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Commonly Asked
Questions and Answers of the New Professional Development Process |
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Listed below are the most popular questions of American Dietetic Association (ADA) members, and officials' answers by ADA regarding the new, required, Professional Development (PD) certification/recertification process. We recommend that you read these questions and answers before attending the PD training, developing your Learning Plan, and before you are placed on this new system of professional certification/recertification. All ADA dietetic professionals who wish to maintain their registration (e.g., Registered Dietitian and/or Dietetic Technician, Registered) will be required to participate in this new process. You will be informed in writing by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) when you will be placed on the new system. PD training will be offered at the California Dietetic Association (CDA) Annual Meeting, as well as be provided in most local CDA Districts. If you have questions about the PD 2001 process, call CDR at ADA at 800.877.1600 ext. 4768 or e-mail
redesign@eatright.org, or call your ADA Delegate. Your ADA Delegate's e-mail address
is listed on the CDA Website (Delegates' Page). You can also call the CDA main office at 310.822.0177 and ask them for your Delegate's contact information. |
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1. Why
is CDR changing the current recertification method of continuing education
hour reporting?
Widespread attention is focused on the need for continuing competence of health professionals and on the regulatory board's responsibilities in providing assurance beyond initial certification. We know that changes in the organization, financing and delivery of services are having a substantial impact on the practice of health care professionals.The challenge to CDR is the creation of a professional development system whose values are readily apparent to its various customers: the public, practitioners, employers and regulatory agencies, all of whom have different expectations of the dietetics recertification process. CPE programs are an essential part of professional development. It is estimated that the half-life of dietetics education is about 3 years. CPE can keep us abreast of changes in our field and can keep practice state-of-the-art. The Portfolio builds upon the values of CPE.
Effective continuing education is much more complex than information transfer alone, requiring such steps as: (1) identifying what needs to be learned, (2) using educational methods that optimize learning, (3) developing strategies to implement what has been learned and (4) transferring new learning into practice. |
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2. Are
other professions changing their recertification standards?
The dietetics profession is not alone in evaluating its continuing competency standards. A Summit on Continued Competence sponsored by the Interprofessional Workgroup on Health Professions was held in July 1997. It was a landmark in that 18 major health professions including dietetics, medicine, pharmacy, occupational therapy, nursing, respiratory care, physical therapy, dentistry, as well as others, saw a need to meet and discuss new methods of assessing continued competency for health professionals. A basic tenet of all groups represented was that the professions must change the way they address the continuing competence of practitioners. |
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3.
What
is the aim of CDR's recertification program?
As a credentialing agency, CDR's aim for recertification is to protect the nutritional health and well-being of the public by fostering and facilitating lifelong learning. Although CDR cannot ensure continuing practitioner competence, it can provide the profession with tools to assist the dietetics professional in the reflection, needs assessment, planning and evaluation process which enhance the effectiveness of CPE. |
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4.
How
would the proposed system enhance the current continuing education system?
CPE programs are an essential part of professional development. Research suggests that sustained changes in professional performance and practice require CPE activities that utilize reflection to help each of us close the gap between what we know now and what we need to know to get there. CPE activities also require careful needs assessment and planning (to transfer learning to practice). Thus, the Professional Development Portfolio helps you develop a blueprint for reaching your professional goals. |
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5.
How
does the proposed system relate to the Joint Commission on Accreditation
of Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) new standards on competence
assessment?
CDR representatives met with JCAHO staff regarding the compatibility of
the Professional Development Portfolio with the Management of Human
Resources Standards on competence assessment. The JCAHO wants
evidence of a system to assess and address competence in the work
setting.
JCAHO is looking for assessment of performance, identification of
learning needs and implementation of a learning plan for individuals and
the staff of a facility. There are many similarities in the JCAHO
and CDR process. You could use the Portfolio as a tool to guide
and document competency assessment to meet Joint Commission standards. |
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6.
How
does the proposed system enhance accountability?
CDR embraces the philosophy of lifelong learning encouraged in ADA's
Standards of Professional Practice and is directed towards professional
development, personal enhancement, and quality of care improvement.
It believes that the Professional Development Portfolio allows the
dietetic professional to take responsibility for his or her own
professional development.
By grounding the process in professional practice, the professional
assumes responsibility for selecting learning activities that have a
direct relationship to that practice. CDR's role then shifts from
approving or denying continuing education activities to one of providing
the tools for self-directed learning, verifying that each step in the
process has been completed and meets minimum guidelines.
Professional Development Portfolios will also be audited at random and
by identified triggers. |
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7.
Will
CDR require prior and subsequent approval?
