Practitioners may request printed instructions for the PDP or other accommodations by emailing cdr@eatright.org. 

If you are unable to complete the PDP for medical reasons, you must submit medical documentation to schedule a telephone consultation with CDR staff.  

It is the responsibility of practitioners to keep their contact information (including email and mailing addresses) updated in their MyCDR accounts. 

To receive important notices from CDR, including notices about forthcoming due dates, the practitioner must ensure that they can receive emails from cdr@eatright.org, pdp@eatright.org, and pdpaudit@eatright.org.  

Practitioners are required to complete the PDP once per five-year recertification cycle to maintain their RD or DTR credentials.  

The first cycles of newly credentialed practitioners who pass the registration exam after June 2 will be longer than five years. Cycle dates are listed in the MyCDR account. 

Practitioners can find the start and end dates of their recertification cycles on the Dashboard pages of their MyCDR accounts. 

To access the PDP, log into the MyCDR account here.

There are three steps to completing the PDP: 

• Step 1: Learning Plan
• Step 2: Activity Log
  • Requirements per five-year recertification cycle: 
  • 75 CPEUs including 1 CPEU in ethics or health equity for RDs 
  • 50 CPEUs including 1 CPEU in ethics or health equity for DTRs 
• Step 3: Self-Assessment 

The intent of the PDP process is for practitioners to demonstrate commitment to providing high-quality nutrition and dietetics services through continuous education and professional development. The process does not guarantee competency or treatment results. 

Practitioners must attest to meeting CDR’s standards for continuing professional education prior to submitting the PDP. 

• Step 1: Learning Plan is accomplished via the Competency Plan Builder. For step-by-step instructions for using the Competency Plan Builder, please click here. For additional information on Spheres and Competencies, please click here.
• Step 1: Learning Plan must be completed before accessing Step 2: Activity Log.  
• Once created, the Learning Plan stays active for future cycles. Updating the Learning Plan is optional. 

• Per five-year recertification cycle, RDs are required to complete and record at least 75 CPEUs, including 1 CPEU in ethics or health equity. 
• Per five-year recertification cycle, DTRs are required to complete and record at least 50 CPEUs, including 1 CPEU in ethics or health equity. 
• Note: Certifications (Activity Types 260-651) cannot be used to satisfy the ethics or health equity requirement. 
• For step-by-step instructions for recording activities, click here. 
• For information about the required ethics CPEU, click here. 
• Practitioners must retain audit documentation for at least two years beyond the end of each recertification cycle. Audit documentation must be provided to CDR in the event of audit.
• Recommended audit documentation is listed in the CDR CPE Activity Type Definitions. 

Optional Midpoint Review 

• The Midpoint Review provides an opportunity for practitioners to receive feedback regarding their Activity Logs prior to final submission.  
• The deadline for submission of Midpoint Review is December 1 of the year preceding the end of a practitioner’s recertification cycle.
• Each practitioner may submit for Midpoint Review once per five-year recertification cycle. 
• RDs may choose to submit their Activity Logs for Midpoint Review when they have recorded between 30 and 74 CPEUs.  
• DTRs may choose to submit their Activity Logs for Midpoint Review when they have recorded between 30 and 49 CPEUs.  
• Once the Midpoint Review is complete, practitioners will be unable to edit or delete activities that were included in the review. 

• Step 3: Self-Assessment is accomplished by attesting to completion of PDP requirements, answering four certification statement questions, and responding to three reflection questions. 

Due Dates

• Recertification cycles end May 31.  
• Continuing education activities must be completed by May 31 of the final year of the recertification cycle.  
• As long as continuing education activities are completed by May 31 of the final year of the recertification cycle, practitioners may choose to submit Steps 1-3 as late as June 30. 

Final Submission 

• Activity Logs may be submitted at any time during a five-year recertification cycle once the minimum number of CPEUs has been recorded.  
• Once the Activity Log is submitted, practitioners will be unable to add, delete, or edit activities. 
• Early submission does not shorten the duration of the five-year recertification cycle. 
• If a practitioner does not submit their Activity Log by the June 30 deadline, their credential will lapse effective September 1 of the same year. Information regarding credential lapses will be available to employers and state licensing boards. To reinstate credentials, practitioners are required to retake and pass the registration examination.  
• CDR reserves the right to audit completed Activity Logs and rescind Activity Log verification. 

