The College of Dietitians of Ontario (CDO) has a duty to serve and protect the public interest, and accreditation is an important part of public protection.
What is Accreditation?
Accreditation is an ongoing process of assessing health care organizations against standards of excellence to identify what is being done well and what needs to be improved. Health education accreditation is a quality improvement process. It supports health education programs in ensuring that graduates are ready to deliver quality care at entry to practice.
In the context of dietetic education, accreditation has two primary purposes, to:
- Assess program compliance with national standards, and
- Encourage programs to strive for quality improvement.
Completion of accredited dietetic education programs provides assurance to regulators that applicants have met the educational requirements to practise safely as a dietitian in Canada. Accreditation expedites the process for CDO to issue certificates of registration, as further assessment of an applicant’s education is not required.
Accreditation Canada, under the EQual program, is the healthcare accreditation body approved by the Board of Directors of CDO. Accreditation Canada is a national, independent organization that accredits dietetics education programs across Canada.
Will my dietetics program continue to be accredited?
Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) accreditation awards that currently exist will continue to be recognized by CDO for the purposes of registration until December 31, 2023.
Accredited Programs in Canada
The following list includes all accredited education programs in Canada. Accredited programs are categorized into the following:
- Undergraduate Degrees: Fully Integrated (Academic Education and Practicum Training)
- Undergraduate Degrees: Partially Integrated (Academic Education with Limited Practicum Training Enrollment)
- Undergraduate Degrees: Not Integrated (Academic Education Only)
- Post Degree Practicums (Practicum Training Only)
- Combined Masters Practicum Programs (Masters Education with Practicum Training)
For information on specific programs, please contact the program directly.
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES: FULLY INTEGRATED (ACADEMIC EDUCATION AND PRACTICUM TRAINING)
Alberta
British Columbia
New Brunswick
Ontario
Quebec
Saskatchewan
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES: PARTIALLY INTEGRATED (ACADEMIC EDUCATION WITH LIMITED PRACTICUM TRAINING ENROLMENT)
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island
UNDERGRADUATE DEGREES: NOT INTEGRATED (ACADEMIC EDUCATION ONLY)
Manitoba
Ontario
POST DEGREE PRACTICUMS (PRACTICUM TRAINING ONLY)
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
- Eastern Health
Dietetic Internship Program (also provides internship for Memorial University Master of Public Health – Nutrition/Dietetics Stream)
Nova Scotia
Ontario
COMBINED MASTERS PRACTICUM PROGRAMS (MASTERS EDUCATION WITH PRACTICUM TRAINING)
Ontario
Quebec