Do you ever wonder which specialties you should include on your Fay profile?
Your specialty selections help patients find a dietitian who is a strong fit for their clinical needs. We rely on your professional judgment to determine whether you have the expertise to care for patients within each specialty. Select only those specialties where you can confidently provide safe, evidence-based care.
One of the most common compliments we receive is that patients feel their dietitian truly understands their condition and provides care that is both relevant and clinically astute. On the other hand, patients sometimes tell us their dietitian was not familiar enough with their clinical condition. Thoughtful specialty selection helps create stronger matches, set appropriate expectations, and support a positive therapeutic relationship from the first visit.
How should I decide which specialties to select?
Before completing this assessment, review the applicable Clinical Reference Guide (CRG), if one is available for the specialty.
Next, use this Specialty Self Assessment Tool. It is designed to help you reflect on your clinical experience, knowledge, and readiness to care for patients within a specialty. The goal is not to limit your growth, but to help you accurately represent your current expertise while identifying opportunities to build new specialties over time.
Specialty Self Assessment Tool
# | Question | Yes |
1 | Active practice. I independently assess, counsel, and manage patients with this condition as part of my current practice, seeing at least a few patients per month. | ☐ |
2 | Depth. I have treated 50+ patients where this was the primary reason for MNT, not simply a comorbidity, or can demonstrate equivalent depth through specialty training, supervised practice, or other comparable experience when patient volume is lower. | ☐ |
3 | Training. Board certification, when available, is sufficient. Otherwise, completion of a recognized specialty training or certificate program and 15+ specialty CEU hours in the past three years are both required. | ☐ |
4 | Currency. I can describe current evidence, common medical treatments, and their MNT implications from working knowledge, verifying specifics as needed. | ☐ |
5 | Scope. I know when a case exceeds MNT, the red flags that require escalation, and the Fay referral workflow. | ☐ |
Note: This tool is intended to support your judgment, not replace it.
What if I meet the criteria of the Specialty Self Assessment Tool?
If you answered “Yes” to all five questions, the specialty is likely an appropriate addition to your profile. Your responses suggest that you have current independent practice experience, sufficient depth, appropriate training, current knowledge, and the clinical judgment needed to care for patients in that area within your scope of practice.
You can update your specialty selections at any time as your expertise and practice evolve. To update your specialties, go to Settings in Fay and select the Profile tab.
How do I select my Top Specialties?
From the specialties you qualify for, choose up to three as your Top Specialties. These should represent the areas where you have the greatest depth of expertise and experience and where you would be most confident receiving new patient referrals from Fay.
To update your top specialties, go to Settings > Profile. When selecting specialties from the dropdown, click the star to the right of the specialty to select it as one of your top specialties.
What if I'm not ready to add a specialty yet?
If the Specialty Self Assessment Tool suggests that you're not quite ready to add a specialty today, that's completely okay. Clinical expertise develops over time. We've created several resources to help you build your knowledge and confidence so you can revisit your specialty selections whenever you're ready.
CDR board certifications & recognized specialty certificates
CSDH — Board Certified Specialist in Digestive Health
CSG — Board Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition
CSOWM — Board Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management
CSO — Board Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition
CSP — Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition
CSPCC — Board Certified Specialist in Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition
CSR — Board Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition
CSSD — Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics
CEDS — Certified Eating Disorders Specialist / International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals (IAEDP)
What resources are available?
Fay Clinical Reference Guides: Six Clinical Reference Guides are available, covering the conditions that bring the majority of Fay patients to care:
Each guide includes evidence-based guidance, practical clinical considerations, and suggested session roadmaps to help structure care across multiple visits.
Fay Community clinical specialty spaces: Connect with other Fay dietitians, share resources, and discuss clinical questions within appropriate privacy guidelines. These channels are lightly moderated.
Clinical operations: Fay's Head of Clinical Operations is available as a resource for clinical questions, specialty development needs, and suggestions for additional tools or guidance.
Our recommendation when selecting specialties
Select specialties where you currently and independently have the expertise to provide safe, evidence-based care. For areas you are still developing, use the Specialty Self Assessment Tool, Clinical Reference Guides, Clinical Specialty Community spaces, and other Help Center resources, then update your profile as your expertise evolves.
Credible CEUs and professional education
Metabolic health, obesity, and weight management
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Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
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Gastrointestinal nutrition
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Eating disorders and disordered eating
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Cardiovascular disease
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Women's health
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General resources / podcasts
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