• CDR selects Activity Logs to audit randomly and/or for practitioner noncompliance.  
• Practitioners must retain audit documentation for at least two years beyond the end of each recertification cycle. Audit documentation must be provided to CDR in the event of audit. Recommended audit documentation is listed in the CDR CPE Activity Type Definitions. 
• For additional information regarding the audit process, click here.

• Practitioners who are the subject of an action or decision by CDR that affects their registration status may appeal an adverse action or decision to the CDR Appeals Panel. 
• For information regarding appeals, click here

• RDs who submit their Activity Logs on or before March 17 of the final year of their recertification cycle may complete up to 15 CPEUs between March 17 and May 31 of the final year of their cycle and apply those CPEUs to their next five-year cycle. 
• DTRs who submit their Activity Logs on or before March 17 of the final year of their recertification cycle may complete up to 10 CPEUs between March 17 and May 31 of the final year of their cycle and apply those CPEUs to their next five-year cycle. 

CPEUs from Certifications (Activity Types 260-651) completed in the last six months of a practitioner’s five-year recertification cycle may be claimed for CPEUs on the practitioner’s next five-year cycle. 

• Except for activities completed during the CPEU Head Start Program and Certifications Completed in Last Six Months of a Five-Year Recertification Cycle, all activities recorded during a cycle must have been completed during that cycle. 
• Activities can be entered any time during the five-year recertification cycle, after the Step 1: Learning Plan is complete. 
• Activities should not be repeated. 
• There are three categories of activities that can be claimed for CPEUs: 
  • CDR CPEU Prior Approved Activities 
  • Activities offered by Jointly Accredited Providers 
  • CPEU Eligible Activities* 
• CDR Prior Approved Activities and CPEU Eligible Activities must meet CDR’s Content Criteria. 

 *CPEU Eligible Activities are CPE activities that are not Prior Approved by CDR for CPEUs or offered by Jointly Accredited Providers but that meet the relevant activity type definitions and adhere to CDR’s Content Criteria. It is the responsibility of practitioners to ensure that a CPEU Eligible Activity meets an activity type definition and adheres to CDR’s Content Criteria prior to recording the activity in the Step 2: Activity Log. 

CDR Prior Approved Activities and CPEU Eligible Activities must meet the following: 

1. CPE is nutrition and dietetics related and updates, enhances, or assesses knowledge, skills, and attitudes of professional dietetics practice. 

2. Stated learning objectives and anticipated outcomes apply to professional or inter-professional nutrition and dietetics practice or intended practice as defined by the Essential Practice Competencies. 

3. Educational content is relevant to knowledge, skills, and attitudes of professional nutrition and dietetics practice and provides learning outcomes that apply to professional, inter-professional, or intended practice of the target audience. 

4. Those responsible for CPE content have appropriate academic training (i.e., an academic degree from a university accredited by a USDE-recognized accrediting agency or a foreign academic degree accredited by a foreign institution that has been verified by one of the agencies listed on the Independent Foreign Degree Evaluation Agencies List), certification, and / or demonstrated expertise in the relevant subject area. Methods for providing informal feedback or formal feedback and assessment to the learner or learners are included for live and enduring activities. Planning and instructional methods are appropriate for the Activity Type / setting and support learning objectives and promote outcomes.  

5. Educational content is based on the best available research evidence, which is supported by documentation from reputable, peer-reviewed, scientific journals. Areas of doubt, uncertainty, and / or controversy are clearly identified and communicated. Referenced content supports safe, effective customer care or service.  

6. Educational content is absent of commercial bias and marketing. Disclosure of commercial support as well as disclosure of conflict of interest or lack thereof, are provided before learner participation in the CPE activity. 

7. CPE activities are a minimum of one (1) contact hour in length. Exceptions include professional reading, poster presentations, and enduring activities, which can be a minimum of 0.5 CPEUs. Activities can be rounded to the nearest quarter hour (.25 CPEUs).  

