Credentialing
Steps to Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Graduates of Grand Valley State University's AFN program are eligible for accredited supervised practice (dietetic internship) programs and coordinated graduate programs leading to eligibility for the CDR credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
AFN graduates seeking admission to a dietetic internship must participate in the computer matching system through the online dietetic internship centralized application process (DICAS). Applicants must register with D&D Digital. There is a $50 computer matching fee.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12 midnight Central Time on December 31, 2023. More information about this requirement is available on CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the organization that administers the exam, will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the exam.
Although AFN courses may be offered using distance (online/hybrid) education, students must be present on campus for laboratories, some in-seat classes, and practicum placements. International students will require a student visa to be present in the U.S. to complete the program, as well as to
complete supervised practice in a dietetic internship or coordinated graduate program for registered dietitian nutritionist credentialing exam eligibility.
Please note that RDNs/NDTRs are required to be licensed/certified in some states, although Michigan does not currently require this. A complete listing of licensure/certification requirements by state can be found here: https://www.cdrnet.org/licensure