Ever feel like getting credentialed as a dietitian is harder than joining an exclusive nightclub?
You’ve got the paperwork, the patience, the drive… but you’re still not on the ‘it’ list.
If you are feeling ‘all of these feels,’ then this blog post is for you.
Getting credentialed as a dietitian can be one of the most exciting steps in building your practice—hello, new client opportunities!
But it can also feel painfully slow, confusing, and downright frustrating.
Whether you’re brand new to insurance or trying to expand to more panels, here are the three big reasons credentialing feels so hard for dietitians—and how to make it easier.
Reason 1: The Process Wasn’t Built for Speed (or Sanity)
Insurance credentialing can take three to six months—and that’s if nothing gets lost along the way.
Applications bounce between departments, outdated systems, and (yes) the occasional e-fax machine.
To make matters worse, the process wasn’t designed specifically for dietitians.
You’re often lumped into “general provider” categories that don’t quite fit, which slows things down even more.
Amy P. Pro Tip: Start early. If you want to see insurance clients in January, begin your applications in July.
Reason 2: Every Insurance Company Plays by Different Rules
Credentialing would be easy if there were one standard application—but no.
Blue Cross might ask for one set of documents, Cigna another, and Medicare might ask for a different set of documents.
They have their own entire application universe.
It’s like walking into a grocery store where the milk is in the produce section and bread is in the freezer aisle—you spend most of your time figuring out where things go.
Amy P. Pro Tip: Create a master checklist for each payer’s requirements so you’re not starting from scratch every single time.
Reason 3: No One Teaches This in School
Raise your hand if your dietetics program taught you the Krebs cycle but not how to submit an NPI application.
Yep, same, me too.
Credentialing requires learning a whole new language—EFTs, CAQH, taxonomy codes—and figuring it out on your own can take years.
Amy P. Pro Tip: Invest in learning the credentialing process once, and you’ll save yourself endless frustration and delays down the road.
The Good News
Yes, credentialing is confusing, time-consuming, and at times… soul-sucking.
But once you understand the rules, it becomes much easier—and opens up a steady stream of new clients.
If you’d rather skip the frustration entirely, my team offers done-for-you credentialing services (we even set up your EFTs for you).
Click here to apply.
Or, if you want someone to walk you through it so you can learn and grow your practice empire, my coaching program is the perfect fit.
Click here to claim your crown.
No matter how you ‘do’ credentialing I am cheering for you.
You are one less step away from financial freedom and having the practice of your dreams.
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