DPD Verification Statement


What is a DPD Verification Statement?
A DPD Verification Statement is a document that is awarded to a student who has successfully completed all the requirements established by an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).

Do I need a DPD Verification Statement?
A Verification Statement issued by a DPD Program that is accredited by the Accreditation Council on Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is required for a student to apply to a Supervised Practice before becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD).

In some situations, a Verification Statement is also required when applying for certain jobs.

What are the requirements for a DPD Verification Statement?
As a student majoring in Food and Nutrition at The University of Alabama, to be eligible for a Verification Statement, a student must successfully meet all the following DPD Program requirements:
  • must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
  • must make a B- or higher in all DPD Professional courses (NHM designated and BER 345) or equivalent.
  • must make a C- or higher in all “DPD Science courses” and PY 101 (or equivalent).
  • must complete the courses required for the DPD
  • must earn at the minimum a bachelor’s degree
  • must complete 24 credit hours of DPD courses, including the DPD Capstone courses (NHM 340, NHM 465 and NHM 475) from The University of Alabama
  • may only have a total of 2 retakes in one “DPD Professional Course” (NHM designated and BER 345), or 1 retake in up to two different DPD Professional Courses (excluding original attempt) to earn the required grade. 
  • Submit a “DPD Declaration Form”.  Click here for a copy.

Note: The re-take policy applies to all DPD Professional courses and BER 345 equivalent courses regardless of whether they were taken at UA or transferred from another institution.


What are the DPD Professional and DPD Science Courses?
The required DPD courses for students in the DPD Program at The University of Alabama are:

DPD Program Institution:

The University of Alabama

DPD Director:

Alvin Niuh (aniuh@ches.ua.edu)

Catalog Year for Applicant

2015 -16

Website for Course Catalog:

www.ua.edu

DPD Professional Courses

DPD Science Courses

NHM 101 Intro Human Nutrition

CH 104 Intro Chemistry

NHM 195 Intro Dietetics & Nutrition

CH 105 Intro Organic Chemistry

NHM 201 Nutrition in the Life Cycle

BSC 215 Human Anatomy & Physiology I

NHM 253 Food Science

BSC 216 Human Anatomy and Physiology II

NHM 340 Community Nutrition *

BSC 242 Microbiology

NHM 361 Nutritional Biochemistry

PY 101 Intro Psychology

NHM 362 Nutrition at the Cellular Level

 

NHM 363 Applied Nutrition

 

NHM 365 Medical Nutrition Therapy I

 

NHM 372 Intro Food Systems Management

 

NHM 373 Pur & Design & Risk Mgt in Foodservice Sys

 

NHM 374 Quantity Food Production & Service 

 

NHM 395 Intro Research Food & Nutrition

 

NHM 441 Nutrition Education

 

NHM 442 Nutrition Care Process

 

NHM 454 Experimental & Functional Food Science

 

NHM 465 Medical Nutrition Therapy II *

 

NHM 475 Mgt of Food Service Systems *

 

NHM 491 Directed Professional Individual Study

 

BER 345 Educational Statistics

 

 

 

Note: A grade of “B-” or higher is required in all DPD Professional Courses

Note: A grade of “C-” or higher is required in all DPD Science Courses

* These are the DPD Capstone Courses and must be taken at The University of Alabama.  Previous credit is not given for these courses.
When do I Request a DPD Verification Statement?
A Verification Statement will only be issued to a student upon successful completion of all the DPD Program requirements, typically 4 to 5 weeks after graduation, and only when the Records Office has officially awarded the degree to the student.

How do I Request a DPD Verification Statement?
To request a Verification Statement, complete and submit the “Request for a DPD Verification Statement” form to the DPD Program Director.  Click here for a copy of the form. 

The DPD Program Director will mail 5 - 6 original signed copies of the Verification Statements to the student upon receipt of the request form.  The student should allow 7-10 business days to process the request.

What Should I Do if I Need Additional Copies of a DPD Verification Statement?
In most situations, only original signed copies are accepted.  A student may request additional copies of the Verification Statement by completing and submitting a new “Request for a DPD Verification Statement” form.  Click here for a copy of the form.

Does a DPD Verification Statement Expire?
No.  Once a student is awarded a Verification Statement, it is valid for life.

How much does it cost to obtain copies of the DPD Verification Statements?
There is no cost to the student.