In order to ensure that students are retaining knowledge from classes and practicums, are able to demonstrate critical thinking and are on track to be successful in passing the national registry exam, a mid-program competency examination will be given. The exam covers all department course work presented up to that point in the program. Students must answer 70% of the questions correctly to progress in the program. Students not passing will take a new version of the exam after a one-week study period. Students that do not pass the exam on the second attempt will take a new version of the exam after a one-week study period. Any student not passing the exam on the third attempt will be referred to the Academic Progress Committee to determine appropriate action, up to and including the option that the student is dismissed from the program. This exam is not a part of any course grade.
Purpose and Composition of the Exam – There will be a total of 145 questions from all the material covered thus far in the program. The purpose of the exam is to evaluate whether a student can apply information learned thus far in the prerequisites and courses. For example, the Introduction to Nutrition material has been reviewed and applied in multiple courses. There may be questions related to human physiology that was reviewed or applied in MNT or Nutritional Assessment.
Who Writes the Exam – A team of three or more teaching faculty will compile the exam. A minimum of two of the faculty will check each question for content validity to evaluate whether the question assesses the defined content as per the RDN Study Outline provided by Commission on Dietetic Registration.
