The Essential Practice Competencies for the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s Credentialed Nutrition and Dietetics Practitioners

Abstract

T HE COMMISSION ON DIETETIC Registration (CDR) is the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. More than 96,000 registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) and nutrition and dietetics technicians, registered (NDTRs), are currently certified by CDR, which administers rigorous, valid, and reliable credentialing processes to protect the public andmeet the needs of nutrition and dietetics practitioners, employers, and consumers. CDR’s vision is to support credentialed practitioners’ competence, lifelong learning, and career advancement. In July 2012, CDR began to transition its current Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) recertification process from a knowledge-based system to one based on practice competencies. This competency-based PDP process will become effective for new registrants beginning their very first cycles starting June 2, 2015. Current registrants entering new recertification cycles will begin the competency-based process starting June 1, 2016. Practice competencies define the knowledge, skills, judgments, and attitudes that are necessary to provide competent, ethical, and safe care throughout practitioners’ careers, across practice settings, and within focus areas. The rationale for CDR’s decision was to enhance relevance to credentialed practitioners’ learning and continuing competence, as well as to better define and inform accreditation organizations, employers, and the public about what characterizes and differentiates practice of CDR’s credentialed practitioners. CDR’s Competency Assurance Panel, which is responsible for developing and revising policies pertaining to the PDP recertification process, led the competency project. The Competency Assurance Panel, along with representatives of the Academy’s Quality Management Committee, conducted a literature review and global environmental scan. This information was used to develop a competency framework and outline, conduct competency writing sessions, and, finally, validate the practice competencies through a nationwide validation study with credentialed practitioners. To enhance and ensure the validity of the process, CDR sought out industry leaders in the area of competency development to serve as consultants to facilitate and develop the Essential Practice Competencies. Throughout the entire process, CDR informed and consulted with key internal Academy stakeholders (eg, House of Delegates, Board of Directors, Council on Future Practice, and Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics) and external stakeholders (eg, accredited providers of continuing education). The intention of this article is to provide a detailed overview of the comprehensive steps taken by CDR to create the Essential Practice Competencies for Commission on Dietetic Registration’s Credentialed Nutrition and Dietetics Practitioners, and to familiarize its credentialed practitioners and the public regarding the newly developed and nationally validated practice competencies.