• 58 questions

DTR Exam Practice Test

An unofficial DTR test practice bank in the three domains of the dietetic technician registration exam.

Which protein does the body need vitamin C to form, for skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels?

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Exam mode: 40 questions, 65 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Commission on Dietetic Registration. Bank checked October 9, 2026.

The real exam, as the Commission describes it

Time limit
180 minutes
Retakes
46 days after an unsuccessful attempt, with a new authorization. Candidates who become eligible on or after January 1, 2027 are limited to eight attempts for li
Questions
At least 110 (80 scored and 30 pretest) and at most 130 (100 scored and 30 pretest).
Pass mark
A scaled score of 25 on a scale of 1 to 50.
Going back
Not allowed. Each question is answered before the next appears, and earlier answers cannot be changed.
Calculator
An on-screen calculator is provided. Candidates may not bring their own.

Checked October 9, 2026 against DTR Exam Handbook for Candidates (2025) and DTR Exam Overview, Commission on Dietetic Registration. Rules change, so confirm with the agency itself before your test.

The Commission's own examination resources

Next step RD exam practice testCertified dietary manager test

All 58 questions

I. Nutrition science and care for individuals and groups 24

  • A 9-year-old's BMI-for-age falls at the 90th percentile. Which CDC category is that? CDC, Child and Teen BMI Categories. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 2. Nutrition assessment of individuals.
  • A client moves to a high-protein eating plan. The need for which vitamin rises as protein intake rises? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Vitamin B6. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.
  • A form lists about 100 foods and asks how often each was eaten over the past year. Which tool is it? National Cancer Institute, Dietary Assessment Primer, Food Frequency Questionnaire at a Glance. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 2. Nutrition assessment of individuals.
  • A higher-than-normal blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level may be a sign that which organs are not working well? MedlinePlus Medical Tests (National Library of Medicine), BUN (Blood Urea Nitrogen). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 2. Nutrition assessment of individuals.
Show all 58 questions (54 more)

I. Nutrition science and care for individuals and groups, continued

  • A patient moves up from a clear liquid diet to a full liquid diet. Which item is now allowed that was not allowed before? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Full liquid diet. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic C, 1. Intervention for individuals.
  • A resident has wounds that heal slowly, a poor appetite and a dulled sense of taste. A lack of which mineral produces these signs? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Zinc in diet. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.
  • A supervisor compiles a monthly report on tray accuracy from patient records. Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule's minimum necessary principle, how much health information should be used? HHS Office for Civil Rights, Summary of the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic D, 6. Documentation.
  • About how much sodium does one teaspoon of table salt contain? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Sodium in diet. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.
  • Dietary fat helps the body absorb which group of vitamins? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Dietary fats explained. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.
  • For adults age 20 or older, which total cholesterol level does MedlinePlus list as healthy? MedlinePlus Medical Tests (National Library of Medicine), Cholesterol Levels. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 2. Nutrition assessment of individuals.
  • Getting enough folic acid before and during early pregnancy helps prevent which birth defects? CDC, About Folic Acid. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 3. Nutrient and calorie needs at various stages of the lifespan.
  • How much vitamin D a day is recommended for a breastfed infant, beginning in the first few days of life? CDC, Vitamin D and Breastfeeding. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 3. Nutrient and calorie needs at various stages of the lifespan.
  • Meals in the Older Americans Act Senior Nutrition Program must provide at least what share of the Dietary Reference Intakes? Administration for Community Living, Nutrition Services. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic C, 2. Interventions for populations.
  • What does a Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) represent? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Vitamin E. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 3. Nutrient and calorie needs at various stages of the lifespan (DRI/RDA).
  • What does the National School Lunch Program provide? USDA Food and Nutrition Service, National School Lunch Program. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic C, 2. Interventions for populations.
  • What sets a food record apart from a 24-hour recall? National Cancer Institute, Dietary Assessment Primer, Food Record at a Glance. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 2. Nutrition assessment of individuals.
  • Which dietary assessment method is a structured interview about all foods and beverages consumed in the past 24 hours? National Cancer Institute, Dietary Assessment Primer, 24-hour Dietary Recall at a Glance. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 2. Nutrition assessment of individuals.
  • Which effect does MedlinePlus give for soluble fiber? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Carbohydrates. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.
  • Which medicines does MedlinePlus list as a cause of hypokalemia, a low blood level of potassium? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Potassium in diet. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.
  • Which national survey combines dietary interviews with health exams and laboratory tests for participants of all ages? CDC National Center for Health Statistics, About NHANES. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 3. Nutrition assessment of populations.
  • Which program brings nutrition education to low-income families and youth through land-grant universities? USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic C, 2. Interventions for populations.
  • Which protein does the body need vitamin C to form, for skin, tendons, ligaments and blood vessels? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Vitamin C. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.
  • Which reading is normal blood pressure, by the CDC page? CDC, About High Blood Pressure. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic B, 2. Nutrition assessment of individuals.
  • Why should milk not be stored in a clear container that is exposed to light? MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (National Library of Medicine), Riboflavin. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain I, Topic A, 1. Nutrients and other functional substances.

