal Clubs and Study Groups.

Only program providers can request prior-approval. You cannot earn CPEUs for a self-study activity that does not have prior-approval.

You are not restricted to the CPE activity types you select on your Learning Plan. This information is used for your own CPE planning purposes and to inform program providers of the types of activities that RDs/DTRs prefer to attend.

You may attend activities at any level. The levels are present on your Learning Plan to help you in your CPE planning and to provide information for program planners. The Step 4: Learning Activities Log contains no place to report the CPE level. If the activity materials do not list the CPE level, you should determine if that activity meets your learning needs by looking at the activity’s educational objectives.

There is no activity type specifically for giving presentations or writing publications, however, RDs and DTRs can get credit for conducting research (Activity Code 205). Credit for continuing professional education is designed to be awarded to practitioners when they are the learner and not when serving as the expert. It is believed that the majority of learning that takes place in connection with presentations and publications occurs during the content-related research that is required when preparing the presentation or publication. CPE credit can be obtained for much of this preparation through such activity code categories as professional reading, self-study (e.g., JADA articles), research, or sponsored independent learning. The presenter or publisher is considered an expert, providing a learning opportunity for others.

Instructions will soon be available on CDR’s homepage www.cdrnet.org.

Any CPE activities that you are trying to enter must have been completed no earlier than 120 days before your Learning Plan postmark date (and within your 5-year recertification cycle), and must be related to a Learning Need Code from your Learning Plan. If this is the case, then you are probably entering your Learning Need Code incorrectly. In the top dropdown box, pick the general category of the Learning Need Code you are trying to enter (eg: Medical Nutrition Therapy, if you trying to enter 5190 Diabetes Mellitus). In the dropdown box below it, you can choose the specific code (5190 Diabetes Mellitus).

Submitting a completed Step 4: Learning Activities Log is how you communicate your learning activities to CDR. When you complete a CPE activity, simply log your activity on your Activity Log (either online or on the paper form), and keep the required documentation in your binder. Once you have reached your CPEU requirements (75 CPEUs for RDs, 50 CPEUs for DTRs), you can submit your completed Activity Log to CDR for review.

No. After your Learning Plan is approved, you can log your activities on your Step 4: Learning Activities Log anytime during your 5-year recertification cycle. It is recommended that you “log as you go” so you do not forget the information required for your Log. The 120 day requirement relates to submitting your Learning Plan no later than 120 days after completing your first CPE activity.

• there is no certification statement.
• the form contains incomplete information.
• it is a partial submission (<75 hours for RDs; <50 DTRs).

• they were completed more than 120 days before your Learning Plan was postmarked to CDR.
• the CPE activities on your Learning Activities Log do not address dietetics-related learning needs specified on your Learning Plan.
• you report non-approved activity types.
• your CPE activity fails to meet specific requirements as indicated in the PDP Guide.
• you do not provide all the required information on the Log.

If you fail to attain the required number of CPE hours (75 for RDs and 50 for DTRs in a 5-year cycle), your Portfolio would be rejected and recertification would not be granted. If you are audited and are unable to provide the required documentation of your CPE activities, your recertification could be denied.

Activities on your Log must be related to a Learning Need Code on your Learning Plan. If the conference was on a single topic, e.g., a diabetes update, then you can lump all your hours under 5190: Diabetes Mellitus. If the conference was on various topics, then you must list each session separately, since each session relates to a different Learning Need Code.

No. You should list each individual CPE activity only once on your Learning Activities Log. Just pick the Learning Need Code that seems to best represent the content of the activity and best meets your learning needs.

You can code the activity on your Learning Activities Log as 5080. Remember there are often many ways to categorize the same CPE activity, and it is not possible for providers to list all the possibilities. Do not feel restricted when a program provider suggests Learning Need Codes; as long as the activity is related to one of your Learning Need Codes on your Plan, then you should feel confident recording that activity on your Log. It is important to clarify the connection between the activity and the selected Learning Need Code in the “How did (or will) you use the knowledge or skill acquired from this learning activity?” box on your Log.

No. You are not obligated to meet all your goals or to earn credits related to everything on your plan. You just need 75 CPEUs (50 for DTRs) related to at least one Learning Need Code on your Learning Plan.

No. With the exception of approved certifications (see PDP for details), all CPEUs must be earned during your current cycle.

In the Spring before your cycle is over, you will automatically receive another PDP Guide, and you will repeat the PDP process again. Your cycle dates are set; submitting early does not mean you start the next cycle early.

The purpose of the Portfolio audit is to ensure that the Professional Development Portfolio has been successfully completed. Portfolios are selected for audit by random sampling and by identified triggers. Triggers, or causes for auditing Portfolios, are based on non-compliance with the Portfolio guidelines or noncompliance with applicable laws and regulations concerning the profession as indicated in the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics. Practitioners are required to keep documentation for two years after the end of their 5-year recertification cycle. Specific requirements for documentation are listed in the Professional Development Portfolio Guide.

You must keep your required documentation for two years after your 5-year recertification cycle ends. You may wish to keep copies of your required documentation in another secure location, in case your binder is lost or destroyed.

You must have the required documentation, as listed in the PDP Guide, in the case that you are audited. The required documentation is usually a certificate of attendance, agenda/outline, or program brochure. These materials are available from the CPE provider.

Nearly half of the 42 states with regulations include CPE requirements for license renewal. The typical number required by states is 30 hours every 2 years. Licensed dietetics professionals can use certain CPE activities for both licensure and CDR recertification. Check with your state licensure board for restrictions that may apply. CDR will maintain its CPE approval and tracking service for licensure purposes and provide CPE reporting to licensure boards. Contact CDR or your state licensure board for additional information. Contact information for state agencies is found on the CDR website at /certifications/licensure/agencylist.htm.