Frequently Asked Questions
What does Nutrition Dimension offer?
Nutrition Dimension offers a variety of distance learning continuing education courses for Nutrition, Fitness and Health Professionals in several formats: full-length softcover coursebooks, online versions of the same full-length courses, shorter courses available only in the online format, short modules which may be downloaded free, and a course sharing feature. In addition, nutrition professionals may complete examinations for credit earned by reading specified articles in Today’s Dietitian magazine.
What is “My Account?”
We know how busy your schedule is, so we try to make it as easy as possible for you by offering 24/7 access to your Personal CE Account. You can order, complete exams, update your account information, and print transcripts, completion certificates and invoices for your records. All you need to do is log in. Privacy is protected through a password system.
How do I log into "My Account" for the first time?
If you have ever been a Nutrition Dimension customer, you already have an Account. To access it, you will need to Log In from the home page: enter the e-mail address
we have on file for you, and your Customer Number, which will serve as your password.
If you do not know your Customer Number, enter your e-mail address and click "Forgot Password." Your Customer Number will be e-mailed to you. (Remember to check your spam/junk folder
if the e-mail is not in your inbox.) If you have more than one e-mail address, or have changed your e-mail address, you must use the one we have on file to retrieve your Customer
Number. If that address is no longer active, you must contact us (link at top of page).
What is the “Shopping Cart?”
Your Shopping Cart is where items you’ve selected are stored, awaiting purchase. Fill your Shopping Cart using the “Buy Now” buttons and when you are ready to check out, it will be waiting in the upper right corner of the screen to take you through the checkout process. You can add or delete items you’ve placed in your Shopping Cart right up until checkout.
What do I receive when I order a course book?
When you order a course book, you will be sent the book (which includes the test), an Answer Sheet and Evaluation Sheet. You will have the option of completing the exam by mail or you may use Interactive OnLine Testing to complete your exam. If you decide to mail in your answer sheet, your completion date is the postmark date. The exam is graded and sent to you with a Certificate of Completion. This process can take 2 weeks. Or, you can use the website to complete your exam any time using Interactive OnLine Testing. You will be able to print the corrected exam and a Certificate of Completion immediately following the exam.
Why do you need my profession and license number?
We have been around for a while and we have a lot of customers. Sometimes customers’ last names and addresses change. The best way to keep track of everyone is by using a professional registration or license number to identify them — there may be 12 “Sally Smiths” but there is only one Sally Smith with RD registration number 123456. Even if Sally Smith becomes “Sally Jones” we can find her account using her registration number.
We also need your professional registration and/or license number so that your completion certificates contain all of the information your accrediting agency needs, in case we receive an audit request. A transcript of completed courses and credits is derived from our record of your license number.
How do I obtain a transcript showing my completed credits?
A transcript of all Nutrition Dimension courses completed can be obtained from your personal CE account, called My Account. Click on “Credit Transcript” to view and print your completion record.
What is my CPE activity type?
Registered Dietitians should use the pre-approved code 720 (pre-approved self study), when identifying Nutrition Dimension home study courses.
Can I search for courses by CDR Learning Needs codes?
You cannot search for courses based on learning needs codes, which are suggested, not provided by CDR. In other words, we use CDR guidelines to suggest that certain courses fulfill certain learning needs, but that does not mean that you cannot use that course for another, non-listed learning need. The portfolio is your learning plan and you get to decide what is appropriate learning for it. We suggest that you read the expanded descriptions of our courses (Table of Contents, Learning Objectives, Introduction) to determine if a course is what you want.
What/where is my Course Provider number?
Course Provider numbers are assigned to Nutrition Dimension by several credentialing agencies. Course provider numbers can be found on your Certificate of Completion after you have completed the course exam. You cannot access the provider number until the course exam has been completed. Course Provider numbers are different from Nutrition Dimension Course ID codes. Not all credentialing agencies award provider codes or require us to use them.
Why do you need my phone number and e-mail address?
We want to serve you better, and that means communicating in the most efficient way possible. We need a phone number and e-mail address in case we need to communicate with you on a matter directly related to your account, such as a failed credit card transaction, inability to deliver a shipment, unexpected delays, or other complications.
We routinely add e-mail addresses to our file for periodic information updates and important continuing education information. These communications often contain money-saving offers and specials that are only communicated by e-mail. If you wish, you may request us to remove your address from this file. We never engage in telemarketing.
Please read our Privacy Policy. We do not lease, sell, or trade personal information. We keep your personal information confidential.
How can I tell when my full length course expires?
The last two digits of the Course ID code reflect the year a course was updated or reviewed and recertified. For example, Nutritional Health for Men, Course ID “NHM08” was revised in 2008. Generally, the final date a course can be completed for credit will be in the 4th year after the year of revision. (In this case, 2012).
The exact month of expiration is found on the title page and page ii of coursebooks and electronic versions of full-length courses. You can also find complete by dates in the website course catalog for your professional group (nutrition, fitness, etc.) and in our paper catalogs (for current editions only).
