Prospective Students
- Does Montclair State University offer a Nutrition Certification Program?
- At Montclair, we do not have a Nutritionist Certificate Program. Rather, we have a Pre-Dietetics Certificate Program that allows students to be eligible for the MS-Dietetics Program, a new two-year graduate program that combines didactic coursework with supervised experiential learning. Montclair State University has applied to the Accreditation Council of Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) to recognize the MS-Dietetics Concentration as an ACEND-accredited Graduate Program (GP) to prepare Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) starting in Fall 2026. Our eligibility application was accepted by ACEND, and we are in the pre-candidacy process for our proposed program. The MS-Dietetics Concentration (GP) is not accepting applications at this time but will do so upon successful completion of the candidacy for accreditation process to achieve ACEND accreditation. For more information about the ACEND accreditation standards, visit the 2022 ACEND Accreditation Standards.
- I have a Bachelor’s degree in another field. I am interested in becoming an RDN. To what program should I apply?
- Students with a Bachelor’s degree in another field who wish to become an RDN should apply to the Pre-Dietetics Certificate Program. Upon completion of the Pre-Dietetics Certificate, students should apply to the MS-Dietetics (GP).The MS-Dietetics Concentration (GP) is not accepting applications at this time but will do so upon successful completion of the candidacy for accreditation process to achieve ACEND accreditation.
- For information on the Pre-Dietetics Certificate, please view the Pre-Dietetics Certificate Program page.
- I am interested in the Pre-Dietetics Certificate program. I have a BS degree in Biology. Can I have my transcript evaluated?
- Once enrolled in the Pre-Dietetics Certificate Program, we will evaluate your transcript(s) to assess which (if any) courses you may waive from the list of required courses. You can find the list of required courses here: http://catalog.montclair.edu/programs/academy-nutrition-dietetics-certificate/
If you prefer that we evaluate your transcripts before your enrollment, we offer this service for a fee. Please contact Donna Verney, Dietetics Coordinator, at verneyd@montclair.edu for more information.
- Do I need a Master’s degree to become an RDN?
- Yes, effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement for eligibility to take the registration examination for RDNs changed from a Bachelor’s degree to a Master’s degree.
- How do I apply to the Pre-Dietetics Certificate Program?
- You can apply to the Pre-Dietetics Certificate Program via the Graduate Program Application site.
Current Students
- How do I apply for a Dietetic Internship?
- All applications for Dietetic Internships are submitted through the DICAS Platform. Please visit ACEND to learn more about the internship application process.
- What is the ACEND Verification Statement?
- The ACEND Verification Statement indicates that an individual has completed the requirements of a dietetics education and/or supervised practice program accredited by the Accreditation Council of Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). An ACEND Verification Statement is needed to progress toward becoming a credentialed RDN.
- What do I need to do to receive the ACEND Verification Statement?
- The ACEND Verification Statement is earned after successful completion of each ACEND-accredited program. The number of ACEND Verification Statements needed will depend on the type of dietetics program(s) you complete. At Montclair State University, we currently offer two ACEND-accredited programs: DPD and Dietetic Internship. The DPD will no longer accept any new students after June 15, 2025. The Dietetic Internship will take its last cohort in August 2026.
For students currently completing either the BS/MS-DPD or the AND Certificate Program, an ACEND Verification Statement is earned after all DPD coursework is completed with a grade of “C” or better. Additionally, students must demonstrate attainment of every dietetics core knowledge requirement (KRDNs) throughout the program.
For students completing the Dietetic Internship, an ACEND Verification Statement is provided after all required supervised practice hours are completed, all required dietetics competencies (CDRNs) are demonstrated, and a Master’s degree is earned.
- Is there an “expiration date” for Verification Statements? A supervisor at the Department of Public Health asked me the other day if there is a time limit for how long the Dietetic Internship verification statement is valid if the person has not passed the RD exam.
- If an individual is in the CDR’s database as registry-eligible, they are eligible for life to take the RD exam with unlimited attempts at testing. However, to be included in CDR’s exam score reports, an individual must have become eligible within the most recent five-year period. So, an individual who has completed a Dietetic Internship more than five years ago and continues to fail at exam attempts will not be counted against a program.
- I had some classes in the DPD curriculum waived when I first came as a transfer student (or into the AND Certificate Program). Therefore I don’t have the grades for them. How do I calculate my DPD GPA when applying for an internship?
- You need to retrieve grades from previous schools for those specific courses and enter those grades in the system. The DICAS system will calculate the DPD grade once you enter each course grade.
- How do I get permission to take a course at another university?
- Please obtain and complete the form “Request for Work at Another Institution” available in the registrar’s office. Follow the instructions on the form regarding the required approvals. You must receive a grade of “C” or better and demonstrate attainment of any included KRDNs to be eligible for the ACEND Verification Statement. Note that if the course you are taking elsewhere does not assess the KRDN(s) included in the comparable course at Montclair, you will be responsible for completing additional assignments/assessments at Montclair to demonstrate KRDN attainment. Contact Donna Verney (verneyd@montclair.edu), Dietetics Coordinator, before taking any external course.
- How do I apply to the Dietetics Concentration as a current first BS student in the Food and Nutrition Science program at Montclair?
- Academic Eligibility to apply to Dietetics concentration is as follows:
- 1. Maintain a GPA of 3.2 or above
- 2. Complete NUFD192, NUFD 150, MATH109, and CHEM113 and receive a grade of “C” or better
- 3. Have earned a C or better grades in any other DPD courses and demonstrated attainment of any KRDN already assessed