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Reward, Recognition, Remuneration: Consider a Specialty Credential
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PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Reward, Recognition, Remuneration: Consider a Specialty Credential
I
am often asked what “all those initials” following my name stand for. MS, RD—those are relatively easy to answer (or to guess). But what about CSR, or CSP, CSSD, CSG, or CSO? We know they are professional credentials, though even dietetics practitioners may wonder what some of those letters mean. But it is well worth our knowing what they stand for (CSR: Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition; CSP: Pediatric Nutrition; CSSD: Sports Nutrition; CSG: Gerontological Nutrition; CSO: Oncology Nutrition). And if, like me, you practice in any of these areas, it is even more important in terms of reward, recognition, and remuneration to consider earning the board-certified specialty credentials these initials represent. I am proud to be the first boardcertified specialist to serve as President of the American Dietetic Association. Let me explain why I feel so strongly about the value of earning a specialty certification. HISTORY OF SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION In 1989, ADA’s Role Delineation Study was conducted and three 10-member committees representing metabolic nutrition care, pediatric nutrition, and renal nutrition met to identify tasks and knowledge required for each specialty. I was part of the renal dietitians group. In 1991, the Dietetic Practice Study was conducted to distinguish activities of registered dietitians practicing in renal nutrition, pediatric nutrition, and metabolic nutrition care, and the first specialty exams were administered in 1993. Since then, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has developed three more specialty certifications: sports dietetics in 2006, gerontological nutrition in 2007, and oncology nutrition in 2008. DEVELOPING CREDENTIALS Since that first meeting of those practitioners and the development of the
1144
The 2007 ADA/CDR Compensation and Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession found: ●
● ●
Jessie M. Pavlinac first three specialty exams, the steps in determining the need for a specialty credential and constructing it have remained essentially the same. A group of practitioners, usually a Dietetic Practice Group, submits a specialty petition and market survey of RDs who would be interested in obtaining the certification. Benefits of specialty certification to an area of practice and to the organizations in which these RDs practice are also submitted. CDR reviews and, if adequate data exist to support development of the certification, approves the petition. A practice analysis is conducted of RDs working in the area. A work group of eight to 10 members with expertise in the area develop a content outline and test specifications from the practice audit, write questions, and construct the test. TANGIBLE REWARDS Data from a 2007 survey sent to board specialists in pediatric and renal nutrition found: ●
● ●
52% experienced employer recognition and experienced increased credibility with dietetics peers upon becoming certified; 42% experienced increased credibility with other professionals; and 91% experienced pride and personal satisfaction.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
hourly wages of a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition went up 6% over an RD without the certification; up 14% for a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition; and up 17% for Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics.
CARVE OUT A NICHE There are more than 1,500 board certified specialists as of this writing, and that number is increasing as the value of specialty certification becomes more widely recognized. The 2008 ADA/CDR needs assessment showed 40% of RDs recognize the marketplace value for each existing board specialty certification and would like to see certifications developed in health promotion and disease prevention, food protection and food service management, and clinical health care. DPGs are considering submitting specialty certification petitions in weight management, nutrition informatics, HIV, and OB/GYN nutrition. The Final Report of the Phase 2 Future Practice and Education Task Force recommended ADA “continue to recognize specialty practice areas in dietetics and provide support for additional appropriate education and credentialing opportunities” (Recommendation #9). If your goal is additional reward, recognition, and remuneration, I urge you to consider obtaining a board certified specialty credential. —Jessie M. Pavlinac, MS, RD, CSR, LD [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.05.018
© 2009 by the American Dietetic Association
PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Reward, Recognition, Remuneration: Consider a Specialty Credential
I
am often asked what “all those initials” following my name stand for. MS, RD—those are relatively easy to answer (or to guess). But what about CSR, or CSP, CSSD, CSG, or CSO? We know they are professional credentials, though even dietetics practitioners may wonder what some of those letters mean. But it is well worth our knowing what they stand for (CSR: Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition; CSP: Pediatric Nutrition; CSSD: Sports Nutrition; CSG: Gerontological Nutrition; CSO: Oncology Nutrition). And if, like me, you practice in any of these areas, it is even more important in terms of reward, recognition, and remuneration to consider earning the board-certified specialty credentials these initials represent. I am proud to be the first boardcertified specialist to serve as President of the American Dietetic Association. Let me explain why I feel so strongly about the value of earning a specialty certification. HISTORY OF SPECIALTY CERTIFICATION In 1989, ADA’s Role Delineation Study was conducted and three 10-member committees representing metabolic nutrition care, pediatric nutrition, and renal nutrition met to identify tasks and knowledge required for each specialty. I was part of the renal dietitians group. In 1991, the Dietetic Practice Study was conducted to distinguish activities of registered dietitians practicing in renal nutrition, pediatric nutrition, and metabolic nutrition care, and the first specialty exams were administered in 1993. Since then, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) has developed three more specialty certifications: sports dietetics in 2006, gerontological nutrition in 2007, and oncology nutrition in 2008. DEVELOPING CREDENTIALS Since that first meeting of those practitioners and the development of the
1144
The 2007 ADA/CDR Compensation and Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession found: ●
● ●
Jessie M. Pavlinac first three specialty exams, the steps in determining the need for a specialty credential and constructing it have remained essentially the same. A group of practitioners, usually a Dietetic Practice Group, submits a specialty petition and market survey of RDs who would be interested in obtaining the certification. Benefits of specialty certification to an area of practice and to the organizations in which these RDs practice are also submitted. CDR reviews and, if adequate data exist to support development of the certification, approves the petition. A practice analysis is conducted of RDs working in the area. A work group of eight to 10 members with expertise in the area develop a content outline and test specifications from the practice audit, write questions, and construct the test. TANGIBLE REWARDS Data from a 2007 survey sent to board specialists in pediatric and renal nutrition found: ●
● ●
52% experienced employer recognition and experienced increased credibility with dietetics peers upon becoming certified; 42% experienced increased credibility with other professionals; and 91% experienced pride and personal satisfaction.
Journal of the AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION
hourly wages of a Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition went up 6% over an RD without the certification; up 14% for a Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition; and up 17% for Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics.
CARVE OUT A NICHE There are more than 1,500 board certified specialists as of this writing, and that number is increasing as the value of specialty certification becomes more widely recognized. The 2008 ADA/CDR needs assessment showed 40% of RDs recognize the marketplace value for each existing board specialty certification and would like to see certifications developed in health promotion and disease prevention, food protection and food service management, and clinical health care. DPGs are considering submitting specialty certification petitions in weight management, nutrition informatics, HIV, and OB/GYN nutrition. The Final Report of the Phase 2 Future Practice and Education Task Force recommended ADA “continue to recognize specialty practice areas in dietetics and provide support for additional appropriate education and credentialing opportunities” (Recommendation #9). If your goal is additional reward, recognition, and remuneration, I urge you to consider obtaining a board certified specialty credential. —Jessie M. Pavlinac, MS, RD, CSR, LD [email protected] doi: 10.1016/j.jada.2009.05.018
© 2009 by the American Dietetic Association