CDR will pre-approve providers of CPE. The intent of a provider
approval program is to enhance the quality of programs offered.
Only providers that meet established criteria (in development) will be
approved.
Because the professional assumes responsibility for selecting learning
activities that have a direct relationship to that practice,
documentation of prior or subsequent approval will not be required. |
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8.
What is the purpose of an
audit?
The purpose of the portfolio audit is to ensure the Professional
Development Portfolio components have been successfully completed and
documented. |
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9. How
are Portfolios selected for an audit?
Portfolios are selected for audit by random sampling and by identified
triggers. Computer programming randomly selects a pre-determined
percentage of RDs and DTRs for audit. This process includes a
mechanism to ensure the same individuals are not audited repeatedly.
Triggers, or causes for auditing portfolios, are based on documented
non-compliance with the portfolio guidelines and non-compliance with
applicable laws and regulations concerning the profession as indicated
in the Code of Ethics for the Profession of Dietetics. |
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10.
What
documentation is required for a Portfolio audit?
In many cases a copy of the CPE program will be sufficient. For
other activities, such as Sponsored Independent Learning of
Certification, you will need to provide the sponsor or provider contact
information. |
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11.
Which
CPE activities are available to DTRs and RDs?
You can use many of the current CPE activities. In addition,
several new activities have been added including: professional
leadership, sponsored independent learning, and reading from
professional books. |
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12.
How
will the CPE activities be counted?
Individual CPE activities will be assigned Continuing Professional
Education Units (CPEUs). In most cases one (1) CPEU equals one (1)
contact hour of an activity. Three expectations exist:
Professional Leadership, Professional Reading, and Sponsored Independent
Learning.
Holding an elected office in a dietetics or dietetic-related national or
state organization can be awarded a maximum of three (3) CPEUs per year.
Professional reading of two (2) peer-reviewed articles from professional
journals will be awarded one (1) CPEU.
Sponsored Independent Learning is awarded one (1) CPEU for two (2) hours
spent on this activity. |
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13. How
will this new system impact individuals not currently employed - perhaps
someone raising a family?
The proposed system provides more flexibility for individuals who wish
to maintain their certification but are not currently employed.
The proposed system utilizes an expanded definition of CPE, one that
recognizes such activities as reading professional journal articles,
sponsored independent learning, and participating in elected
professional leadership positions as long as they are directed to
learning needs. The attainment of certification is also a new CPE
activity. These types of activities are accessible and affordable
for dietetics professionals. |
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14.
Will
special provisions be made for retired credentialed dietetic professionals?
As is currently the requirement, retired dietetics professionals who
wish to maintain the credential will need to meet the same standards as
non-retired professionals. The credential and recertification
signify the attainment of continuing competence standards by all who
hold it. |
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15.
How
would the proposed system impact licensure?
Nearly half of the 40 states with regulations include CPE requirements
for relicensure. The typical number required by states is 30 hours
every 2 years. Licensed dietetics professionals could use the CPE
activities for both licensure and CDR recertification. CDR will
maintain its CPE approval and tracking service for licensure purposes
and provide CPE reporting to licensure boards. |
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16.
Will
it be difficult to find professional education activities specific to
learning needs? Will CDR provide assistance for locating activities?
The CPE Data Base is now offered by CDR as a free service to assist you
in locating CPE activities. Currently it contains information on
prior approved programs for which CPE credit has been granted. In
addition, CDR will provide aggregate data (including geographic specific
data) on learning needs of the profession to assist DPGs and ADA
affiliates in program planning to meet professionals' needs. |
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17.
Would
the Portfolio increase the cost for dietetics professionals?
The Portfolio is expected to be more cost-effective for individuals and
CDR. In fact, the cost to you may decrease as several new
activities (e.g., professional leadership, sponsored independent
learning) provide a cost-effective means to professional development.
The CDR maintenance fee of $25 annually has not been increased since
1984 due to sound financial planning and monitoring. Any future
increase in the fee would be to continue providing and enhancing
products and services benefiting RDs and DTRs.
The new system requires submission of information to CDR only twice
during a five-year recertification period. The first is the
submission of your learning plan to CDR for verification, and the second
is the submission of your Portfolio documentation. The Portfolio
eliminates the current requirement of submitting approval request forms,
programs and agendas multiple times during a five-year period. |
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18.
Will
state, district and DPG meetings be financially affected since not all
dietetics professionals will be required to engage in CPE activities and
since more informal activities such as reading professional publications
will be approved?
