Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) Report Fall 2006

New Specialty Certifications
The CDR Specialty Certification Panel has collaborated with sports dietetics content experts over the past year to conduct the practice audit, develop the examination content outline, and write examination questions for the new sports dietetics specialty certification. The first examination was administered on computer to fifty-three candidates during a three-week window in June 2006. Forty-nine Board Certified Specialists, or 97% passed the examination. Eligibility information and an examination application are available on CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org.

The CDR Specialty Certification Panel has also collaborated with content experts to conduct a gerontological nutrition practice audit. The results of this audit are being used as the basis for the development of the examination content outline. The first administration of this examination is targeted for January 2007

At its recent meeting, CDR approved a request to develop a new Board Specialty Certification in Oncology Nutrition. The petition was presented to the Commission by the Oncology Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group (ON DPG), and represented the culmination of an extensive marketing survey. The ON DPG conducted the survey in both written and electronic forms, and learned of the interest in a new Oncology credential by both practitioners and employers and accrediting bodies. CDR will now begin the development process, including the issuance of a request for proposal and the selection of a testing organization to conduct a practice analysis and begin test development. Later, a vendor will be selected for test delivery and examination maintenance. The entire process typically takes place in a little over a year, so it is anticipated that the first examination would be administered in late 2007 or early 2008.

Professional Development Portfolio Update
May 31, 2006 was the recertification deadline for the first group of the 13,618 RDs/DTRs recertifying with the PDP process. As of May 31, 2006 95% of this group (97% of the RDs and 93% of the DTRs) have submitted a learning plan As of August 31, 2006, 94% of RDs and 83% of DTRs scheduled to recertify have successfully completed the Professional Development Portfolio recertification process. These figures are consistent with past recertification statistics for the RD. The number of DTRs who have chosen not to recertify is slightly higher than usual. However, 2006 is a “grandfather” recertification year for the dietetic technician certification program. A large percentage of DTR’s recertifying this yearwere originally certified in 1986, during the implementation of the certification program. CDR statistics indicate that a higher than usual percentage of this group consistently choose not to recertify, primarily for age related-reasons. CDR has conducted one-hundred and ninety audits and all, but one, individual randomly selected for audit, have passed the audit process to date. CDR is conducting an evaluation of the entire process during this year.

Registration Maintenance Fee Increase
CDR made the decision to increase the annual registration maintenance fee for RDs and DTRs from $40 to $50 at its April 2006 meeting. This increase is effective with the June 2006 billing. CDR has raised the fee just three times since its inception in 1969, most recently in 2000. This increase reflects an adjustment for inflation during this time period and provides CDR with a sound financial base for its program of work. The growth of the registry has slowed in recent years and it is anticipated that overall numbers will decline with the graying of the registry over the coming decade. Since maintenance fee revenues account for 66% of the Commissions’ annual income CDR felt it was prudent to increase the fee at this time.

Employer Focus Groups
Earlier this spring CDR contracted with Dick Rogers of Readex Inc, to conduct dietetics employer focus groups to solicit employer input regarding dietetics practitioner preparation and the meaning and value of CDR credentials in the marketplace. The “focus groups” were conducted using an online bulletin board approach with over 100 employers of both RDs and DTRs representing diverse geographic and practice perspectives.

Non-CDR credentialed individuals are often hired across practice settings to function in positions similar to RDs and DTRs.

  • Other practitioners may be preferred over RDs for nutrition education and outreach, culinary applications, food service management and other management.
  • When asked if the breadth of dietetics educational preparation was a value respondents indicated that it was from the RDs perspective since it gave them an opportunity to see the many career opportunities available, but whether it was of value to the employer was not clear.

Advanced Level Dietetics Practice Audit
The CDR Dietetics Practice Audit Committee is currently in the process of developing an Advanced Level Dietetics Practice Audit survey instrument. The survey will be distributed to registered dietitians identified by DPGs in Fall/Winter 2006. The results of this audit will be used by CDR to determine next steps regarding the development of an advanced level certification program.

Proposal for the Development of a Certificate of Training for Preceptors
In June 2005, CDR appointed a Preceptor Training Certificate Task Force to prepare a proposal for the development and implementation of an optional Preceptor Training Certificate program. The purpose of this program will be to enhance the quality of future dietetics practitioners through the provision of a certificate of training for preceptors. The Task Force drafted program goals, the body of knowledge and scope for the proposed certificate and conducted online surveys of preceptors and dietetics education program faculty. Based on the results of these surveys the Task Force moved forward with the preparation of a course proposal including; the draft course curriculum, cost proposal and timeline for course implementation. CDR reviewed this proposal at its July 2006 meeting and made the decision to move forward with course development. It is anticipated that this program will be offered as an online course, for continuing professional education credit, at a reasonable cost, to preceptors on a voluntary basis. The program is scheduled for implementation in July 2007.

For additional information, please contact Christine Reidy, Senior Director, CDR at 800/877-1600 ext 4857.

Commission on Dietetic Registration
Jody Vogelzang, PhD, RD, LD, FADA, CHES, Chair
Doris Derelian, PhD, JD, RD, FADA, Vice-Chair, CDR Delegate
Kathleen M. Strausburg, MS, RPh,. Public Representative
Kristen L. Buckshi, MS, RD
Lois Hill, MS, RD, CSR, LD
Betty A. Krauss, RD, CDE
Jeffrey T. Ketcham, MBA, RD
Alberta M. Scruggs, DTR
Janet J. Skates, MS, RD, LDN, CNSD, FADA
Jamie Stang, PhD, MPH, RD
Christine Reidy, RD Staff Partner

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