Nutritional Science Certificate Program
Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP)
The Pepperdine Nutritional Science program offers both an ISPP for those applying with a completed/or near completed master’s degree, and a new Master’s of Nutrition and Health Science and ISPP to complete your education and training to be eligible to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). Once both a master’s degree and the ISPP are completed, an individual is eligible to take the Registration Examination, and if successful, will become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN).
ISPP Program Details
Pepperdine University offers a 9-month standalone ISPP program to complete your required supervised hours. If you have already earned a master’s degree and hold a DPD verification statement from either your bachelor's or master’s degree, this program is for you!
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. The Pepperdine ISPP program will permanently close and no longer be offered as an academic option beginning July 1, 2026, therefore all required supervised hours must be completed by this date in order to sit for the national credentialing exam.
Applications open April 8th 2024, with a rolling admission until the spots are filled. Please email the program
director, Sunnie Delano at sunnie.delano@pepperdine.edu, for more information on the program and the link to the application.
Master’s of Science (MS) degree in Nutrition and Health Science and Supervised Practice (ISPP)
The MS in Nutrition and Health Science can be completed alongside the supervised practice hours, with the ability to begin both programs at the same time if you have already earned a DPD verification.
Applications open April 8th 2024, with a rolling admission until the spots are filled. Please email the program
director, Sunnie Delano at sunnie.delano@pepperdine.edu, for more information on the program and the link to the application.
Coordinated BS/MS/ISPP Program*
For Pepperdine University, Seaver College Students Only
Students in the Nutritional Science program at Seaver College, Pepperdine University may apply, by the end of junior year, to the 5th year master's of science degree and supervised practice program (ISPP) to complete their ACEND requirements to be eligible for the registration examination, and if successful, to become Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). This new seamless program provides students an opportunity to complete their BS/MS/ISPP in 5-6 years. For an undergraduate at Seaver College, the applications and interviews will be conducted during spring semester of junior year.
*This program will be discontinued in 2026, thus will be offered in 2024-25 and 2025-26 only. During this period of time the Pepperdine University Nutritional Science faculty will be applying to ACEND to transition to an accredited Coordinated Program (CP). The current Coordinated BS/MS/ISPP once reviewed and approved by ACEND, will become an ACEND CP program in 2026-27.
Eligibility for Pepperdine's NSCP-ISPP
*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 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
- Contact for questions contact Sunnie DeLano, program director.
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Natural Science Division
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Highway
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Office: RAC 106
Joe Fritsch
Dean & Professor of Chemistry
Stephanie Adler
Office Manager
Sunnie De Lano
Director, NSCP-ISPP
Daphne Green
Lab Manager
Patricia Scopinich
Administrative Assistant