Who And What Are Free CEUs Good For?

Who doesn’t love free? We all seem to appreciate a good deal.

For example, we all need an ethics credit, so these ideas on free ethics CEUs help everyone out. Most likely, your learning plan doesn’t require hours and hours of ethics training so you’re going to find more continuing education credits elsewhere 😉 Plus, if you’re looking for an introduction to sports nutrition to see if you’d like to pursue it further, taking some free credits in the area is certainly helpful.

Before reading further, a disclaimer. The major source for the information you are about to consume is the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR’s) Professional Development Guide. The information below is my interpretation of the guide. It is imperative that you review the guide on your own before you assume you can log a continuing education credit. Sometimes it is even necessary to reach out to CDR directly to clarify whether or not a potential CEU activity counts as you hope it does.

Dietitians on a Tight Budget

After you’ve done an unpaid dietetic internship and found your first job as a dietitian, you’re often not ready to spend more money on your continuing education credit. In fact, many new dietitians may not even be aware of these requirements and have not budgeted any money for their career growth!

Additionally, many dietitians are being paid well below their worth or are in a position with a non-profit where their salary is at the lower end of the spectrum. Even with excellent budgeting and saving skills, this leaves dietitians without much choice in how much money they have to spend on continuing education. If this is you, keep reading.

RDs Trying To Figure Out Their Next Move

Free CEUs for dietitians are also great for those of us trying to figure out what’s next. Those free webinars on new topics give us an overview of a topic. If we like what we’ve learned, we can often dig deeper and make a larger investment to really build our skillset in a new area.

So let’s dig into all the ways you can earn CEUs without breaking the bank!

Providers Who offer free CEUs

Many providers offer a free CEU (or several) as an introduction to their offerings. Most often, they have other higher priced continuing education programs that they are hoping you’ll get interested in after completing the free program. If you find a continuing education provider you’re interested in taking a course from, but just don’t have the money set aside for it right now, hop on their email list. Chances are, they’ll have some introductory webinars or smaller courses periodically that you can get credit for while you save up for the bigger program.

And since we all need that 1 credit in ethics, check out this roundup of free ethics CEUs from various providers to check off that box!

Options For Flat Out Free Dietitian CEUs

Below are a number of little known ways to earn CEUs which are completely free to you. There’s a really good chance you’re already doing some of these. Now you just need to log the credits!

Professional Reading

I’m guessing you read research articles from time to time. Well, you can get credit for it without taking a quiz! The short of this is that for every dietetics-related, peer-reviewed journal article you read, you can earn 0.5 credit hours (or CEUs).  There are limits to this kind of CEU, so don’t plan to log more than 15 CEUs (or 30 articles) over your 5-year cycle. If you’re an author, you can increase the number of credits you earn this way.

To learn even more about receiving continuing education credit for professional Reading head on over the blog article CEUs for Reading Research.

Summary: Activity Type 200 Professional Reading

  • 0.5 CEUs for each peer-reviewed journal article read
  • 15 CEU maximum per cycle
  • Documentation: Print a copy of the abstract for your records

Professional Leadership

When earning CEUs by serving in a professional leadership capacity, you’re not only gaining valuable skills, you’re making an impact on your profession. You’re supporting the organizations that in turn support the dietitians in your community or your specialty area.  At the same time, you’re making professional connections that will likely help you in some way down the road. For those of us that don’t necessarily have a way to gain leadership experience in our day job, volunteering on an organization’s board gives us the opportunity to lead.

In order to earn these continuing education credit hours, your elected or appointed term must end in your current recertification cycle. Also, no matter how much time the position requires, you are limited to only logging 3 CEUs per year within Activity Type 190 Professional Leadership/Precepting. For documentation, you will need a letter documenting the election or appointment.

Summary: Activity Type 190 Professional Leadership/Precepting

  • 3 CEUs per year for 1:1 precepting
  • 15 CEU maximum per cycle
  • Documentation: A letter documenting the election or appointment

Precepting

Good news for preceptors! If you are precepting a student 1 on 1 in an ACEND accredited dietetic program, you may be able to log CEUs for this activity. The full details of this can be found on the CDR website in the article CPEU Credit for Preceptors.

