Are you ready to apply to CDA for assessment?
Applying for an eligibility assessment for registration with the College of Dietitians of Alberta (CDA) is the first step toward becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Nutritionist in Alberta.
The following questionnaire will help you decide if you are ready to apply for an eligibility assessment and help you understand the College of Dietitians of Alberta’s registration requirements. Completing the questionnaire will not give you a decision on your eligibility for registration.
You must be registered with CDA and hold a practice permit before you can practice or work as a Registered Dietitian. The titles “Registered Dietitian”, “Registered Nutritionist”, “Dietitian”, “Nutritionist” and the initials “RD” are protected be law and cannot be used by an individual in Alberta unless they are authorized to do so by the appropriate regulatory body.
You must be registered with CDA if you will be:
- assessing nutritional status and developing, implementing, and evaluating food and nutrition strategies and interventions to promote health and treat illness
- applying food and nutrition principles to the management of food service systems and to the development and analysis of food and food products
- promoting optimal health, food security and food safety through the development and delivery of food and nutrition education, programs and policies.
- teaching, managing, and conducting research in the science, techniques, and practice of dietetics, and
- providing restricted activities authorized by the regulations
This applies to all settings including: hospitals, clinics or doctor’s office, public health settings, long term care, outpatient clinics, wellness centres, colleges or universities and industry.
Question 1 of 10
Education as a Registered Dietitian
Only individuals with at minimum a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in Foods and Nutrition are eligible for registration with CDA.
Have you received a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in Foods and Nutrition?
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
If you were not educated in nutrition and dietetics, you are not eligible for registration with CDA because you do not meet the education requirement. If you wish to become a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist in Alberta, you will need to complete an accredited dietetic degree program approved by CDA.
Question 2 of 10
Education as a Registered Dietitian
Only individuals who have completed a dietetic internship/practicum in Foods and Nutrition along with a Bachelor of Science degree are eligible for registration with CDA.
Have you completed a dietetic internship/practicum in Foods and Nutrition?
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
If you have not completed an internship or practical training in nutrition and dietetics, you are not eligible for registration with CDA because you do not meet the internship requirement. If you wish to become a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist in Alberta, you will need to complete an accredited dietetic internship program approved by CDA.
Please click here to learn about accredited internship programs.
Question 3 of 10
Dietetic Education Credential
In Alberta, all accredited dietetic education programs are at the post-secondary (university) baccalaureate (bachelor) degree level, after 12 years of elementary and secondary schooling.
Please pick the statement below that best applies to you:
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Your education does not meet the dietetic education requirement and you are not eligible for registration with CDA. If you wish to become a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist in Alberta, you will need to complete an accredited dietetic degree program approved by CDA.
Please click here to learn about accredited degree programs.
Question 4 of 10
Competence to Practice
To be eligible for registration with CDA, you must be able to demonstrate competence to practice by meeting the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice
Click here to view the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice.
After reviewing the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice, do you feel you have met the required competencies and can provide official documentation to demonstrate competence?
You will be required to submit documentation to demonstrate the competencies met during your academic and internship programs when you apply to CDA.
The College will complete an assessment of all submitted documentation against the Integrated Competencies for Dietetic Education and Practice, to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Question 5 of 10
English Language Requirement
To be eligible for registration with CDA, you must be fully capable of speaking, reading, writing in, and listening to English.
English proficiency can be demonstrated in two ways:
- By completing a dietetics program from an institution in a country on the College approved list (click here to view the English Language Proficiency page)
- By completing a Canadian accredited dietetics program
- By holding current registration with the College or with another dietetic regulatory body in Canada
- By achieving the required benchmark scores on one of the language proficiency tests approved by the College
Can you demonstrate English language proficiency?
You will be required to submit documentation to support English language proficiency when you apply to CDA. Click here to view the English language tests and minimum scores accepted by CDA. Your test results must be obtained within three years of your complete application to the College.
If any questions about English language proficiency arise throughout the application and assessment process, you may be required to complete additional requirements to meet English language proficiency requirements.
You must pass an English language test. Click here to view the English language tests and minimum scores accepted by CDA. Your test results must be obtained within three years of your complete application to the College.
Question 6 of 10
Personal Documentation
When you apply, you must submit official documents that prove your identity, dietetic education and dietetic registration.
Please pick the statement below that best applies to you:
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
You will need to provide government-issued documents such as marriage or divorce certificates or other official documents that explain these differences. You should obtain these BEFORE you submit your application to CDA.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Question 7 of 10
Your Prior Dietetic Registration
You will need to indicate prior registration as a dietitian or nutritionist outside of Canada, if applicable.
Were you registered/licensed with a registering body outside of Canada?
You will need to submit official verification of your registration for consideration. Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Question 8 of 10
Good Character and Reputation
CDA must be satisfied that applicants are of good character and reputation. You must have maintained good standing in other locations where you have been registered and/or worked. You should address any disciplinary issues related to your current or past registration or license(s) BEFORE you apply to CDA.
Would your answer to any of the following questions be yes:
- Have you ever been charged with or been convicted of an offence under the Criminal Code (Canada), the Food and Drugs Act (Canada) or the Narcotic Control Act (Canada) or the equivalent in any other jurisdiction?
- Have any findings or judgments of professional negligence been made against you in any civil or criminal proceedings in Alberta or any other jurisdiction in relation to the practice of dietetics or of any other profession?
- Have you ever been investigated, found guilty or been denied registration due to unprofessional conduct, incompetence, negligence, or incapacity in Alberta or any other jurisdiction in relation to the practice of dietetics or of any other profession?
- Are you the subject of any type of current proceedings for unprofessional conduct, incompetence, negligence, or incapacity in Alberta or any other jurisdiction in relation to the practice of dietetics or any other profession?
- Have you ever been denied registration or ever had conditions imposed on a practice permit in Alberta or any other jurisdiction in relation to the practice of dietetics or of any other profession?
Your application will require additional review by CDA, and more documentation and information will be required from you. It may take longer to assess your application.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Question 9 of 10
Currency of Your Dietetic Practice
CDA requires Registered Dietitians maintain competency through current dietetic practice and/or continuing education.
In the past three years, have you completed at least one of the following?
- Graduated from a dietetic education program (academic and/or internship), or
- Worked at least 600 hours in dietetic practice
Please note: practice hours recognized by CDA do not include sick time, vacation, leave of absence, or volunteer hours. You must have been registered and employed in a dietetic position.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
CDA requires applicants demonstrate current practice and/or continuing education otherwise academic upgrading, practical training and/or exams will be required. Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Question 10 of 10
Application to Other Canadian Provinces
Have you applied for an assessment of your eligibility for registration in another Canadian province?
CDA requires all applicants to indicate their application status in another province at the time of application. You may do so through an email to the College office.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
Your application will be reviewed to determine your eligibility for registration or the need for additional dietetic education. You may be required to complete a competency assessment to assist in this decision.
End of Self-Guided Questionnaire
Application Forms
If you are ready to apply to the College of Dietitians of Alberta for an eligibility assessment for registration, APPLY NOW!
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. Part of the College assessment process requires completing an assessment at the University of Alberta which includes a basic nutrition knowledge exam as well as diagnostic evaluations using the methodologies of Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) and the Multiple Mini Interviews (MMI). The results of the assessment will be provided to the College for review by the Registration Committee.
Keep in mind that the application for assessment of eligibility for registration is only the first step toward obtaining registration as a Registered Dietitian or Nutritionist in Alberta.
The application fee of $210.00 CAD is non-refundable.
The assessment fee of $600.00 CAD is payable to the College at the time of assessment.
Please review the links below for further information about the following topics: