You will demonstrate that you have the required foundational knowledge and competence to practice as a dietitian in Canada by completing a degree and supervised practical training that have been approved by the College, or by underdoing an assessment of your dietetics knowledge, skills and judgement.
Approved education and training
Your dietetics degree and practical training are approved by the College if:
- At the time you completed them, they were accredited by the Partnership for Dietetics Education and Practice (PDEP) or, prior to 2015, Dietitians of Canada
- At the time you completed them, they were US programs with Full accreditation status from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) (formerly the Commission on Accreditation in Dietetics Education – CADE)
- At the time that you completed them, they were an internationally-based degree or practical training, with IDE accreditation status awarded after June 1, 2017 by ACEND
- They were completed at a university in Australia and you are currently an Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) registered with the Dietitians Association of Australia.
College Assessment of your knowledge
If both your degree and practical training were not approved programs, the College must assess your dietetics knowledge and skills to ensure that it meets the minimum standards required of a new graduate in Canada.
There are two ways that the College may assess your education: a prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) process, or a paper-based assessment of the content of your degree.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) Process
The Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) is made up of several steps, including a multiple-choice examination and a performance-based assessment, which are designed to assess your current knowledge, skills, and judgment against the national entry to practice standards for Canadian graduates.
The College considers the PLAR process to be a more fair and valid assessment of your dietetic knowledge because it directly assesses what you currently know and can do, and is not affected by factors outside of your control (for example incomplete course descriptions, or poor translations which don’t reflect the full content of your degree). In addition, the PLAR process provides a way for the College to recognize knowledge and skills that you gained after your degree, through continuing education or in practice.
This is the assessment to choose if you are considering making an application to Ryerson University’s Certificate for Internationally-Educated Professionals in Nutrition (IEPN) bridging program or an accredited practicum in Ontario.
Click here for more information on the PLAR process.
Paper-based assessment of your education and training (Credential Assessment)
In a credential assessment, the Registration Committee will review transcripts, course descriptions, and information about the formal structure and learning objectives of your practical training against the national standards for dietetics education and training programs in Canada.
This is the assessment to choose if you:
- Have been directed to have a CDO assessment as part of the admissions process for a Canadian accredited internship or practicum;
- Have completed an accredited dietetics degree followed by an independent practicum.
Click here for more information on the credential assessment.
Click here for instructions on how to apply for credential assessment.