CDRE Exam Dates 2026: November 5–6 Sitting and Deadlines

The next CDRE is November 5 and 6, 2026. Ontario deadlines: application October 5, fee payment October 12, scheduling October 27. Confirm yours with your provincial regulator.

By Mike Tulk, RD

CDRE exam dates for 2026

The next Canadian Dietetic Registration Examination (CDRE) is November 5 and 6, 2026, written online with a remote proctor. The spring 2026 sitting was May 14 and 15. The CDRE runs twice a year, spring and fall. Registration deadlines are set by your provincial regulator and close weeks before exam day, so confirm yours with your college early.

The next sitting: fall 2026

The next CDRE is November 5 and 6, 2026. The exam runs over two days so that candidates can be assigned a session within that window; you write once, on the day and time you are scheduled.

Registration deadlines depend on your province

For Ontario, the College of Dietitians lists:

  • October 5: complete application deadline for accredited-program applicants and specified upgrading/currency pathways. The Registration Committee review pathway has an earlier deadline.
  • October 12: CDRE fee payment deadline.
  • October 27: exam scheduling deadline for eligible candidates.

Ontario lists the November exam fee as $750. These details come from the College of Dietitians of Ontario's CDRE schedule. Accommodation requests have a separate, earlier deadline; consult that schedule and contact the College about your circumstances.

For Alberta, the College of Dietitians of Alberta lists:

  • September 10: accommodation request deadline.
  • October 14: deadline to have a complete application with the College.
  • September 8 to October 27: scheduling window with Meazure Learning for approved candidates.

For Manitoba, the College of Dietitians of Manitoba lists:

  • August 24: exam fee due.
  • September 10: accommodation request deadline.
  • August 28 to October 27: scheduling period.

Do not treat any one province's application deadline as a national deadline. Other provinces set their own dates, so use your own regulator's current instructions. Your eligibility confirmation explains how to book your seat.

Spring 2026 sitting (now passed)

The spring 2026 CDRE was held on May 14 and 15, 2026. If you are planning further ahead, the spring sitting typically lands in May; confirm the next spring date with your provincial college.

When do CDRE deadlines close?

The date you write is not the date that matters most for planning. Work backwards from it:

  • Registration window: opens and closes weeks ahead of the sitting. Miss it and you wait for the next cycle.
  • Eligibility documents: transcripts, proof of internship or practicum completion, and any internationally educated assessments must be in on time. What you need depends on your route; see CDRE eligibility requirements.
  • Technical check: the CDRE is written online with remote proctoring. Confirm your computer, connection, and ID well before exam day.

Because these dates change each cycle and vary by province, always confirm the current deadlines directly with your regulator. This page is a planning aid, not the official source.

Plan your study around the date

Once your sitting is locked in, count back to build a runway. Most candidates do well with a focused 8 to 12 weeks of case-based practice and at least one full-length, timed mock exam. The trap is leaving it late: the registration deadline is not the study deadline. If your sitting is inside 12 weeks, start with an assessment and use the questions you find difficult to choose topics to revisit.

The free 20-question assessment takes about 20 minutes. The first five questions need no account; a free account lets you finish and see your overall score and the first five answer reviews. The full competency report and remaining reviews require a paid plan, which also unlocks 140 competency lessons with self-checks. When you are ready to cover every domain and rehearse pacing, Full access includes a Study Plan built around your exam date, varied 185-question CDRE-format mock exams, and per-domain analytics. It is available as a one-time purchase, with no fixed expiration. See the details. For the full approach, start with the CDRE prep guide, and if you are weighing how tough the exam is, read how hard the CDRE really is.

Quick answers

When is the next CDRE?

November 5 and 6, 2026. You write once, on the day and time you are scheduled within that window.

How often is the CDRE offered?

Twice a year, in spring and fall. The spring sitting typically falls in May; spring 2026 was May 14 and 15.

When is the CDRE registration deadline?

It depends on your province. Each regulator sets its own deadlines, and they close weeks before exam day, so check your college's current instructions.