The Portfolio will not eliminate the need for professional meetings and conventional professional education offerings. These meetings offer valuable professional development, networking, and mentoring experiences. CDR will provide aggregate data (including geographic specific data) on learning needs of the profession to assist DPGs and affiliates in program planning.In addition, new opportunities will be created. For example, groups may offer:
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Instructional sessions on reflective learning and developing learning plans |
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Sessions on identifying and applying personal learning styles |
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Preparation sessions for certification exams |
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19.
If
I am unsuccessful in attaining a certification, will I lose my
registration status?
No. You may still recertify by developing a learning plan and
engaging in other CPE activities directed to your learning needs.
If these components are also not met, registered status will lapse. |
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20.
Under
what circumstances could my Portfolio documentation be rejected?
The Portfolio documentation will be reviewed to verify that all of the
components have been accomplished. The Portfolio can be rejected
if you fail to submit a learning plan for verification to CDR, if a
learning plan is not completed, or if you lack the necessary
documentation for a Portfolio audit. For instance, if you fail to
attain the required number of CPE hours (75 for RDs and 50 for DTRs in a
5-year reporting period) your Portfolio would be rejected and
recertification will not be granted. |
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21. How
did CDR implement this new recertification process?
CDR continues to accept input from professionals. In addition, CDR
conducted a two-year national pilot test, which began in June 1998 and
ended in May 2000. CDR continues to work with CPE providers to
assist them in program planning. |
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22.
When was the Portfolio process
implemented?
The Portfolio was implemented in 2001 with those dietetics professionals who
began a new recertification system cycle. By the year 2006, all RDs and DTRs will recertify under the new system. |
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23. What
are the top 10 misconceptions of the Professional Development Portfolio?
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The Portfolio will be more costly to individuals and to CDR. The Portfolio is expected to be more cost-effective for individuals and CDR. In fact, the cost to you may decrease as several new activities (e.g., professional leadership, sponsored independent learning) provide a cost-effective means to professional development. The CDR maintenance fee of $25 annually has not been increased since 1984 due to sound financial planning and monitoring. Any future increase in the fee would be to continue providing and enhancing products and services benefiting RDs and
DTRs. |
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I need to complete an advanced degree.
Academic coursework is awarded Continuing Professional Education (CPE) hours
currently, and it will continue in the new Professional Development
Portfolio. You do not need to attain an advanced degree; it is just
one alternative that you may choose. |
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The Portfolio forces me to specialize.
The Portfolio allows you to design your learning plan based on your
individual needs and is flexible to accommodate both broad-bases as well as
specific learning needs. |
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I cannot change my learning needs during the
five-year recertification cycle.
You can revise and resubmit your learning plan to CDR if your learning needs
significantly change. |
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CDR will not accept the learning activities I
attend, and I will be denied recertification.
CDR will not judge the CPE activities you select to meet your learning
needs. You will be responsible for selecting relevant activities and
stating how you applied what you learned. |
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The Portfolio seems to have less accountability
than the current CPE reporting system.
As a professional, you are accountable to determine your learning needs.
The additional requirements of directed learning and evaluation and
application of your learning strengthens the process. Further, your
Portfolio could be selected for an audit, the aim of which is to ensure that
the Portfolio components have been successfully completed and documented. |
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The revenue for affiliates and DPGs will be
affected with the acceptance of alternate activities such as professional
reading.
The Portfolio will not eliminate the need for professional meetings and
general professional education offerings. These meetings offer
valuable professional development, networking, and mentoring experiences.
There will be limits for some of the new activities (e.g., professional
reading). |
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It will be difficult for me to find activities
to meet my learning needs.
CDR will provide aggregate data on learning needs of the profession to
assist DPGs and ADA affiliates in program planning. The expanded list
of CPE activities and the ability to select non-prior approved activities
will provide opportunities to find activities to meet your needs. |
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I will not be able to meet my licensure
requirements if CDR will not require reporting of CPE.
Licensed dietetics professionals could use the CPE activities for both
licensure and CDR recertification. CDR will maintain its CPE approval
and tracking services for licensure purposes and provide CPE reporting to
licensure boards. |
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The dietetics profession is the only health
profession changing its continuing competency requirements.
The dietetics profession is not alone in evaluating its continuing
competency standards. A Summit on Continued Competence sponsored by
the Interprofessional Workgroup on Health Professions was held in July 1997.
It was a landmark in that 18 major health professions including dietetics,
medicine, pharmacy, occupational therapy, nursing, respiratory care,
physical therapy, dentistry, as well as others, saw a need to meet and
discuss new methods of assessing continued competency for health
professionals. |
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For Our Members :: CDA Delegates' Page ::
Delegates :: Professional Development
System :: Q & A :: Revised Nov 04