4502 EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

4502.1 Except as otherwise provided in this subtitle, an applicant shall furnish proof satisfactory to the Board, in accordance with § 701(c) of the Act (D.C. Official Code § 2-3307.1(c) (1988 Repl.)), of one of the following:

1. (a) That the applicant holds a baccalaureate or higher degree, with a major in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management;
2. (b) That the applicant holds a baccalaureate or higher degree with a major in a course of study found by the Board to be equivalent to one of the courses of study listed in paragraph (a) of this subsection; or
3. (c) That the applicant has completed other training, approved by the Board, which is substantially equivalent to the requirements of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this subsection.

4502.2 Degrees required in §§ 4502.1(a) and (b) shall have been received from an academic institution that was approved by the appropriate accrediting body recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation or the United States Department of Education at the time the degree was conferred.

4502.3 An applicant shall submit a certified transcript of the applicant's educational record(s) and an official certificate of graduation to the Board with the completed application.

4502.4 Except as provided in §§ 4502.6, 4502.7 and 4502.8, an applicant shall furnish proof satisfactory to the Board that the applicant has completed preprofessional experience which meets the following requirements:

1. (a) The experience was obtained in a dietetic or nutrition program approved by the Board;
2. (b) The program was under the direction of a registered dietitian or nutritionist licensed or authorized to practice dietetics or nutrition in the United States;
3. (c) The experience consisted of a minimum of nine hundred (900) hours completed over a period of not less than twenty-two (22) weeks and not more than forty-five (45) weeks;
4. (d) At least one (1) hour per week of experience was under the immediate supervision of a registered dietitian or nutritionist and the remaining

experience was under the general supervision of a registered dietitian or nutritionist; and

(e) The applicant's performance was rated as at least satisfactory.

4502.5 An applicant under this section shall demonstrate the experience listed under § 4502.4 by submitting with the application a statement from each supervisor during the required period of supervision, on the prescribed form, which sets forth the following:

(a) Locations and time periods of the training;

(b) Hours of supervised practice;

(c) Nature of practice;

(d) Performance rating; and

(e) The supervisor's license number, if any, and jurisdiction in which authorized to practice.

4502.6 An applicant who passes the examination sponsored by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association (CDRADA) and who submits proof of current certification as a registered dietitian by the CDRADA shall be deemed to have met the educational and experience requirements of this section.

4502.7 An applicant who has received a master's or doctoral degree in nutrition from a university that was accredited by the ADA's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education at the time the applicant graduated, shall be deemed to have met the pre-professional experience requirements of this section.

4502.8 An applicant who has been actively engaged in the practice of nutrition for not less than two (2) of the five (5) years immediately preceding the date of application and who meets the requirements of § 4502.1 of this chapter, shall be deemed to have met the pre-professional experience requirements of this section.

4502.9 An applicant who has been certified by the Certified Board for Nutrition Specialists as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), shall be deemed to have met the pre-professional experience requirements of this section.

4502.10 The Board may require that an applicant submit evidence that documents the nature of the course work completed.

4502.11 For purposes of this section, a quarter hour of academic credit shall equal two-thirds (2/3) of a semester hour.

SOURCE: Final Rulemaking published at 35 DCR 3518 (May 13, 1988); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 37 DCR 2747, 2749 (May 4, 1990); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 53 DCR 82 (January 6, 2006); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 55 DCR 2594 (March 14, 2008).