The Indiviualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) Certificate has been discontinued by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). The ISPP (both Local and Distance options) must close no later than 12/31/26. Applications to Dominican University’s ISPP will no longer be accepted in order that adequate time be available for completion of the ISPP before it is closed. Those who are currently enrolled will work their certificate program advisor to complete by 12/31/26.
The Distance Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP) Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). This program fulfills supervised practice and related opportunities to achieve the required entry-level Registered Dietitian competence for eligibility to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). The supervised practice rotations include a minimum of 1000 hours of field experience in community, clinical nutrition, outpatient, food service management, and specialty practice settings.
ACEND policies for Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPPs) allow (1) graduates who did not match to a dietetic internship, but who possess a DPD verification statement, or (2) individuals holding a doctoral degree without a DPD verification statement to apply for an ISPP program. However, eligibility requirements and options may vary based on review of applicant’s previous DPD and other coursework, as well as recency of DPD verification.
To qualify for the Distance ISPP program, interns must reside at least 100 miles away from Dominican University, have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement from an ACEND-accredited DPD program, and must not have received a match through the formal internship matching process of DICAS and D&D Digital.
The Distance ISPP requires that the interns identify and arrange for their own supervised practice experiences, each of which must be approved by the Distance ISPP Coordinating Preceptor and Dominican University’s Director of Coordinated and ISPP Programs in Dietetics.
Program Requirements:
- Nutrition Supervised Practice Rotation: Clinical Nutrition-Inpatient
- Nutrition Supervised Practice Rotation: Clinical Nutrition- Outpatient
- Nutrition Supervised Practice Rotation: Food Service Management
- Nutrition Supervised Practice Rotation: Community
- Nutrition Supervised Practice Rotation: Specialty
Interns must demonstrate successful completion of all ACEND-required competencies at expected competence level for entry-level Registered Dietitians as well as all other program requirements. See specific guidelines in the Coordinated and ISPP Programs in Dietetics Handbook on our website.
Upon successful program completion, interns receive a verification statement as required for the CDR eligibility application to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians. Students admitted to the program are expected to follow the specific policies and procedures described in the current Remote ISPP Program Handbook in addition to the guidelines in the Bulletin. See specific guidelines in the Distance ISPP Program Handbook.
Additional Information:
The process for assessing and granting credit for prior learning involves completing a competency evaluation form packet with appropriate signatures from former supervisors or professors in accordance with policy and guidelines provided in the current Remote ISPP Program Handbook in addition to the guidelines in the Bulletin. See specific guidelines in the Remote ISPP Program Handbook.
Additional Information
The process for assessing and granting credit for prior learning involves completing a competency evaluation form packet with appropriate signatures from former supervisors or professors in accordance with policy and guidelines provided in the current Coordinated and ISPP Programs in Dietetics Handbook.
