1. Conclusions  The Dietetic Technician and Registered Dietitian first-time exam pass rate improved but is still inconsistent after administration of the updated simulation exam software.  It must be recognized, however, that other strategies (i.e. curriculum, cumulative exams, course rotations) to improve the pass rate were also implemented simultaneously, making it difficult to assess which intervention was responsible for the improvement or if it was a combination of interventions that were responsible. YEAROne Year % of Graduates First-Time Passing Five Year % of Graduates First-Time Passing 20116971 20129078 20138177 201482NA YEAR One Year % of Graduates First-Time Passing Five Year % of Graduates First- Time Passing 20115047 20127550 201110063.5 2014100NA Dietetic Technician One, and Five-Year First-Time Pass Rates* *70% benchmark Registered Dietitian One, and Five-Year First-Time Pass-Rates** **80% benchmark. Results Instrumentation Visual Veggies Software Utilized. 1  Database contains over 700 questions.  Question sets available in Domain/Subset format.  Explanations provided for incorrect answers.  Timing options available. Visual Veggies. About. Retrieved from: http://visualveggies.com/dtr-practice-exam- software-study-guides/dtr-practice-exam-2012; 3/19/15.  For each Summer session from 2011 through Summer session 2014 Dietetic Technician and Registered Dietitian students were provided a practice credentialing exam consisting of a mixed set of random questions from five knowledge domains.  The exam was administered as part of the Dietetic Technician and Coordinated Program in Dietetics Practicums which is required the semester prior to graduation. Methods and Subjects Introduction  Accreditation requirements for Dietetic Education programs require achievement and monitoring of credentialing exam pass rates.  The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Standards require a first- time pass-rate benchmark of 70% for Dietetic Technicians and an 80% pass-rate for Registered Dietitians.  First-time pass-rates for both the Dietetic Technician Program and the Coordinated Program in Dietetics have been inconsistent in meeting the standard benchmarks.  Programs not meeting the benchmark pass-rate must implement a Pass Rate Improvement Plan (PRIP).  Upgraded exam preparation software is part of the Pass Rate Improvement Plan for the Youngstown State University Dietetic Technician (AAS) and Coordinated Program in Dietetics Program (BSAS). ( http://www.eatrightacend.org) Specific Aims  The purposes of the project were to: o Improve the credentialing exam first-time pass-rate for Dietetic Technician and Registered Dietitian program graduates. o Increase dietetic students’ test taking confidence. o Provide students with a comprehensive exam review program that would assist students preparing for credentialing exams. Department of Human Ecology, Food and Nutrition Youngstown State University, Youngstown, OH Dietetic Exam Simulation for Improved Pass Rate Leson, SM, Mincher, JL