Three tips for passing your Registered Dietitian (RD) Exam
After four years of undergraduate education and a 1200 hour unpaid internship, an intern has one last hurdle before they can become a fully credentialed registered dietitian. That hurdle comes in the form of passing a nationwide exam titled the "Registration Exam for Dietitians". The moment you pass this exam, you can officially refer to yourself as a registered dietitian (and rightfully so!). There are many ways to best prepare for this exam, but I want to share my best 3 tips for passing the exam!
1. Do the Jean Inman Review: You have two options for her review
a. Attend a review in person: You are provided with a study manual and for two full days Jean reviews the manual with you and highlights important topics to study for the exam
b. Purchase the CDs: You are provided with a study manual, but the in-person review is replaced with the review on CD. With the CDs, it is Jean walking you through the review as if you were in-person
I attended a review in person and highly recommend it. It is easier to stay attentive this way as opposed to listening CDs staring at your wall. However, either is sufficient and you will not need any other study materials. The review is extensive in material and comes with MANY practice questions. Plus, Jean is the nicest human ever. Purchasing awesome review services through an awesome person is a win-win. Use Jean Inman for your one stop study guide services for the exam!
2. Set a test date and a study schedule and stick to it: There is no one way to study for this exam. The Jean Inman review consists of 4 domains to study. I studied for a few hours 5-6 days a week and that was it. Nobody ever feels 100% percent ready for this exam so be confident in your studying and go take that exam!
3. Focus on what you do NOT know as opposed to what you do know. As I was completing practice questions, there were themes as to the types of questions I was moving. For example, I answered about 85% of the math questions from the "Management of Food and Nutrition Programs and Services" domain correctly, but missed every question regarding anemia from the "Nutrition Care for Individuals and Groups" domain. In circumstances like this, don't review what you already know and focus on the main topics you are missing.
Those are the best tips I have for you while studying. You have come so far at this point, and this one final formality is just the last hurdle in a very long race. Be confident in yourself and be confident in each answer you give throughout the exam. In the minor chance you may not pass, don't stress. Focus on material you didn't feel confident in during the exam, study a little harder, and pass the second time. I know plenty of successful, bright, intelligent dietitians who did not pass on their first try. And guess what? Literally nobody cares. Once you pass (on your 1st, 2nd, or 3rd try), you get to ride off into the sunset of the best career ever.
Good luck!