Nutritional Health for Men has a “Complete by” date of January 2012, which means that we will award credit for completed paper examinations postmarked for return by January 31, 2012, and for exams completed electronically up until 11:59 pm on January 31, 2012.
EDnow modules and magazine exams use a different expiration method, please see “CE Choices” for explanations.
Are Nutrition Dimension courses approved for Certified Diabetes Educators?
Nutrition Dimension Inc. is approved by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Courses with content related to the practice of diabetes education, or which contain significant content related to diabetes or its complications, and which are offered by CDR Approved Providers including Nutrition Dimension, are accepted for recertification credit by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators (NCBDE). For a list of NCDBE recognized continuing education providers click here: www.ncbde.org/
When do we report CDM Clock Hours to DMA?
We report clock hours to DMA monthly, usually by the second week of the following month. If you complete a course on October 1st, you will not see it on DMA’s website until around November 7th. May 31st completions are reported to DMA by June 5th. Please allow adequate time for processing if you are mailing your answer sheet; we need it postmarked to Nutrition Dimension by May 15th so that we have time to record and report the completion.
Why are the same EDnow! module titles listed twice?
EDnow! modules are placed on the website to download free for one year. After the material is removed from the web site, you have one year to complete the exam — thus a module created January 2008, may be downloaded until January 2009, but its exam may be completed until January 2010. Usually, modules are reviewed, revised and recertified by the author, and posted online, which becomes available January 2009, may be downloaded until January 2010, and completed until January 2011. Thus, there are two listings for many titles, "Exam for 2008 edition only" means the module is no longer available to download but if you've previously downloaded the module you may still complete the exam for credit. "Module and exam for 2009 edition" is the most current edition of the module and is available to download and complete for credit.
It is important for you to know which edition of a module you have downloaded when you return to complete the online exam. The edition can be found on the title page of the EDnow module.
What happens if I am in the middle of my test on the Interactive OnLine Testing area and cannot finish at this time?
You can save your test at anytime and come back later to complete it. You will not have to start over. Click on the "Save Test" link after the last question on the examination. When you are ready to resume testing go to My Account, then to Testing & History. Find the course you wish to complete and click “Resume Test.”
Do not stop a test in the middle without first saving the exam! If you do, you will not be able to get back and finish the exam.
May I take courses that are not pre-approved for my profession?
Although most professional credentialing organizations approve individual courses or accept all courses offered by approved providers, many accept activities or courses which have not been formally approved for CE credit. Usually, there is a "petition" process, where a member can request CE credit for a course already completed, or seek assurance that a course will be accepted.
Usually, you will have to submit information about the course — learning objectives, table of contents, author’s qualifications, provider’s information. Our online Course Catalogs contain much of this information, and general information about Nutrition Dimension can be found on the website. We will be happy to assist you in supplying adequate information.
I don't need CE credit but I am interested in your nutrition courses for the information. Can I purchase them?
We seek to serve only credentialed professionals who need to earn CE credit, so our products are priced to include CE credit and services, such as reporting, archiving, pre-approval, etc. Our courses are available for purchase to individuals wanting the information. However, no discount is available.
Are your courses available for sale to colleges, universities and internship programs?
Our primary market is credentialed health professionals. However, under certain circumstances, we will sell our books in bulk to educational institutions for use by students. Five or more course books must be purchased for students and pre-paid in full. Our complete guidelines and procedures for institutional sales of this kind are available by calling 1-888-781-5388.
How do I complete a course or Share & Save exam that someone else purchased ?
To complete an exam that someone else purchased you must have a Nutrition Dimension account known as My Account and know the customer and course ID of the exam you are trying to complete. If you do not have an account then you must create one. Once you are logged in to your Nutrition Dimension account go to the "Testing & History" are of My Account. Click on "Take an exam that someone else purchased". You will be prompted to enter the customer and course ID of the original purchaser. The original purchaser is the only one who can give you this information, we cannot give out customer ID information to others, please get this information from the orginal buyer. Customer and course ID information can be found in My Account.
How do I complete an exam that my facility purchased?
To complete an exam that your facility purchased you must have a Nutrition Dimension account known as My Account and know the facilities customer ID and the course id of the exam you are trying to complete. Please note that if you are using a Share & Save exam that your facility purchased the course ID is SAS. If you do not have a Nutrition Dimension account then you must create one. Once you are logged in to your Nutrition Dimension account go to the "Testing & History" area of My Account. Click on "Take an exam that someone else purchased". You will be prompted to enter the customer ID of your facilty and the course ID of the exam you wish to complete. The original purchaser is the only one who can give you this information, we cannot give out customer ID information to others, please get this information from your facilities purchaser. Customer and course ID information can be found in My Account.
How do I know that the site is secure?
When checking out at NutritionDimension.com there are two ways to identify that the site is secure. The first is to notice that the begining of the web address has changed from http:// to https://. The "s" is added for secure. The second is to notice a lock icon is displayed somewhere in the window of the browser. Click (or double-click) on the icon for security details.