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CORE CRITERIA FOR SELF STUDIES

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CPE providers seeking CDR preapproval must be aware that self-study CPE activities must meet all the following criteria in order for RDNs or RDs, and NDTRs or DTRs to receive CPEUs

Self-Study Criteria
  1. Content: The refereed activity must meet the content criteria for continuing education as stated in the Continuing Professional Education Guidelines, including “Content should apply to the field of nutrition and dietetics. In this case, “refereed” denotes a review by a minimum of three independent professionals with demonstrated expertise in the content area. For self-study programs addressing diet and nutrition topics, all three of the referees must be a Commission on Dietetic Registration registered dietitian or dietetic technician, registered. For self-study programs addressing non-diet and non-nutrition topics, at least one of the referees must be a Commission on Dietetic Registration registered dietitian or dietetic technician, registered Referees’ academic degrees should be relevant, and granted by a USDE recognized accrediting agency. Foreign academic degrees accredited by foreign equivalent institutions are accepted under the condition that they have been verified by one of the agencies listed on the Independent Foreign Degree Evaluation Agencies list. Each referee must complete and sign the review form attesting to the number of hours it takes to complete the course and the course content currency. The Referees should not be associated with the creation of the content of the program in any way. Please see the Appendix for Referee forms.
     
  2. Include CDRs Critical Thinking Tool* CDR will implement this as a required component of all prior approved self-study products and self-study products offered by CDR Accredited Providers effective for programs approved or re-approved on or after January 1, 2020.
     
  3. Presenters/developers: Instructors or individuals who develop CPE materials will have appropriate academic training, certification, or demonstrated expertise to present or develop materials in a particular subject area. Academic degrees should be relevant and from a USDE recognized accrediting agency or foreign equivalent.
     
  4. Publications in scientific, peer-reviewed professional journals or presentations at scientific, peer-reviewed conferences may also be used to help establish expertise.
     
  5. Scientific integrity: The provider is responsible for the content, quality, and scientific integrity of the activities. Potential conflicts of interest, including commercial bias, will be disclosed. A balanced discussion of the topic, including risk versus benefit information where appropriate, will be ensured. Controversial or disputed issues must be presented as such and supported by documentation from current and reputable refereed scientific journals. Sample disclosure statements can be found here. 
     
  6. Length: The activity must be a minimum of one-half (0.5) contact hour in length.
     
  7. Assessment of learner: An evaluative component— four option multiple choice test questions for study materials—must accompany the activity. Professional test question writers are required to develop the test questions for the activity.
     
  8. Must contain a bibliography.
     
  9. Self-study CPE activities, regardless of their format, will be eligible for CPE credit for up to 3 years from the date of their initial publication.
Each educational session/self-study product must meet the following criteria
  1. All continuing professional education activity types addressing diet and nutrition topics* must include an RD or DTR in the program planning. This policy change is effective for continuing professional activities offered on or after June 1, 2018 and for CDR credentialed practitioners decertifying or  beginning a new recertification cycle on or after June 2, 2018.

    *Academic Coursework, and CPE activities offered by American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), Organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Organizations accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Psychiatric Association (APA), American Psychological Association (APA), American Public Health Association (APHA), pharmacy, dentistry, and speech language pathology societies and associations are excluded from this requirement.
     
  2. Are Dietetics related Dietetics related means: The integration, application, and communication of principles derived from food, nutrition, social, business, and basic sciences to achieve and maintain optimal nutritional status of individuals through the development, provision, and management of effective food and nutrition services in a variety of settings and as defined by the essential practice competencies. 
     
  3. Are relevant to knowledge, skills, behavior, and attitudes of professional dietetics practice. 
     
  4. Are developed by instructors or individuals who have appropriate academic training, certification, or demonstrated expertise to present or develop materials in a particular subject area. 
     
  5. Academic degrees should be relevant and from a USDE recognized accrediting agency. Foreign academic degrees accredited by foreign equivalent institutions are accepted on the condition that they have been verified by one of the agencies listed on the Independent Foreign Degree Evaluation Agencies list on pages 21 - 22 of the Appendix. Publications in scientific, peer-reviewed professional journals or presentations at scientific, peer-reviewed conferences may also be used to help establish expertise. 
     
  6. Demonstrate that the content, quality, and scientific integrity of activities and materials are maintained. 
     
  7. Presentations and materials that are clinical in nature are evidence-based. A balanced discussion of the topic, including risk versus benefit information where appropriate, is ensured. Controversial or disputed issues are presented as such and supported by documentation from current and reputable, refereed, scientific journals.
     
  8. Disclose potential conflicts of interest, including commercial bias.
     
  9. Are (typically) a minimum of one (1) contact hour in length. Exceptions include professional reading, poster presentations and exhibits, and self-study activities, which can be a minimum of 0.5 CPEUs. 
     
  10. Continuing Professional Education (CPE) offerings must comply with all CDR Approved Activity Type specific criteria. 
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