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Nutritional Science Certificate Program

Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP)

The Pepperdine Nutritional Science Certificate Program-Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (NSCP-ISPP) will be on hiatus for the academic year of 2023-2024 as we develop changes to the program curriculum.Please contact Sunnie DeLano, DHPE, RDN, (310.506.7064) should you have any further questions.

In September 2011, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics announced the development of Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways or ISPPs ("ispeys") which are intended to add supervised practice capacity through ACEND-accredited dietetics programs, while providing student protections missing from the unaccredited models of the past. Programs that host ISPPs must be accredited in good standing by ACEND and must assure compliance with ACEND accreditation standards including those addressing supervised practice. Pepperdine has recently been approved by ACEND to provide ISPPs.

Eligibility for Pepperdine's NSCP-ISPP

The ISPP program is not a graduate degree program and in order to be eligible for the certificate program-ISPP at Pepperdine, one must have completed a master's degree in any field from an accredited University and hold a DPD verification statement from either a bachelor's or master's degree program. In addition, one must have submitted an acceptable application in the past five years to DICAS through a previous national match and been unmatched to any supervised practice program.

ISPP candidates should meet the minimum application standards of Pepperdine University and hold a DPD Verification Statement along with proof of a D & D Digital unsuccessful matching. There are ten (10) spots available that will be awarded on a year-by-year basis from qualified applicants.

*Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor's degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited ISPP program at Pepperdine University are eligible to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

 

Program Accreditation

Pepperdine University Nutritional Science DPD and ISPP has been granted interim accreditation at the baccalaureate level until June 30, 2032 by the Accreditation Council in Nutrition and Dietetics of The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, Illinois, 60606-6995, 800.877.1600, www.eatright.org.

All program outcomes data is available upon request, susan.helm@pepperdine.edu

Current ACEND news! Master's now required prior to complete Supervised Practice Program.

The Commission on Dietetic Registration has a new requirement for a minimum of a master's degree to take the credentialing exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists beginning in 2024. According to ACEND:

"Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor's degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023."

For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website at www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DPD program at Pepperdine University are eligible to apply to an ACEND accredited supervised practice program and apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

Requirements for Becoming a Credentialed Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Until midnight, 12/31/23, the requirements for becoming a credentialed registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) include completion of: (1) the academic coursework in a didactic program in dietetics and (2) a minimum of 1000 hours in an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. Upon satisfactory completion of these two steps, the participant is eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam. Upon passage of this exam the RDN credential is earned. In some states, graduates also must obtain licensure to practice. Licensure is not required in the state of California. ACEND-accredited supervised practice programs include Dietetic Internships (DI) and Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPP). The program at Pepperdine is an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) with an ISPP. Individuals who successfully complete the DPD program at Pepperdine University, are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program. More information about the Pepperdine DPD can be found in the DPD handbook located on the Pepperdine University, Nutritional Science website. More information the Pepperdine Nutritional Science Certificate Program-ISPP can be found in the student handbook located on the ISPP webpage.

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration will require a minimum of a master's degree, in addition to the accredited coursework and supervised practice, to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. More information about becoming an RDN and the RDN exam can be found at: www.cdrnet.org/RDN.

Licensure for RD/RDN and Professional Certification

There are 43 states that have licensure for the RDN, California does not have state licensure.

The national Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential – This is a nationally recognized professional credential available through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Note that the CDR allows you to interchangeably use the credential titles RD (Registered Dietitian) and RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) – these are the exact same thing.

State certification that allows you to practice as a dietitian – Currently there are 5 states that refer to their state-level process for granting legal permission to practice dietetics as "certification" – but don't confuse that with national certification through the Commission of Dietetic Registration. If you live in Connecticut, Indiana, Utah, Vermont, or Wisconsin you'll hold state-level "certification" to legally refer to yourself and market your services as a Certified Dietitian, while all other states with laws governing the practice of dietetics use the term "license" or "registration." Regardless of the term the state uses, earning the right to practice dietetics in any state requires that you first earn the national RD credential through CDR.

 

Application Information

  • The NSCP-ISPP is on hiatus for the academic year of 2023-2024.
  • Contact for questions contact Sunnie DeLano, program director.

Tuition and Contact Information

 

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Pepperdine Seaver College is consistently recognized among the top-ranked universities in California and the United States. We are a Christian university where students grow in knowledge and character. As a liberal arts institution, we focus on providing rich opportunities for intellectual and spiritual exploration for students with a diverse community.

 

 

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Contact Us

Natural Science Division
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
Malibu, CA 90263
Office: RAC 106

310.506.4321

Joe Fritsch
Dean & Professor of Chemistry

Stephanie Adler
Office Manager

Sunnie De Lano
Director, NSCP-ISPP

Daphne Green
Lab Manager

Patricia Scopinich
Administrative Assistant