Credential Assessment

The Partnership for Dietetics Education and Practice (PDEP) has developed the national competency standards for dietetics education and is the accrediting body approved by the College for Canadian dietetics education programs.  

When assessing your education and training, the College will compare the information provided by your institution to foundational knowledge and performance indicators outlined in the Integrated Competencies for Dietetics Education and Practice (ICDEP) and the accreditation standards. 

The College has developed a website to explain the minimum standards required for dietetic practice in Canada and to help you assess your current knowledge and skills against those standards.  

When your assessment has been completed, the College will notify you of the results by email.  The letter will communicate the College’s decision and explain the reasons for the decision.

• If your education and training meets the minimum standards, your application will be assessed against the other registration requirements to determine your eligibility for a temporary certificate while you wait to write the national registration examination.  
• If your education and training does not meet the minimum standards, your application will be refused.  The decision and reasons will identify which requirements were not met and will communicate what gaps were identified in your education and/or practical training.
  • Sample report – gaps in education and practical training

If the College finds gaps in your dietetics knowledge, skill and judgment, you will receive a letter outlining the specific competency gaps that were identified. You will need to complete additional education and/or training to address those gaps in order to meet the dietetics education and training requirement. 

• If the gaps are significant, you may wish to consider completing an accredited dietetics degree and/or practical training in Canada, or
• You may choose to complete stand-alone courses and/or training to address any missing foundational knowledge and performance indicators.

Process for completing an accredited dietetics degree and/or practical training in Canada

To complete a Canadian accredited degree and/or practical training, you must contact the program directly to get information about the application process and admission requirements.  

Process for address specific gaps in education and/or training

For gaps in foundational knowledge and/or academic performance indicators:

1. Select one or more schools offering accredited dietetics programs in Canada or the United States.
2. Contact the school for information about its admission requirements.
3. Show the documents you received from the College to the school.
4. Complete additional courses to address gaps and meet the dietetics requirement.
5. Once you have completed courses and/or training to address the gaps identified, submit a new application and fee for credential assessment.
6. The College will complete a new assessment to determine if you have met the education and training requirements.
7. You will receive a new decision and reasons.   If the College finds that the additional education did not address all of the knowledge and competency gaps, those gaps will be identified in the new decision and reasons, and you will need to completed additional education to address those gaps.

For gaps in practicum performance indicators (practical training):

1. Review the independent practicum guide
2. Find an advisor
3. Complete practical training
4. Prepare independent practicum submission
5. Submit a new application and fee for credential assessment.
6. You will receive a new decision and reasons.   If the College finds that the additional education did not address all of the knowledge and competency gaps, those gaps will be identified in the new decision and reasons, and you will need to completed additional education to address those gaps.