Internationally Educated Applicant

The International Application route applies to any applicant who has received training at an institution outside of Canada. The requirements for registration as outlined in the Registered Dietitians and Registered Nutritionists Profession Regulation in Alberta state that applicants must have completed:

1) A Baccalaureate degree in foods and nutrition from an accredited Canadian University, or equivalent.

2) A dietetic internship from an accredited Canadian internship program, or equivalent.

Information Guide

The College has developed an informative guide on the application, assessment and registration process for Internationally Educated Applicants to the College of Dietitians of Alberta. We encourage all applicants to review the guide prior to commencing the application process.

Click here to access the Information on Application for Registration: International Applicants Guide.

Click here to view a summary of the Registration Pathway for Internationally Educated Applicants.

Are you ready to apply to CDA for assessment?

Our online self-assessment tool can help you decide if you are ready to apply to the College for an eligibility assessment.

Click here to begin the Internationally Educated Applicant Self-Assessment Tool

Prior to application

Before you apply, make sure you have the necessary documentation required for application.

Things to consider:

• Ensure that you have official copies of all academic and internship documentation from the institution(s). If you have not yet arrived in Canada, it would be beneficial to contact the appropriate institutions to request this documentation prior to your arrival. A complete list of required documentation can be in the Documents for Submission resource below.
• Ensure you have met the English Language Proficiency requirements for registration. Information on language proficiency can be found here.
• Ensure all applications documents are originals or verified copies and are in English. If documents are in a language other than English, notarized translations must be provided.
• For your information, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has a program called Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA), which delivers pre-arrival orientation, employment and workplace culture communication support for immigrants focusing on job search, job readiness and job retention. More information on this can be found on SOPA or CCIS, the Alberta partner. Please note, this program is NOT required to apply for registration with the College.
• For your information, Directions For Immigrants in Trades and Professional Careers is a no cost career service centre that offers resources and support for internationally educated professionals. More information can be found on the Dietitian/Nutritionist occupation page. Please note, this service is NOT required to apply for registration with the College.

Application and Assessment process

The College will assess the qualifications of an internationally educated applicant to determine if the academic preparation and practical training are substantially equivalent to the requirements for registration obtained through accredited Canadian programs.

The length of time it takes for an application to be complete and advance to the assessment process depends on the length of time it takes for an applicant to obtain and submit the required documentation. Only once all required documents have been submitted is the application considered complete; the applicant may then proceed to the assessment process.

Assessments are completed twice per year, in Spring (typically in March) and in Fall (typically in August or September). Therefore, complete applications must be received by the following deadlines to proceed to the next available assessment:

February 15th (for the Spring assessment)
July 15th (for the Fall assessment)

The assessment process includes two assessments:

1. Credential Document Assessment: The College will complete a review and assessment of all documentation submitted. A cross-reference of all academic and internship documentation to the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice will be completed to determine whether there are any gaps in dietetic knowledge. To assist in this evaluation, it is beneficial to provide as much detailed information as possible regarding your education, internship and work experience. We recommend submitting any documentation you feel is relevant to registration with the College.
2. College Competency Assessment: This is an assessment for registration conducted at the University of Alberta by University faculty and staff. The competency assessment is based on three components: Foundational Knowledge Examination, Practice Competency Examination, and Multiple Mini Interviews. This assessment is completed twice a year, in Spring and Fall. The assessment fee is $600 to be paid to the College once scheduled for the assessment. Please note that you are responsible for any personal expenses associated with the assessment.

Under provincial legislation, the College is required to make an interim registration decision to applicants within 6 months after receiving a complete application.

Registration Decisions

Following the Registration Committee’s review of all application documentation and assessment results, the College will send a letter outlining the requirements for registration (registration decision). Based on any noted deficiencies in competence or knowledge, this can range from academic upgrading, dietetic bridging or any other requirements as determined by the Registration Committee. If additional dietetic bridging education is required, course costs are your responsibility. Applicants may request access to their application records; original documents submitted as part of an application are returned to applicants following the interim registration decision.

Under the Health Professions Act, an applicant may request a review of the interim registration decision by Council. The Council’s role in a review/appeal is to review the rationale and outcome of the decision and assess whether the decision was reasonable. The request must be submitted in writing to the attention of the Registrar within 30 days from the date of the registration decision notification. The request must set out the reasons why the application for registration should be approved with or without conditions.