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Proper nutrition is essential for sustaining health and plays a key role in preventing and treating illnesses. Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are specialized professionals who transform nutritional science into customized guidance, assisting individuals in preventing and controlling health issues like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and various other conditions.
Aspiring RDNs must fulfill mandatory academic requirements along with 1,200 hours of supervised training from an accredited program before passing a national certification exam. Essential coursework covers subjects such as biology, chemistry, biochemistry, medical nutrition therapy, nutritional evaluation, meal planning strategies, and food service administration.
Purdue University students fulfill all dietetics prerequisites through the Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPND), then pursue either an external dietetics internship or Purdue's Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CPD) to complete their supervised training. After finishing this practical experience, graduates qualify to take the national dietitian registration exam.