II. Food science and food service 12

  • A hospital kitchen posts the Food Code's cooking minimums. Which of these foods is the one cooked to 155°F for 17 seconds? FDA Food Code 2022, 3-401.11. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic C, 1. Production (cooking methods).
  • A nursing facility wants to buy produce straight from a nearby farm. What does the federal rule say about where its food may come from? 42 CFR 483.60, Food and nutrition services (CMS, long-term care facilities), paragraph (i)(1). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic B, 2. Policies and procedures (regulatory compliance).
  • A recipe costs $42.00 to prepare and yields 60 portions. What is the cost per portion? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic C, 1. Production (portion control: costing).
  • A storeroom used $24,000 of food in March and its average inventory was worth $8,000. With turnover figured as cost of food used divided by average inventory, what was the month's inventory turnover? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic B, 2. Policies and procedures (inventory management).
  • A tub of tuna salad is made on Monday and kept at 41°F. Counting Monday as Day 1, what is the longest it may be held before it is used or discarded? FDA Food Code 2022, 3-501.17. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic D, 2. Sanitation and food safety.
  • Between 40°F and 140°F, bacteria can double in number in as little as how long? USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, "Danger Zone" (40°F - 140°F). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic D, 2. Sanitation and food safety (factors affecting bacterial growth).
  • Frozen fish is thawed completely submerged under running water. What is the warmest the water may be? FDA Food Code 2022, 3-501.13. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic D, 2. Sanitation and food safety.
  • In a HACCP plan, what is a critical control point? FDA, HACCP Principles and Application Guidelines. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic D, 2. Sanitation and food safety (HACCP).
  • Lunch is served outdoors on a day above 90°F. By the USDA, what is the longest the food may be left out of refrigeration? USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, "Danger Zone" (40°F - 140°F). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic D, 2. Sanitation and food safety.
  • Under the federal rule for nursing facilities, who must review the facility's menus for nutritional adequacy? 42 CFR 483.60, Food and nutrition services (CMS, long-term care facilities), paragraph (c)(6). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic A, 2. Menu development (guidelines).
  • The USDA chart sets 145°F for beef, pork, veal and lamb steaks, chops and roasts. What must follow before the meat is carved or eaten? USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic C, 4. Food preparation.
  • Which protein is responsible for most of the red color of meat? USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, The Color of Meat and Poultry. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain II, Topic C, 3. Physical and chemical properties of food.

III. Management of food and nutrition services 22

  • A cafeteria's sales for the week are $20,000 and its payroll is $7,000. What is the labor cost percentage? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic B, 2. Financial analysis (labor).
  • A department averages 40 employees. During the year 10 leave and are replaced. With turnover figured as separations divided by the average number of employees, what is the annual turnover rate? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (retention: turnover).
  • A dietetic technician is asked to carry out a task beyond their training. Which standard of the Code of Ethics applies most directly? Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and CDR, Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession (2018). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic D, 3. Scope of practice and standards of professional performance.
  • A dishwasher files a discrimination complaint and is then cut from the schedule as punishment. What do the EEO laws call this? EEOC, Retaliation. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (personnel actions).
  • A hospital's current therapeutic diet manual must be approved by whom? 42 CFR 482.28, Condition of participation: Food and dietetic services (CMS, hospitals), paragraph (b)(3). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic E, 1. Regulatory guidelines.
  • A kitchen gives its staff a 15-minute coffee break. How does federal law treat that time? U.S. Department of Labor, Breaks and Meal Periods. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (labor laws).
  • A kitchen has total costs of $45,000 for a month in which it serves 15,000 meals. What is the cost per meal? Own question; the answer is arithmetic on the numbers in the question. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic B, 4. Financial performance monitoring and evaluation.
  • A new hire's main worry is paying for food and shelter. Which level of Maslow's hierarchy does that worry belong to? Wikipedia, Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic D, 2. Management functions (directing: motivation strategies).
  • A nursing facility has no full-time dietitian. Which credential is one that qualifies a person to serve as its director of food and nutrition services? 42 CFR 483.60, Food and nutrition services (CMS, long-term care facilities), paragraph (a)(2). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic E, 1. Regulatory guidelines.
  • A supervisor assumes that employees are internally motivated, enjoy their jobs and try to improve with no direct reward for it. Which view of workers is this? Wikipedia, Theory X and Theory Y. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic D, 2. Management functions (directing: management theories).
  • The Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession pairs "Competence and professional development in practice" with which ethical principle? Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and CDR, Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession (2018). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic D, 3. Scope of practice and standards of professional performance (ethics).
  • How many sections does a safety data sheet have under the Hazard Communication standard? 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication (OSHA), paragraph (g)(2). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic E, 1. Regulatory guidelines (federal).
  • In a nursing facility where no bedtime snack is served, what is the longest span allowed between a substantial evening meal and breakfast? 42 CFR 483.60, Food and nutrition services (CMS, long-term care facilities), paragraph (f)(2). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic E, 1. Regulatory guidelines.
  • In Herzberg's two-factor theory, salary, job security and work conditions belong to which group? Wikipedia, Two-factor theory. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic D, 2. Management functions (directing: motivation strategies).
  • Two cooks go to the manager together to ask for safer floor mats. Under the National Labor Relations Act, what is this an example of? National Labor Relations Board, Employee Rights. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (labor laws; union contracts).
  • Under the Equal Pay Act, what determines whether two jobs are substantially equal? EEOC, Equal Pay/Compensation Discrimination. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (labor laws).
  • Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, for how long after a child's birth must an employer give reasonable break time to express breast milk? U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, FLSA Protections to Pump at Work. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (labor laws).
  • Under the federal rule for nursing facilities, who must prescribe a therapeutic diet for a resident? 42 CFR 483.60, Food and nutrition services (CMS, long-term care facilities), paragraph (e). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic E, 1. Regulatory guidelines.
  • What is the federal minimum wage under the Fair Labor Standards Act? U.S. Department of Labor, Wage and Hour Division, Minimum Wage. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (labor laws).
  • Where must the safety data sheets for a kitchen's dish machine chemicals be kept, under OSHA's Hazard Communication standard? 29 CFR 1910.1200, Hazard Communication (OSHA), paragraph (g)(8). Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic E, 1. Regulatory guidelines (federal).
  • Which four elements make up the marketing mix known as the 4 Ps? Wikipedia, Marketing mix. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic C, 2. Marketing strategies/market mix principles.
  • Which law requires a covered employer to accommodate a worker's known limitation related to pregnancy or childbirth, unless that causes undue hardship? EEOC, Pregnancy Discrimination and Pregnancy-Related Disability Discrimination. Outline: DTR Test Specifications and Study Outline 2022-2026 (CDR), Domain III, Topic A, 2. Employment processes (labor laws).

