DTRE AND NDTRE MISUSE POLICY

Candidates are required to agree to this policy in their online REPS application before being approved for eligibility for the registration examination for dietetic technicians.

What does the term registration eligible mean?
The term registration eligible is used by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to identify individuals who have met didactic and supervised practice requirements and have established eligibility to take the registration examination. CDR will verify upon request that an individual has met registration eligibility requirements and their eligibility date.

DTRE and NDTRE Misuse:
Over the years, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has stated in Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) publications that neither DTRE nor NDTRE are credentials and that they should not be used.  DTRE is an acronym for Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) Eligible and NDTRE is an acronym for Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered (NDTR) Eligible. Anyone can file a complaint with CDR regarding an individual using:

• DTRE or NDTRE
• DTR Eligible or NDTR Eligible
• Dietetic Technician, Registered Eligible or Nutrition and Dietetics Technician, Registered Eligible
• DTR or NDTR if they are not registered as an DTR or NDTR with CDR
• “dtr” or “ndtr” in an email address prior to passing the registration examination for dietetic technicians

Does the CDR recognize the use of DTRE or NDTRE?
No. These terms are not professional designations or credentials. Both employers and the public find the use of these terms confusing. Appropriate terminology to use is “registration eligible”. If you are using the term DTRE or NDTRE, please discontinue use immediately and replace it with “registration eligible.”  Individuals who use the terms DTRE or NDTRE are frequently reported to CDR regarding their misuse, and notified via a “cease and desist” order to discontinue use.

Please contact your State Practice Board or Agency and review the State regulations regarding appropriate title use based on qualifications.