Get Certified

Eligibility

Background

The CDM®, CFPP® 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 a nationally recognized credentialing exam and fulfilling the requirements needed to maintain certified status. CDM, CFPPs work together with registered dietitians 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 responsible for the certification program, but the actual exam is conducted by a nationally-recognized professional testing firm. A survey is conducted and analyzed every five years, in which CDM, CFPPs are asked to review the exam content outline and suggest a percentage of weight for each category of the exam. The CBDM then utilizes the survey results to finalize the outline, and each exam is developed based on this blueprint. The certification program is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA).

Exam Eligibility Requirements

You are eligible to take the exam if you meet the requirements of one of the five pathways outlined below. The most popular is by graduating from an ANFP-approved dietary manager training program, which includes 120 hours of didactic education plus 150 hours of field experience.

Pathway I: for candidates who have graduated from an ANFP-approved foodservice manager training program. You must submit a copy of your certificate of course completion, and your name must appear on the official graduate listing that is sent to ANFP by the college/school.

Pathway II: for candidates who hold a two-year or four-year college degree in foodservice management, nutrition, culinary arts, or hotel-restaurant management. Please submit your transcript with your exam application. Transcript requirements must include a minimum of one course in nutrition and two courses in foodservice management.

Pathway III: for graduates of a comprehensive 90-hour foodservice course curriculum, who also have two years of institutional foodservice management experience. Transcripts must include a minimum of one course in nutrition and two courses in foodservice management. You must submit a copy of your transcript and certificate of course completion, as well as employment verification with your application.

Pathway IV: for current and former members of the U.S. military who have graduated from an approved military dietary manager training program and have attained the grade of E-5. You must submit your documentation of military training and pay grade when applying under Pathway IV to determine eligibility. Note that your exam fee may be reimbursable through the Montgomery GI Bill; visit www.gibill.va.gov for information.

Pathway V: for candidates who hold an alternate two-year, four-year or higher degree. Candidates must have a minimum of five years of institutional foodservice management experience, and must also complete one course in nutrition and two courses in foodservice management. Please submit your transcripts as well as employment verification with your exam application.

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Denial of Exam Eligibility

You may be denied a seat for the exam if you:

Fail to meet the eligibility pathways
Falsify any information on the exam application
Violate registration or examination rules
Fail to report address changes to ANFP, resulting in your not receiving application forms or information crucial for the exam
Fail to submit proper documentation within the required time frame

The Certifying Board for Dietary Managers (CBDM) provides applicants who are denied eligibility an opportunity to appeal to an impartial decision-maker: the Appeals Committee of ANFP.

Grant Opportunities

NFEF is proud to support grant opportunities for nutrition and foodservice professionals and students. The Certification Exam Grant will be awarded in the form of a $399 credit and will be set up on the recipient's online account at www.ANFPonline.org. If selected for this grant, the recipient will have 90 days from the notification date to complete the exam registration process and an additional 90 days to register for the exam with AMP (Applied Measurement Professionals, Inc.).

Learn more at www.nfefoundation.org.