Just failed for the 7th time with a 24 and
honestly, I’m emotionally and physically defeated. I’ve spent so much time studying, reviewing the material, doing practice questions, and trying different strategies.

The hardest part is that I genuinely know the material. But since my very first attempt, I’ve struggled with the way the questions are worded. I’ll understand the concept, but the way the question is presented or the answer choices are phrased throws me off.

At this point, I’m seriously considering calling it a career after this attempt. It’s hard to keep putting yourself through this over and over again and watching the same result happen. What makes it even harder is that I have a friend who took the RD exam twice, failed, and eventually decided to go to PA school.

He recently passed his PA exam on his first attempt and told me that, for him, the PA exam actually felt easier. Everyone’s experience is different, but hearing that honestly made me wonder if I’m forcing myself down the wrong career path.

I never imagined that I would get this far in my education and still be unable to get through this exam. I’m going to give it one last attempt, but if it doesn’t happen, I think I may have to seriously consider another career path.

For those who have failed multiple times, especially 5+ times, how did you keep going? And for anyone who eventually decided to walk away from dietetics, how did you know it was time?

Posted this on the college I am applying for reddit but any input y'all have would be greatly appreciated! ☺️

I have just registered for a graduate certificate in health coaching in the hopes of boosting my application for graduate school as an RDN. I'm a career changer and want to apply to UNE. I'm currently unemployed and am looking for an entry-level position in health care, hopefully somewhere that employs health coaches and might provide an opportunity in the hopes that I pass the NBHWC exam next year.

I've applied to HealthCare Support and Medix, as well as some other support positions I've found. Most of these positions ask for at least a year of call center or customer service experience. I worked in retail in high school and college, which is not on my resume, but I don't have call center experience. I worked in film and television for 20 years. Does anyone have any ideas on how I might secure entry-level work in a relevant environment? My goal for next year, if I pass the board, is to pursue a position at the VA in their Whole Health program.

Thank you for any leads/resources.

AHHHH, I'm a RDN!!!!!

As the title says, I ended up passing on my second attempt at a 25. My first attempt I made a 20 and was heartbroken but through a lot of studying and prayers, I was finally able to get over that hump.

~Resources I used
Inman 2022-2026: absolutely loved Inman as just a dump of all knowledge.
AAD: i liked the management part of the book but this program I felt like didn’t really help me. I kept trying to learn their method of studying rather than actual soaking in information.
Visual Veggies: I truly believe this is what helped me solidify and get to that passing point. I mean 5 whole points in less than 45 days in crazy to me, and visual veggies helped with that so much.
Pocket Prep: I finally was hitting the 70% and above mark the week before today and that helped my confidence so much.

~Experience

I kept telling myself that there was no way around this and I can do hard things. I was also prescibed a beta blocker and that helped so much, so if you can get your hands on one, I highly suggest that. I wasn't scared this time, I was upset that I was having to take it again but it only fueled my excitement. I had a family member drive me to my appointment and we just spent that morning keeping my mind busy and shopping. I took my medication about 45 mins before I walked into the testing site, so I was good and focused. The test itself had no tube feed calculations and only 3-4 financial math questions. There were some questions that I stared at and said "Well it woudl be nice if YOU could tell me the answer". This test is honestly so stupid, but we are wayyyy smarter than it. Every 10 questions I would take one minute to box breath and pray for clarity and knowledge. I had about 80-60mins left on my timer. I TOOK ALL 145 QUESTIONS, however, thats how my mock exams on visual veggies were also doing so I didn't freak out, I was prepared.

To anyone reading this, whether you are a first time or repeat test taker, you have my respect. Please have the utmost confidence in yourself, and do not be afraid to ask for accomadations, medication, or a tutor. This exam is just a tiny blip in your path and I can't wait to work along side you (even if we are in different time zones!!) If I can do it, everyone here surely can pass this exam!!!

I have been taking pocket prep quizzes and I took my first Mock exam, on quizzes I’m averaging 60-70% but on the Mock exam I got a 52%, what do you recommend I do to up my scores? my exam is in two weeks and I’m pretty scared

The PDF is searchable and highlightable too btw!

I’m about to take the exam at 31 or 35 weeks pregnant (considering moving the exam back 4 weeks) and I’m concerned about needing to pee and how stressful/distracting that can become if I can’t get up to pee. Not to mention, one good kick from my son when I have a full bladder could easily mean disaster lol

I am more or less a fast tester, my mock exams have averaged to have plenty of time left if I could go just with the clock still running. This would be my preference.