8. CPE addressing nutrition and diet topics includes an RD or DTR in program planning. See exclusions*. 

9. CPE complies with CDR Prior Approved Activity Type definitions.  

*Exclusions:  

1. Joint Accreditation Accrediting Organizations Activities offered by Providers accredited by Joint Accreditation Accrediting Organizations (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education [ACCME], Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education [ACPE], American Nurses Credentialing Center [ANCC], American Academy of Physician Assistants [AAPA], Association of Social Work Boards [ASWB], American Dental Association’s Continuing Education Recognition Program [ADA CERP], American Psychological Association [APA], Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer [BOC], and Association of Regulatory Boards of Optometry’s Council on Optometric Practitioner Education [ARBO/COPE])  
2. Joint Accreditation Accredited Providers CE Offered by Jointly Accredited Providers  
3. Academic Coursework (Activity Type 100) 100 - Academic Coursework Nutrition and dietetics-related academic coursework, including distance learning, at a university accredited by a USDE recognized accrediting agency can be awarded CPEUs. Under the activity description in your Activity Log, indicate whether the coursework was taken during a semester, trimester, or quarter. Academic coursework that qualifies for CPE credit must be started after you have become an RD or DTR and must be completed in your current recertification cycle and the course completion date shall not extend beyond the last day of the term. For those RDs or DTRs concluding a 5-year recertification cycle, the date of completion of academic coursework can be the date of notification of successful course completion. However, successful notice must be received by May 31 of the last year of the recertification cycle.  
4. Other organizations Activities offered by American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), American Psychiatric Association (APA), and American Public Health Association (APHA) 

For recertification cycles ending 2025-2029, please review the relevant Content Criteria here. 

Permissible Sources of CPE

CDR CPEU Prior Approved

• 120 Certificate Program 
• 130 Exhibits (for recertification cycles ending 2025-2029 only) 
• 161 CDR CPEU Prior Approved Journal Club (formerly 160)
• 172 CDR CPEU Prior Approved Live (formerly 110, 140, 150, 170, 171)  
• 175 Recorded Pre-Approved Activity 
• 181 CDR CPEU Prior Approved Posters (formerly 180)  
• 231 CDR CPEU Prior Approved Study Group (formerly 230) 
• 260-651 Certifications 
• 741 CDR CPEU Prior Approved Enduring (formerly 700, 710, 720, 730, 740)  

Activities offered by Jointly Accredited Providers

• 102 CE Offered by Jointly Accredited Providers (all activity formats accepted)  

CPEU Eligible

• 100 Academic Coursework 
• 101 Massive Online Open Course 
• 102 CE Offered by Jointly Accredited Providers (all activity formats accepted) 
• 130 Exhibits (for recertification cycles ending 2025-2029 only) 
• 162 CPEU Eligible Journal Club (formerly 160) 
• 173 CPEU Eligible Live (formerly 110, 140, 150, 170, 171) 
• 182 CPEU Eligible Posters (formerly 180)  
• 190 Professional Leadership/Precepting 
• 200 Professional Reading 
• 205 Research 
• 210 Residency or Fellowship Program 
• 220 Mentorship Recipient (formerly Sponsored Independent Learning) 
• 232 CPEU Eligible Study Group (formerly 230) 
• 742 CPEU Eligible Enduring (formerly 700, 710, 720, 730, 740)   

Select CDR CPE Activity Type Definitions to review all acceptable activity types for continuing education.

• Essential Practice Competencies
• PDP Resource Center 
• Ethics CPEU Requirement Resources 
• CDR Appeals Procedures
• CDR CPE Database 
• Activities offered by Jointly Accredited Providers

Forms 

• Mentorship Recipient Contract for Activity Type 220 Mentorship Recipient  
• Sponsored Independent Learning Contract for Activity Type 220 (for recertification cycles ending 2025-2029 only)  
• Preceptor Confirmation Form for Activity Type 190 Professional Leadership/Precepting  

Definition of Terms  

• Commission on Dietetic Registration Definition of Terms List 
• CDR CPEU Prior Approval Program Glossary of Terms 

Practitioners can achieve continuous self-evaluation by using the Scope and Standards of Practice. Review the Practice Tips: Using Practice Standards to Inform your Professional Development Portfolio for tips on how to use these key resources together.

Click here for the Scope and Standards of Practice for RDNs and for NDTRs.

Learners may communicate quality concerns regarding CDR CPEU Prior Approved activities to qualityCPE@eatright.org. 

For additional CDR contact information, click here.