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the Dietetic Technician, Registered Examination Test Specifications of the Commission on Dietetic Registration, in force January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2026 (https://admin.cdrnet.org/vault/2459/web/2022%20DTR%20Test%20Specifications%20without%20detail%20CDR%20approved%209%202020.pdf, approved September 14, 2020, read 2026-10-09; the study outline of the same years was read for the topic lines): I. Nutrition Science and Care for Individuals and Groups 41%, II. Food Science and Food Service 21%, III. Management of Food and Nutrition Services 38%. The bank holds 24, 12 and 22 questions. Every fact was read on 2026-10-09 in the public source the question names: the FDA Food Code 2022, federal regulations on ecfr.gov (42 CFR 482.28 and 483.60, 29 CFR 1910.1200), pages of MedlinePlus, the CDC, the National Cancer Institute, the USDA (FNS, FSIS, NIFA), the Administration for Community Living, HHS, the FDA, the Department of Labor, the EEOC and the NLRB, the Code of Ethics for the Nutrition and Dietetics Profession, and four Wikipedia articles on management theory. 5 answers are arithmetic on the numbers in the question, and each was worked a second time before the bank was published. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

Dietetic technicians sit their own registration exam, and this free DTR exam practice test follows its three domains with 58 questions written for this site. It is unofficial and not affiliated with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the exam's owner.

Read the full guide

The three domains

Nutrition science and care for individuals and groups carries 41% of the technician exam, food science and food service 21%, and management of food and nutrition services 38%. Those are the Commission's test specifications for 2022 through 2026, read October 9, 2026, and the bank follows them with 24, 12 and 22 questions.

What changes in 2027

On January 1, 2027 the technician exam is regrouped: human nutrition and clinical care for individuals 40%, community nutrition and wellness 30%, management and foodservice operations 30%.

A timed run

Exam mode draws 40 questions and allows 65 minutes, which is the real pace when the technician exam stops at its minimum of 110 questions.

  • Portion cost, inventory turnover, staff turnover, labor cost and cost per meal each come up once as a calculation, so have a basic calculator ready.

Questions and answers

Is this a DTR exam study guide?

It works as one for self-testing. Under each answer is the public source it was read in and the line of the Commission's study outline it belongs to, so a miss tells you what to read next. Nothing here was taken from the real exam.

How many questions are on the DTR exam?

Between 110 and 130, depending on the candidate. The handbook for technician candidates sets the floor at 80 scored plus 30 pretest questions and the ceiling at 100 scored plus 30 pretest.

How long is the DTR exam?

The clock allows three hours, and the appointment adds half an hour for a tutorial and a survey. Running out of time before the 110th answer counts as a failed attempt.

What score passes the DTR exam?

A scaled 25, where the scale runs from 1 to 50. How many right answers stand behind a 25 is not fixed, which is why the result on this page is a plain count.

How is the DTR exam different from the RD exam?

It has three domains where the dietitian exam has four, gives more weight to management and food service, and has fewer questions. For the dietitian exam, use the RD exam practice test.

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