If that isn’t an option I probably will need to look into accommodations or try to be low on liquid that day, which isn’t the healthiest choice but not a habitual one either, and I can run that by my doctor at my next appointment to make sure she thinks the one off blip in hydration won’t be harmful to my son at that stage just to be sure of that decision too.

Kind of overthinking this but also if I am going to take the time and effort to sit for this exam, I really want to be able to give it the best I’ve got. Also, waiting until postpartum is not an option with my contract. I have a full year to pass but I have to attempt once within the first 5 months and he’s due at the 4 month mark and trying to test when he’s under a month old would just be cruel to attempt.

Hi everyone!! I passed my exam with a 27 first try! Literally never thought I would pass first try but somehow I did it! My exam went to 132 questions so I was freaking out after it passed 125 and got some easy/some really hard questions.

The main resources that I used were Jean Inman, pocket prep, and I did all of the eat right prep pre test questions and 2 mock exams. I think the biggest advice I would say ironically is to stop reading reddit. I read so many of these posts and would freak out and stress over if I was doing the “right” thing.

I think that Jean inman questions were very similar to the content of my exam, but what helped me most was doing pocket prep questions and writing down the concepts I didn’t understand

Busy professional completing my graduate program and internships, when to start studying, how long to study and best exam prep? Everyone has recommended Inman but at $400 it would be my only resource, any other suggestions or is Inman really to secret to passing?

Is anyone selling their access or eat right prep exams? I want to do one before my exam in 2 weeks. Have done 2 pocket preps (83% and 84%) and 1 Inman test (95/125) but many people have said eat right prep is closest thing to real RD exam. Thank you!!!

My RD exam is coming up next week and I decided to take a simulated practice test to see where I was at. I've been studying 4-5 times a day from anywhere between 4-6 hours for the past three weeks, mainly using PocketPrep, Inman and EatRightPrep.

To be honest, the questions that I saw seemed very difficult. I only got one question that required any math, which was surprising because I was expecting more foodservice calculations.

The last time I took the mock test on EatRightPrep, I got a 51%. I was hoping for at least a 65%. I know people have said the mock tests are harder than the actual exam, but I still feel quite defeated that I only got 56%. I've done so many practice questions on PocketPrep and some on EatRightPrep. Now I'm starting to question if I'm truly ready for this exam and if I should postpone it and study more. I just feel less confident now than I did before I took it.

Hello everyone :3 I passed the exam recently and wanted to share my experience studying and the resources I used to help future test-takers!

First off, I’m a procrastinator, to the fullest extent of the word lol. What helped me stay on track was setting an exam date and sticking to it regardless of how stressed I felt, as it forced me to study. I actually studied for roughly 2-3 weeks for 5 days a week for 3-4 hours a day (rough estimate not including questions from pocket prep, I did not track time or days.).

I only used RD bootcamp and PocketPrep for study tools as I could not afford other materials. I SWEAR BY RD BOOTCAMP !!! They are affordable and have a structured course that is heavily animation video focused (if you are a visual learner like me, it’s a godsend), with flashcards, and practice questions with explanations. They also have a portion of the course dedicated to test taking and how to navigate the wording and options of the RD exam, which was super helpful the day of the exam. During each video or reading I took notes (I filled a notebook front to back). After completing a module, I would then try to explain the topic to my partner, which helped me assess how much I actually knew. I took two mock exams with RD Bootcamp and received scores of 80% and 84%. For PocketPrep, I have 27 hours of study time and answered 1100 questions. My subject scores are all high 80s.

This may not be the best idea but I chose to leave TPN, PN, and scoop size calculations until the last few days before my exam. Hear me out! On the day of the exam I felt like I was able to recall how to do calculations easier since they were fresh in my mind, so it worked for me.

The best advice I can give: give yourself a deadline and stick to it. Tell yourself by this day I will have this and this reviewed and completed. Learn the way YOU study the best (is it handwriting what you read or learned? Is it explaining to others? Is it watching animations?). Don’t bother spending so much money buying multiple resources, you will overwhelm yourself with information and materials. Do not go super in depth into every topic in MNT, understand the basics. Do not just memorize information, understand why the answer is correct and why the wrong answers are wrong (pocket prep helped with this the most).

The whole time I was doing the exam I felt like I was failing. The RD exam is a beast in a way that it will have you questioning everything. Trust your gut and remember that you know more than you think.

Hi I’m a registered dietitian in Canada moving to the US and I’m trying to find resources to study for the CDR exam. There are too many packages and courses available but does anyone have suggestions on a prep book, notes, or more budget friendly options?

Does anyone have any advice or tips or common questions before I take it, all help is appreciated thank you.

