Dietitians of Canada - Accreditation

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Accreditation

Dietitians of Canada is the national accrediting organization for baccalaureate programs in dietetic education and dietetic internship/practicum programs. To receive accreditation, education and training programs must meet nationally established standards set by DC. Accreditation status ensures that programs are providing high quality education for students that will in turn result in graduates providing high quality dietitian service to their patients and clients.

How do programs become accreditation?

Accreditation relies on an on-site peer review process. Trained surveyors, who are members of Dietitians of Canada carry out the review. Surveyors have demonstrated professional leadership and have extensive experience in dietetic education or dietetic internship/practicum programs. To maintain accreditation status, a program must have an on-site accreditation review visit every 7 years. Between site visits, there is an annual requirement to report program changes.

Why is Accreditation Important?

Serves to maintain consistent national standards for dietetic education programs
Ensures quality dietetic education for those entering the profession
Supports growth, development, and enhancement of dietetic education programs to meet changing workforce needs

Accreditation Resources:

Framework and Knowledge Statements Undergraduate Program Development (1996)Forms the basis for curriculum planning for baccalaureate programs and criteria for accreditation.
Accreditation Manual for Baccalaureate Programs in Dietetic Education (2004)Outlines the process for accreditation review and elaborates standards to guide program development and defines compliance for granting of accreditation status.
Dietetic Internship/Practicum Accreditation Manual (2004)Outlines the process for accreditation review and elaborates standards to guide program development and defines compliance for granting of accreditation status
DC Competencies for the Entry-Level Dietitian (1996)Outlines the process for accreditation review and elaborates standards to guide program development and defines compliance for granting of accreditation status

Other professional standard resources

Code of Ethics (1996)Recurrent Code of Ethics for the profession of dietetics in Canada.
Professional Standards for Dietitians in Canada (Revised 2000)Describe the standards of professional behaviour for the practice of dietetics.
Standards of Practice Fact Sheet Fact sheet which address the six elements of professionals standards.
Graduate National Employment Statistics (2009)Overview of employment statistics for 2007 graduates
Environmental Scan: Approaches to Developing Standards for Health Professions’ Education Programs (2008)An environmental scan commissioned by Dietitians of Canada Advisory Committee on Professional Affairs (ACPA) to examine the nature of standards for academic and practicum programs used by dietetic associations in other countries and selected Canadian non-dietetics professional associations.
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR): Internship/Practicum Programs Guidelines (2008)A guide to assist dietetic internship/practicum coordinators in assessing interns’ previous experience for PLAR.
Scope of Practice Review for the Profession of Dietetics in Ontario (2008)A collaborative response from Dietitians of Canada and the College of Dietitians of Ontario to the Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council (HPRAC) recommending regulatory changes for dietetics to support interprofessional collaboration.
Scope of Practice Survey Responses (2008)A summary of the responses to a survey of registered dietitians in Ontario conducted to inform the development of the scope of practice review submission, a new scope of practice statement, and support for regulatory changes.