The gist of this type of CEU is that if you precept a student or intern during the current recertification cycle, you can earn 3 CEUs for each year you did so. It also requires that you complete the <a>Preceptor Confirmation & Self-Reflection Form</a> which needs to be signed by the director of the program. The form serves as your documentation. When logging this type of CEU, it is a part of Activity Type 190 Professional Leadership/Precepting with a maximum of 15 CEUs per recertification cycle.

Summary: Activity Type 190 Professional Leadership/Precepting

  • 3 CEUs per year for 1:1 precepting
  • 15 CEU maximum per cycle
  • Documentation: Preceptor Confirmation & Self-Reflection Form

CDR’s Precepting Course

Speaking of precepting… Not only can registered dietitians earn 3 CEUs per year for precepting, but they can also earn 8 CEUs per cycle by completing CDR’s Online Dietetics Preceptor Training course. This course is free of charge. In case you don’t have the time to devote to the entire course, or are only interested in certain precepting topics, the course is also split into three sections each offering 2 to 3 CEUs.

Summary: Activity Type 740 Self-Study

  • 8 CEUs for completing the course
  • No limit to self-study continuing education programs
  • Documentation: Certificate of Completion

Attending Grand Rounds Presentations

That’s right! For those of you who are clinically-inclined and work for a healthcare system or office, you likely have the opportunity to attend grand rounds presentations. Whether or not they are pre-approved by CDR, they still count as dietitian CEUs. These presentations are considered a live seminar. Any live event, like grand rounds, can be counted as long as it’s dietetics-related and geared towards professionals. See details in the CDR Professional Development Guide for activity type 170: Lectures and Seminars.

Summary: Activity Type 170 Seminars/Lectures/Webinars

  • 1 CEU per hour
  • No limit for attending live seminars, lectures, or webinars
  • Documentation: Certificate of Completion

Conducting Research

As a registered dietitian or dietetic technicians, registered conducting research, you may log 20 CEUs per study as a sole or principal investigator. As a co-investigator, you’re able to log 10 CEUs per study. Limits are 60 CEUs per cycle for dietitians and 40 CEUs per cycle for diet techs. Documentation requirements for the Activity Type 205 Research are more complex than many other CEU types. The requirements are detailed on page 22 of the CDR Professional Development Portfolio Guide with Essential Practice Competencies.

Summary: Activity Type 205 Research

  • 20 CEUs per study as the principal investigator
  • 10 CEUs per study as a co-investigator
  • Maximum of 60 CEUs per cycle for RDs and 40 CEUs per cycle for DTRs
  • Documentation: It’s complicated 😉 Check the PDP Guide.

Journal Clubs

A journal club is any type of in-depth discussion involving 3 or more professionals around a specific dietetics-related topic. The discussion needs to have a pre-assigned reading from professional, peer-reviewed journals. One CEU may be logged for each contact hour and there is no limit to Activity Type 160 Journal Clubs. For documentation, you’ll want to keep the Certificate of Completion or agenda/timing outline and the provider’s contact information.

Summary: Activity Type 160 Journal Clubs

  • 1 CEU per hour
  • No limit for participating in Journal Clubs
  • Documentation: Certificate of attendance, agenda, or outline, AND contact information for the provider

Vendors Through Your Workplace

If you work for a larger company, you are already likely aware of vendors offering free continuing education credits for dietitians. Vendors such as nutrition supplement companies, nutrition/food service software companies, and food distributors often offer free programming from time to time. Typically, the representatives of these companies are proactive about letting you know about their programs. But if not, you may need to ask your rep to add you to their notification list. The learning opportunities offered by vendors are often in the form of a live seminar, webinar, or workshop for which there are no limits during each recertification cycle.

Summary: Activity Type 170 Seminars/Lectures/Webinars

  • 1 CEU per hour
  • No limit for attending live seminars, lectures, or webinars
  • Documentation: Certificate of Completion
List of 8 ways dietitians can earn CEUs

Almost Free CEUs

Below are some options for logging continuing education that might not be free. But if you are already participating in one of them, go ahead and claim the credit hours!

Attend a Live or Interactive Workshop

As long as the workshop is dietetics-related and geared toward professionals, you’re good to go. The event doesn’t need to be pre-approved by CDR. Whether or not they are pre-approved by CDR, they still count as dietitian CEUs. These presentations are considered a live seminar. Any live event, like grand rounds or a group workshop, can be counted as long as it’s dietetics-related and geared towards professionals.