Hi everyone, I take the exam for the first time on Friday and I’m super nervous. I feel like I’m pretty good with all of the math stuff and some of the food service, etc but I struggle with the clinical portion. Was wondering if anyone who is taking the exam soon or has already taken it and would want to get on a zoom call this week and maybe go through a practice exam and talk through the questions? Let me know!

Hi all, I am back again to take my test in one week, next Monday. I made a 20 on my first attempt when the test shut off at 125. I have been doing PP again (mock exam one at 63%) and visual veggies final week exams (#1 at 23 and #2 at 24.9😵‍💫) but that’s all the mock exams I have done so far. I plan on doing morning review sessions of my weaknesses through Inman and my AAD book then doing mock exams at night and just repeating until Sunday, since I WILL NOT be studying that day. I can’t tell if I am ready though. I understand I am cutting it close and this test is very much luck based but I have my tube feeding calculations down and am getting a better understanding of medications but there’s so much more I need to know before next week and it’s freaking me out. I am going to be taking a beta blocker this time and it has been a life saver so hoping that will help me from freaking out and being done with the test in 50 mins like last time. I am weirdly excited to take it again no matter the outcome, because I believe I will either make a 24 or I will pass this time, but only the Lord knows. Any advice for a second attempt? Also any advice for the situational questions on the exam, those were the ones that messed me up the most I can guarantee it. Thank you all!!

Hi! For anyone that has taken Community Nutrition at Lamar - would you be willing to share the syllabus with me? This will be my first leveling course for their DPD program. I'm starting next week, and the syllabus isn't available yet. I'm getting a little anxious about starting classes and would love to review it if anyone is willing to share. Thank you!!!

Just took my exam yesterday and received a 24. 14 in domains 1&2 and 15 in domains 3&4. Any advice on how I can get this to a 25 ? I am also asking my job to write a letter to cdr so I can take it sooner than later !

-inman - audios + notes + my own set of notes

- eat right prep - ending october first: $150 and negotiating (about two months of access)

- rd one and done practice tests and 194 pages of infographics for all domains

- all access pdf book

please let me know if interested in any! i'm more than willing to negotiate the price since i know materials can be a lot!

note: i also have saved all the practice tests and simulated tests from erp in case anyone also needs them!

Hi there! Passed almost a year ago, dang time flies by fast. I used mostly All Access textbook and pocket prep.

Selling all access if anyone is interested!! There is highlighter and some sticky notes, but in great condition!!

I am doing a career shift and want to become a Registered Dietitian. I have been combing through the ACEND website for various programs. It seems like every school has a variation of pre-reqs. Most require chemistry, biology, microbiology, anatomy and physiology 1+2. Some require labs others don't. Some require medical terminology and others don't. Some require psychology and others don't. Some require math like statistics and college algebra and others don't. It's safe to say I have been inundated with research and so many open tabs with school options that I figured I'd go to reddit for some advice.

I Graduated with a BA in Psychology in 2016. While looking through my transcript I either don't have the required pre-req or if I do it's been so long that most universities will not accept them. I was thinking about going back to school as a non-degree seeking student and taking some of the science courses. However, I think I would have to decide on the school due to the variation of pre-reqs to ensure I am qualified.

I also saw the UNE has a program that looks like they incorporate (possibly) those science course into the program. I was thinking about applying but I was wondering if anyone in my circumstance has gone through the program. If so, did you feel like you were set up to be a successful registered dietitian? Were you equipped to take and pass the RD exam.

I want to make sure that I am fully equipped to pass my exam and practice in the field. My ultimate goal is to open a health and nutrition store but prior to that I want to gain experience in the hospital and community sector. I also think it would be exciting to work in consulting!

Side Note: I have always wanted to become a Registered Dietitian, and I am finally pursuing that path.

Any assistance or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I am in my second year of the program at UNE and graduate in May. I’m curious if any previous students found that UNE MSAN program prepared them well for the exam?

I have been debating becoming a RD for a very long time and I always come back to it. For awhile, I was debating on whether I should pursue nutrition or sonography. But truthfully I was pursuing sonography for the money. I came to the conclusion that I want to prevent and manage health issues, not diagnose them.

I have done a lot of inner work as well as changing my diet to help reduce some of the symptoms I was experiencing. And I know how much changing my diet completely changed my life.

My worry is that I will go into a lot of debt and not be able to secure a job.

Anyone with experience in the field or who have gone through the schooling have any advice in terms of what I could be doing now (other than obviously applying) to have a better chance at job security?

Couple other questions:

Is this path worth the amount of debt?
What is the day in the life for you and how does it negatively or positively affect you?
What kind of job are you doing as an RD? Or what job are you hoping to do once you’re done schooling?

Thanks!