The Dietetic Technician, Registered (DTR) test is administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to assess the knowledge and skills of prospective registered dietetic technicians.
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Eligibility
To be eligible for the DTR test, you must meet the following requirements based on your degree:
If you have fully obtained your associate degree, you must also complete an ACEND-accredited dietetic technician program with a minimum of 450 supervised practice hours.
Bachelor’s Degree
If you have fully obtained your bachelor’s degree, you must also complete an ACEND-accredited didactic program in dietetics.
Dietetic Technician Test Outline
The DTR test contains between 110 and 130 multiple-choice questions, 30 of which are unscored, and you will be given a time limit of 2.5 hours.
The exam is split into three content domains.
I. Nutrition Science and Care for Individuals and Groups (41%)
The questions in this domain cover the following topics:
- Principles of basic and normal nutrition
- Screening and assessment
- Planning and intervention
- Monitoring and evaluation
II. Food Science and Food Service (21%)
The questions in this domain cover the following topics:
- Menu development
- Procurement and supply management
- Food production, distribution, and service
- Sanitation, safety, facility, and equipment
III. Management of Food and Nutrition Services (38%)
The questions in this domain cover the following topics:
- Human resources
- Finance and materials
- Marketing products and services
- Management principles and functions
- Quality management, regulatory compliance, and research
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Registration
To register for the test, you must submit an application to CDR, along with the $120 examination fee. Once your application is approved, you will be sent an Authorization to Test (ATT) and information on how to schedule your testing appointment with Pearson VUE.
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Test Day
On the day of your test, you should arrive at the testing center 30 minutes early. If you arrive late, you will not be able to take the test and your test fee will not be refunded.
Once you arrive, you will be asked to show a form of valid photo ID, sign a digital signature pad, and scan your palm veins for authentication purposes. You will then be asked to leave all personal items in a locker outside the testing room.
Before the test begins, you will be asked to read and sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA).
How the Test is Scored
The DTR test is computer-adaptive. Here’s a look at how it works:
The first question is judged to be of medium difficulty, and depending on your performance, the next question may be easier or harder. If you do well on the first question, the second question will be harder; conversely, if you do poorly on the first question, the second question will be easy.
The questions on this test are rated on a scale of 1-50. The higher a question is rated, the harder the question is (e.g., a question marked as 45 will be more difficult than a question marked 15).
To pass the test, your final question must be on or above the 25 mark. If your final question is below this mark, you will not pass the test, even if you have answered some questions above the 25 mark at some point during the test. This is because the computer has rated the difficulty of your final question based on how you answered the previous questions.
Retaking the Test
If you do not pass the test, you may retake it after submitting another application and examination fee.
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FAQs
Q
How many questions are on the DTR test?
A
There are between 110 and 130 multiple-choice questions on the test.
Q
How long is the DTR test?
A
The time limit for the test is 2.5 test.
Q
What is the passing score for the DTR test?
A
To pass the test, you must achieve a minimum scaled score of 25.
Q
How much does the DTR test cost?
A
The testing fee is $120.
