Background
The CDM Credentialing Exam—offered since 1985—is part of the competency assurance program for dietary managers. A Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM®, CFPP® ) has the education and experience to competently perform the responsibilities of a dietary manager and has proven this by passing the nationally-recognized CDM Credentialing Exam and fulfilling the requirements needed to maintain certified status. CDM, CFPPs work together with Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) to provide quality nutritional care for clients in a variety of non-commercial settings and perform a myriad of specialized tasks.
The Certifying Board for Dietary Managers (CBDM) is the credentialing agency responsible for establishing and upholding policies for and the administration of the CDM, CFPP Certification Program. CBDM has autonomy in decision-making for all essential certification policies and activities as demonstrated in the CBDM Policies and Procedures Manual and in accordance with CBDM bylaws.
The CDM Credentialing Exam is administered by PSI Services, LLC (PSI). A survey is conducted and analyzed every five years, in which CDM, CFPPs are asked to review the exam content outline and identify the percentage of time spent performing tasks related to each category of the exam. CBDM then utilizes the survey results to finalize the exam content outline, and develops the exam based on this outline. The CDM, CFPP Certification Program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). The Exam Content Outline is available here.
The CDM Credentialing Exam is intended to measure the knowledge and abilities of individuals who wish to enter, continue and/or advance in the discipline of managing and/or directing food service operations. Candidates applying for the CDM Credentialing Exam must show verifiable evidence of meeting formal education requirements (including coursework in nutrition and foodservice management) from an accredited post-secondary education instituation as well as varying levels of non-commercial foodservice management experience required to competently perform the responsibilities of a Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional.
Earning and maintaining the CDM, CFPP credential demonstrates to employers, surveyors and the public, that CDM, CFPPs have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the responsibilities as included in the Exam Content Outline.