Maintaining your credential as a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) requires more than simply completing continuing education activities. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has structured the recertification process to ensure continuing professional education (CPE) is intentional, relevant, and aligned with your current or future practice.
One of the most important aspects of this process is making sure that your CPE activities match the performance indicators outlined in your CDR Learning Plan. Failure to do so may result in the CPEUs not being accepted during an audit or recertification review.
This article outlines exactly how to ensure your continuing education aligns with CDR standards so your efforts count—both toward maintaining your credential and advancing your professional competence.
Understanding the CDR Learning Plan
At the beginning of each five-year recertification cycle, RDs and DTRs are required to create a Learning Plan using the CDR Competency Plan Builder. This Learning Plan is based on:
- Essential practice competencies, and
- A personalized selection of performance indicators that reflect your professional responsibilities and development goals.
Once your Learning Plan is submitted and approved, your CPE activities must align with the selected performance indicators to be eligible for CPEU credit.
Why Matching Matters
Courses that do not align with your chosen performance indicators may be disqualified during a CDR audit or rejected for recertification purposes. For example, if your Learning Plan focuses on community nutrition and public health but you take a course in advanced sports nutrition, that course may not count unless your Learning Plan includes relevant performance indicators.
Fortunately, the CDR allows for flexibility. Practitioners can revise their Learning Plan at any time during the cycle to include new competencies or indicators, provided they align with their scope of practice or professional goals.
How to Align Your Courses with CDR Requirements
To ensure your continuing education supports your Learning Plan, follow these four steps:
1. Verify the Course is CDR-Approved
Only courses approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration are eligible for CPEU credit. All courses available on All Dietitians meet this standard.
2. Confirm Course Performance Indicators
Review the performance indicators listed for each course. These indicators should directly match those included in your Learning Plan. Most reputable CE providers list this information clearly on each course page. On All Dietitians, this information is indicated clearly on each course page at the bottom.
3. Complete the Course and Documentation
Upon completion, ensure you retain or download your certificate. All Dietitians provides immediate access to reading materials, a quiz, and a certificate upon enrollment and completion—no additional materials or fees are required.
4. Log the Activity with the CDR
When entering your course into the CDR Activity Log, you must indicate which performance indicator it fulfills based on your approved Learning Plan. Documentation must be accurate and complete to ensure compliance.
Updating Your Learning Plan
If you complete a course that does not align with your current Learning Plan, you can revise your plan to reflect your evolving professional needs. CDR encourages practitioners to update their plan as their roles and interests change throughout the five-year cycle.
This flexibility allows you to engage in learning that supports your growth, without being limited by your initial Learning Plan selections.
Continuing Education Tracking Template
Maintaining an organized record of your completed CPE activities can be helpful throughout your cycle. Use a simple table like the one below to track alignment with your Learning Plan:
| Course Title |
CPEUs |
Performance Indicators |
Matches My Plan? |
Notes |
|
|
|
Yes / No |
|
Final Thoughts
Earning CPEUs is about more than collecting hours—it’s about purposeful, competency-based professional development. By aligning your continuing education with your CDR Learning Plan, you not only meet recertification requirements but also ensure that your learning supports your real-world practice.
For dietitians seeking efficient, evidence-based, and fully CDR-approved courses, AllDietitians.com offers a comprehensive library of continuing education programs—each clearly labeled with performance indicators and designed to support professionals at every stage of their career.
To explore approved courses aligned with your practice goals, visit AllDietitians.com.