See details in CDRs Professional Development Guide for activity type 170: Lectures and Seminars. There is no limit to the number of CEUs you can earn from live events during your 5-year cycle.

Summary: Activity Type 150 Interactive Workshops

  • 1 CEU per hour
  • No limit for participating in live workshops
  • Documentation: Certificate of attendance, agenda, or outline, AND contact information for the provider

Academic Coursework

When you take a course through an accredited US college or university, you can earn continuing education. The amount of CEUs you earn per credit hour varies from 5 to 15 depending on whether you are taking it for credit or auditing and whether it is a quarter, trimester, or semester course. There is no limit to the number of credits you can earn this way. So if you’re taking courses in something dietetics-related, you likely have your continuing education requirements covered!

Summary: Activity Type 100 Academic Coursework

  • 1 semester credit hour = 15 CEUs (or 8 CEUs if you are auditing)
  • 1 trimester credit hour = 14 CEUs (or 7 CEUs if you are auditing)
  • 1 quarter credit hour = 10 CEUs (or 5 CEUs if you are auditing)
  • No limit per cycle
  • Documentation: Official Transcript

Academy and DPG membership

Being a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics doesn’t come cheap. At $200+ per year, it seems out of the picture for many. But there are numerous benefits that will help you grow your career and fulfill your continuing education requirements. If you are a member, you can quite easily log all the CEUs you need each year for no additional cost. Here’s how:

  • The Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (JAND) offers between 4 and 5 article quizzes in each issue. Each quiz passed is worth 1 CEU. Since there is a quiz, this type of CEU is considered self-study and therefore there is no limit to what you may earn during a cycle.
  • As a member, you will receive 5 issues of Food & Nutrition Magazine. Each issue has a CEU quiz available for 2 CEUs each. That’s 10 possible CEUs each year.
  • Recorded webinars are available at a reduced cost for members in the Eat Right Store. A small number of these are offered for free.
  • Several Practice Papers published by the Academy have CEUs available.

In addition, as a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, you will also be a member of your state’s affiliate at no additional cost. The state affiliates often have their own CEU opportunities available in the form of member-only webinars and reduce prices for state education conferences. Once again, the state affiliates also offer leadership positions (either appointed or elected) in which you may serve and earn CEU credit.

As a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, you have the option to join Dietetic Practice Groups (DPGs) in any area of interest. The DPGs offer leadership opportunities (which you get CEUs for), but many also offer CEUs as a member benefit. The CEUs may be in the form of webinars, newsletters, conferences, or journals. Instead of tracking down the details for each DPG, this post Which DPGs offer Continuing Education? will save you quite a bit of time.

Other Certifications

So many of us are multi-passionate lifelong learners and leveling up with additional credentials! Earning one of these credentials may cover some or all of the required continuing education for dietitians. Here’s the list of advanced certifications that count as 75 CEUs:

  • AADE | Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Management (This only counts if an exam was taken for the credential during the 5-year recertification cycle.)
  • NBNSC | Certified Nutrition Support Clinician
  • CDR – CSG | Board Certification as a Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition
  • CDR – CSO | Board Certification as a Specialist in Oncology Nutrition
  • CDR – CSP | Board Certification as a Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition
  • CDR – CSR | Board Certification as a Specialist in Renal Nutrition
  • CDR – CSSD | Board Certification as a Specialist in Sports Dietetics
  • IBLCE | International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (This only counts if an exam was taken for the credential during the 5-year recertification cycle.)
  • CDECB | Canadian Board Certified Diabetes Educator (This only counts if an exam was taken for the credential during the 5-year recertification cycle.)
  • NCSF | Certified Personal Trainer  (This only counts if an exam was taken for the credential during the 5-year recertification cycle.)

