Connecticut 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 →
Connecticut certifies dietitian-nutritionists under Chapter 384b of the General Statutes (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§20-206m to 20-206t), administered by the Department of Public Health's Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section. Despite being labeled a "certificate" rather than a "license," it functions as a real regulatory process — a $190 application, an issuing state agency, and annual renewal — so it is classified as licensing here. The certificate covers three interchangeable protected titles together: "Connecticut Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist," "Connecticut Certified Dietitian," and "Connecticut Certified Nutritionist" (plus the abbreviations C.D.-N., C.D., C.N.).
Connecticut Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section (CT DPH) |
| Protected Titles | Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (C.D.-N.), Certified Dietitian (C.D.), Certified Nutritionist (C.N.) |
| Education | Current certification as a Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration automatically qualifies an applicant. Applicants who are not CDR-registered instead need a master's or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited institution, with a major course of study focused primarily on human nutrition or dietetics, including a minimum of 30 graduate semester credits, at least 21 of which must span five or more of seven specified content areas (e.g., nutrition in the life cycle, nutrition biochemistry, nutrition assessment, food composition/science, nutrition counseling, nutrition in health and disease, community/public health nutrition). |
| Exam | Written examination prescribed by the DPH Commissioner (required only for applicants who are not already CDR-registered) (Connecticut Department of Public Health; current CDR registration independently satisfies this requirement) |
| Continuing Education | Not required |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-206o lets the department issue a certificate without examination, on payment of the same $190 fee, to any applicant who presents proof of current licensure or certification as a dietitian or nutritionist in another state, DC, or U.S. territory with standards the department determines are equal to or higher than Connecticut's. |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $190 |
| Initial License Fee | $190 |
| Renewal Fee (every 1 year) | $105 |
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.
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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 Connecticut?
Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-206p protects "Connecticut Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist," "Connecticut Certified Dietitian," and "Connecticut Certified Nutritionist" together as titles restricted to holders of the single dietitian-nutritionist certificate issued under §20-206n — there is no separate "nutritionist" certification with its own distinct qualification pathway.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Connecticut require a dietitian license?
Yes. Connecticut licenses dietitians through the Connecticut Department of Public Health, Practitioner Licensing and Investigations Section (CT DPH). The protected titles are Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (C.D.-N.), Certified Dietitian (C.D.), Certified Nutritionist (C.N.).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Connecticut?
The application/initial license fee is $190, with a $105 renewal fee every 1 year.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Connecticut?
Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-206p protects "Connecticut Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist," "Connecticut Certified Dietitian," and "Connecticut Certified Nutritionist" together as titles restricted to holders of the single dietitian-nutritionist certificate issued under §20-206n — there is no separate "nutritionist" certification with its own distinct qualification pathway.
Can I get a Connecticut dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
Conn. Gen. Stat. §20-206o lets the department issue a certificate without examination, on payment of the same $190 fee, to any applicant who presents proof of current licensure or certification as a dietitian or nutritionist in another state, DC, or U.S. territory with standards the department determines are equal to or higher than Connecticut's.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 384b — Dietitian-Nutritionists (full chapter text)