Alabama Dietitian License Requirements (2026)

Compiled and verified against primary state-board, CDR, and ACEND sources by DietitianLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →

Alabama licenses dietitians and nutritionists together as a single combined credential — "Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist" — under the Dietetics/Nutrition Practice Act of 1989 (Ala. Code §§34-34A-1 et seq.), administered by the Alabama Board of Examiners for Dietetic/Nutrition Practice. "Dietitian," "nutritionist," "dietitian/nutritionist," and the abbreviations "L.D." and "L.N." are all protected titles referring to the same license; Alabama does not maintain separate dietitian and nutritionist license categories the way some other states do.

Alabama Dietitian License Requirements

Licensing Authority	Alabama Board of Examiners for Dietetic/Nutrition Practice
Protected Titles	LD, LN
Education	Baccalaureate or higher degree with a major course of study in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management from an accredited college or university (or a qualifying master's/doctoral degree in a related field) — 900 supervised-practice hours
Exam	CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians (or another Board-approved examination) (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR))
Continuing Education	30 hours every 2 years
Endorsement (CDR/RD holders)	Ala. Code §34-34A-11 and Ala. Admin. Code r. 282-X-4-.06 provide reciprocity for licensed dietitians/nutritionists from other states whose licensing standards are not less than Alabama's, as determined by the Board; reciprocity applicants must also be current on continuing education with CDR or as approved by the Board. Separately, applicants presenting current CDR registration are treated as having met Alabama's education, experience, and exam requirements outright.

Fee Breakdown

Application Fee	$100
Initial License Fee	$150
Renewal Fee (every 2 years (biennial, expires Sept. 30 of every odd year))	$150

Related & additional fees

Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.

Temporary license fee	$75
Reciprocity fee	$150
Late renewal fee	$125
Reinstatement fee	$250
Bad check fee	$30
License verification fee	$15

Recommended exam prep

Formal prep pays for itself against a retake. These are the resources we point candidates to for the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians.

Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Mometrix · SponsoredRegistration Examination for Dietitians Secrets Study GuideA full review of the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians — domain-by-domain concept breakdowns and practice questions built for a first-try pass.See the study guide →

Mometrix · SponsoredDietitian Exam FlashcardsPortable flashcards for the high-frequency RD-exam topics — a cheaper add-on for drilling terms and definitions on the go.See the flashcards →

Is “Nutritionist” a Protected Title in Alabama?

Alabama regulates "dietitian" and "nutritionist" as a single combined credential, not as separate licenses. Ala. Admin. Code r. 282-X-4-.01 states applicants qualify "as a licensed dietitian or nutritionist" under one unified set of requirements, and the statute's definitions consistently pair the two terms ("dietitian/nutritionist," "licensed dietitian/nutritionist"). Ala. Code §34-34A-10 (Exceptions) does allow anyone to share general nutritional information about food without holding themselves out to be a dietitian or nutritionist — that general-information carve-out is available to unlicensed people, but there is no separate, distinctly regulated "nutritionist" license track apart from the combined LD/LN credential.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Alabama require a dietitian license?

Yes. Alabama licenses dietitians through the Alabama Board of Examiners for Dietetic/Nutrition Practice. The protected titles are LD, LN.

How much does a dietitian license cost in Alabama?

The application/initial license fee is $100, with a $150 renewal fee every 2 years (biennial, expires Sept. 30 of every odd year).

Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Alabama?

Can I get a Alabama dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?

Ala. Code §34-34A-11 and Ala. Admin. Code r. 282-X-4-.06 provide reciprocity for licensed dietitians/nutritionists from other states whose licensing standards are not less than Alabama's, as determined by the Board; reciprocity applicants must also be current on continuing education with CDR or as approved by the Board. Separately, applicants presenting current CDR registration are treated as having met Alabama's education, experience, and exam requirements outright.

Sources

Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Alabama Board of Examiners for Dietetics & Nutritionists — official site