Additionally, holding any of the below certifications will count as 75 CEUs during alternating 5-year cycles. You may notice that some of the certifications above are also found below. That means that even if you don’t take an exam for the credential, you may still be able to log CEUs for it every other cycle:

  • AADE Board Certified Advanced Diabetes Management
  • ACCL | Clinical Lipid Specialist
  • AAFCS | Certified in Family and Consumer Sciences
  • ACE | Certified Advanced Health & Fitness Specialist
  • ACE | Certified Group Fitness Instructor
  • ACE | Certified Health Coach
  • ACE | Certified Personal Trainer
  • ACSM | Certified Personal Trainer
  • ACSM | Health Fitness Specialist
  • ACSM | Health/Fitness Director
  • ACSM | Clinical Exercise Specialist
  • ACSM | Program Director
  • SNA | School Nutrition Specialist
  • IAEDP | Certified Eating Disorders Registered Dietitian
  • IFT | Certified Food Science
  • HQCB | Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality
  • IBLCE | International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
  • NAFEM | Certified Foodservice Professional
  • NASM | Certified Personal Trainer
  • NBCC | National Certified Counselor
  • NCBDE | Certified Diabetes Educator
  • CDECB | Canadian Board Certified Diabetes Educator
  • NCHEC | Certified Health Education Specialist
  • NCSF | Certified Personal Trainer
  • NESTA | Personal Fitness Trainer
  • NSCA | Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist
  • NSCA | Certified Personal Trainer

Find Someone Else To Pay For It

Now, another way to take a free CEU course is to find someone else to pay for it. There are two main ways to do this.

Scholarships

Often businesses will offer scholarships for potential students. It may require participating in a competition, or going through an application process, but with a little digging and time, you might be able to find a way to secure a scholarship.

One of these scholarship opportunities is through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. The Mary C. Zahasky Memorial Continuing Education Award, is awarded to a number of applicants each year specifically going towards the continuing education program of your choice.

This award covers up to 70% of the cost of a continuing education program up to a maximum of $250. It can also be used to attend FNCE! In 2019, there were at least 13 recipients. What are you waiting for? Go ahead and apply for an award to support your professional growth!

Employer Reimbursement

If you work for a larger organization, I encourage you to pursue requesting funds for your continuing education from your employer. Your employer may already have a policy around reimbursement for continuing education so first, dig around for the details.

If there isn’t an education policy in place, then it’s up to you to pitch it to your boss. Be sure to highlight the benefits that your organization will receive if you gain the specific knowledge.

Keep in mind, you’ll want to give yourself plenty of lead time. Approval of reimbursement often takes time. You’ll need to factor in any coverage you’ll need if it’s an event you will be traveling to. Also, make sure you include those travel expenses in the proposal.

Put It All Together

With 75 CEUs needed every 5 years, it breaks down to 15 credits per year to stay on track. Here are some ways to combine the above opportunities to meet 15+ credits in a year.

Option 1 – Mix and Match

3 CEUs: Serve in an appointed position on your state affiliate’s board
4 CEUs: Read 2 issues of Food & Nutrition Magazine and take the quizzes
2 CEUs: Read 4 research articles
1 CEU: Attend a live webinar sponsored by a company in the food industry
1 CEU: Take a free ethics CEU course
4 CEUs: Once a quarter, find two friends and hold your own journal club
2 CEUs Attend 2 free webinars hosted by a provider you one day want to take a paid course from

Option 2 – Academic Coursework

45 CEUs: Complete a 3 credit hour course (semester)

Option 3 – The Clinical RD

4 CEUs: Attend quarterly lunch and learns onsite at your hospital from a nutritional supplement vendor 12 CEUs: Attend monthly Grand Rounds Presentations

Option 4 – The Community RD

8 CEUs: CDR’s precepting course 3 CEUs: 1:1 Precepting of an intern for a 3 week rotation 4 CEUs: Read 2 issues of Food & Nutrition Magazine and take the quizzes

Before You Decide Never To Pay For Another CEU Again

While we all enjoy getting a deal, it’s important to recognize the value you receive when you do pay for a CEU program. Paying for a program not only leads to a higher commitment level of the student but also will more significantly impact your career. If you are simply trying to meet your credit requirements, you will be fine with free options. But once you get your master’s degree, you will eventually need to focus your learning efforts in a specific area to keep improving and advancing your practice.

Another very important tip to remember is that every continuing education credit you log must fit your learning plan. Sometimes free options are great, but it can be difficult finding programs that fit into your learning plan. You may want to get into a habit of referring to your learning plan before engaging with a CEU just to be sure you’ll be able to log it in such a way that it is relevant to your plan.

Want to hear more tips and tricks about dietitian continuing education? Drop your email below and get the complimentary Quick Reference Guide!

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