CDR's Role
CDR’s Role
The purpose of the Commission, as the credentialing agency and organization unit of the Academy, is to serve the public by establishing and enforcing standards for certification, recertification and the Code of Ethics and by issuing credentials to individuals who meet these standards. The Academy owns the credentials; however CDR has independent authority in matters pertaining to certification, including standard setting, establishment of certification fees and administering credentialing programs. CDR maintains a registry of over 100,000 credentialed dietetics practitioners.
CDR Governance
Credentialed practitioners, RDNs*, RDs*, NDTRs** and DTRs**, elect Commission members for three-year terms. Since 1990, an elected DTR** member has served on the Commission. A Board Certified Specialist was also included on CDR since the implementation of the specialty certification programs. An Advanced Practice in Clinical Nutrition representative has been appointed for the 2016-2017 program year. A public representative has held a position on CDR since 1984 and has full rights and privileges. Beginning in June 2006, a newly credentialed registered dietitian serves on the Commission for a two-year term. In all, the Commission currently consists of 12 members, 9 who are RDNs* or RDs*, 1 of whom is newly credentialed, 1 NDTR** or DTR** and 1 public representative. The Chair and Vice-Chair are elected by the Commission for a one-year term June 1 - May 31.
2020 - 2021 Commission on Dietetic Registration
Chair
David Travis Thomas, PhD, RDN, CSSD, LD, FAND
Vice Chair
Young Hee Kim, MS, RD, LDN, CNSC, FAND
Public Member
Michael W Giles, PhD, MA, BA
Le Greta Hudson, MS, RDN, LD, CDE
Amanda R Coufal, BS, NDTR
Newly Credentialed Practitioner Representative
Samantha Ann Reilly, MS, RDN
External Accreditation
The Commission submits its certification programs for review and voluntary accreditation to the National Commission for Certifying Agencies to ensure compliance with accepted administrative and psychometric standards. All of CDR’s certification programs have met these rigorous standards and are fully accredited by NCCA, the accrediting arm of the Institute of Credentialing Excellence based in Washington D.C.
CDR Scope
CDR currently administers nine separate and distinct credentialing programs:
Registered Dietitian*, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist*
Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered**, Dietetic Technician, Registered**
Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition
Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition
Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics
Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition
Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition
*Please note the RDN and RD are two credential designation options for one certification program. Practitioners may choose to use one or the other. For more information, click here.
**Please note the NDTR and DTR are two credential designation options for one certification program. Practitioners may choose to use one or the other. For more information, click here.
***Please note the RDN-AP and RD-AP are two credential designation options for one certification program. Practitioners may choose to use one or the other. For more information, click here.