CEDS Requirements

Applicants must hold a current professional license, certification, registration, or other legal authorization to practice within their professional discipline. 

Examples include, but are not limited to: 

• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) 

• Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) 

• Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) 

• Psychologist 

• Physician 

• Nurse Practitioner 

• Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) 

• Registered Nurse (RN) 

• Other licensed or credentialed healthcare professionals authorized to provide eating disorder treatment 

Documentation Required 

Upload one of the following: 

• Current professional license 

• Registration card (RD/RDN/CNS, where applicable) 

• Other credential verification issued by the appropriate licensing or authorizing body 

Important: 

• Documents must clearly display your name and expiration date. 

• If your credential does not include an expiration date, upload verification from your licensing board confirming your current active status. 

• Applicants must document at least 2,500 hours of professional eating disorder-specific experience. 
• Experience hours may begin only after obtaining professional licensure or legal authorization to practice.
• Experience hours may begin only after a contract is in place with an iaedp-approved CEDS-C.
• Experience must be accrued over no fewer than 24 months. 

For more details or information, visit Consultation Guidelines.

Required Hour Distribution 

Applicants must complete: 

• 2,000 hours of direct client/patient care 

• 150 hours of indirect professional activities 

• 350 additional hours, which may be direct or indirect 

Direct Client/Patient Care Includes 

Activities directly related to patient treatment, including: 

• Individual, family, or group treatment 

• Clinical assessment 

• Case conceptualization 

• Treatment planning 

• Coordination of multidisciplinary care 

• Clinical documentation 

• Other activities directly related to patient care 

Indirect Professional Activities Include 

Examples include: 

• Clinical supervision 

• Case consultation 

• Case-based learning or teaching 

• Community presentations 

• Program development 

• Teaching eating disorder-related content 

• Coursework and professional readings 

• Journal clubs 

• Professional writing, blog entries, or publications

Applicants must complete 24 hours of consultation with an iaedp-Approved Consultant (CEDS-C™). 

Consultation Requirements 

• Minimum of 12 hours must be individual or dyad consultation. 

• The remaining 12 hours may be individual, dyad, or group consultation. 

• Consultation hours must be verified by your iaedp-Approved Consultant. 

Consultation Agreement 

Applicants and their iaedp-Approved Consultant should establish a written consultation agreement before consultation begins. The agreement should outline consultation dates and expectations. 

Please note: iaedp does not provide consultation agreement templates. 

Documentation Required 

Upload completed consultation verification documentation.

For more details or information, visit Consultation Guidelines.

Applicants must complete 20 hours of eating disorder-specific continuing education earned within the previous two years. 

Each certificate must include: 

• Applicant name 

• Course title 

• Date completed 

• Number of continuing education hours awarded 

Important 

If the course title or provider does not clearly indicate eating disorder-specific content, applicants must also provide one of the following: 

• Learning objectives 

• Session description 

• Program agenda 

The supplemental documentation must clearly demonstrate the educational content is specific to eating disorders. 

Courses without documented eating disorder relevance cannot be accepted toward certification requirements.

Applicants must successfully complete all four (4) iaedp Core Courses through the iaedp Online Learning Portal. 

Each Core Course includes a required quiz. 

The four required Core Courses are: 

• Essential Components of Care 

• Assessment and Diagnosis 

• Treatment Modalities and Interventions 

• Medical, Nutritional, and Psychiatric Considerations 

Each Core Course provides 3 continuing education (CE) hours, which may also be applied toward the required 20 CE hours if completed within the eligible timeframe. 

Documentation Required 

Upload the completion certificate(s) for each Core Course. 

If you receive one certificate documenting completion of all four Core Courses, upload the same certificate into each Core Course upload section within the application.

Applicants must successfully pass the CEDS Certification Examination with a score of 80% or higher. 

A passing examination score remains valid for 24 months from the examination date. 

Documentation Required 

Upload: 

• Examination completion certificate showing a passing score 

• Date the examination was completed 

Applicants must submit three (3) professional letters of recommendation supporting their eating disorder treatment expertise. 

Letters should: 

• Be specific to the applicant's eating disorder treatment experience and professional competence. 

• Be written by licensed or credentialed healthcare professionals. 

• Include the reference's credentials, contact information, and authentic (non-typed) signature or verified electronic signature. 

• Describe the applicant's competence in eating disorder treatment and professional practice. 

Letter Requirements 

• At least one letter should be written by a professional within the applicant's own discipline. 

• At least one letter should be written by a professional from a different discipline that is commonly part of an eating disorder treatment team. 

Letters may not be submitted by: 

• Your iaedp-Approved Consultant 

• Your personal therapist

Applicants must complete the Standards of Conduct, Disclosure, and Professional Code of Ethics section within the application. 

Applicants will be asked to disclose any history involving: 

• Criminal arrests or convictions 

• Professional disciplinary actions 

• Ethics violations 

• Malpractice claims 

• Fraud or misrepresentation findings 

• License denials 

• Voluntary surrender or resignation of a professional license, certification, registration, or permit 

• Pending investigations or disciplinary actions 

Please note: Answering “Yes” to any disclosure question does not automatically disqualify an applicant. Additional documentation or explanation may be requested during the review process.

Once all eligibility requirements have been completed, applicants may begin the CEDS application through the iaedp Certification Portal. 

Before submitting your application, ensure you have uploaded: 

• Current professional license or credential verification 

• Final graduate transcript or diploma supporting eligibility for licensure 

• Current Curriculum Vitae (CV) 

• Experience verification 

• Consultation verification 

• Three Letters of Recommendation 

• Continuing Education documentation 

• Core Course completion certificates 

• CEDS Examination completion certificate 

• Completed Standards of Conduct and Ethics disclosures 

Application Fee 

CEDS Initial Application Fee: $195 

Once your application has been submitted, it proceeds through two stages of review. 

Administrative Verification 

The Certification Team will verify that: 

• All required documentation has been submitted. 

• Documentation is complete and legible. 

• Eligibility requirements have been satisfied. 

Please allow approximately 30 days for administrative verification. 

Certification Committee Review 

Once administrative verification has been completed, your application is forwarded to the Certification Committee for final eligibility review and determination. 

Please allow approximately 90 additional days for Certification Committee review. 

Applicants should expect the complete review process to take up to 120 days. 

Please note: Approval of individual sections within the application portal indicates only that administrative verification has been completed. It does not constitute final approval or certification. 

Applicants who opened or began a CEDS application before July 8, 2024, may still see several legacy verification steps within the application portal. 

These items are no longer required and may be satisfied by entering “N/A” or uploading a blank placeholder document if prompted. 

The following requirements have been removed: 

• iaedp Membership 

• iaedp Symposium Attendance 

• Case Study Submission 

• Statement of Intent and Treatment Approach