How to Become a Registered Dietitian (RD)
Compiled and verified against primary state-board, CDR, and ACEND sources by DietitianLicense — cite-or-deny, with no invented figures. How we source & verify →
Becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) follows the same national path everywhere in the US: an accredited degree, supervised practice, and a national exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). What changes by state is whether you also need a separate state license to use the title or practice — covered at the end of this guide and in our state licensure explainer.
1. Earn a Degree from an ACEND-Accredited Program
Dietetics education programs are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), part of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Coursework typically covers a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) — biochemistry, physiology, food science, and clinical nutrition — either as a standalone program followed by a separate supervised-practice program, or bundled together in a Coordinated Program (CP) that combines coursework and supervised practice.
2024 graduate-degree requirement: As of January 1, 2024, CDR requires candidates to hold a minimum of a graduate degree (master’s or higher) to be eligible for the Registration Examination for Dietitians — up from the bachelor’s-degree minimum that applied previously. This is CDR’s Future Education Model requirement and applies nationally, regardless of which state you intend to practice in.
2. Complete Supervised Practice (Dietetic Internship)
After completing (or alongside, in a Coordinated Program) the academic coursework, you need supervised practice hours through an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship. Most students apply to internship programs through the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Service (DICAS). Supervised practice rotations typically span clinical nutrition, community/public health nutrition, and foodservice management settings. The exact hour requirement is set by each accredited program under ACEND standards and can vary — check the specific program you’re applying to for its published hour count rather than relying on a single number here.
3. Pass the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians
Once your degree and supervised-practice program are complete, your program director verifies your eligibility and CDR authorizes you to schedule the Registration Examination for Dietitians — a computer-based exam administered at Pearson VUE testing centers nationwide. Passing this exam is what makes you a Registered Dietitian (RD/RDN) — a single national credential recognized the same way in every state, even though separate state licensure requirements (covered below) still vary. For the exam domains, format, pass standard, cost, and how to study, see our RD exam prep guide.
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 · 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 →4. Get Licensed in Your State (If Required)
Earning the RD/RDN credential is a national milestone, but most states additionally require you to hold a state license or registration before you can use the title or practice dietetics for pay. A minority of states don’t license dietitians at all. Because the CDR credential is national, most licensing states grant licensure by endorsement to existing RD/RDN holders rather than requiring you to repeat education or exam requirements. Pick your state below for its specific requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a graduate degree required to become a Registered Dietitian?
As of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires candidates to hold a minimum of a graduate degree (a master's degree or higher) to be eligible to sit for the Registration Examination for Dietitians. This is a national eligibility requirement set by CDR, not a state-by-state rule — it applies no matter which state you plan to practice in.
What is the difference between RD and RDN?
RD (Registered Dietitian) and RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) refer to the same national credential issued by CDR. RDN was introduced as an optional, equivalent title to clarify the nutrition scope of the credential; credential holders can use either RD or RDN interchangeably.
Do I need a state license after I earn the RD/RDN credential?
It depends on the state. Most states require dietitians to hold a separate state license or registration in addition to the national RD/RDN credential, but a minority of states — such as California and Colorado — do not operate a dietitian licensing board at all. See our state-by-state pages and the licensure-by-endorsement explainer for details.
How long does it take to become a Registered Dietitian?
The timeline varies by individual, but it typically spans a graduate degree program, an ACEND-accredited supervised-practice program (dietetic internship), and then the CDR exam — commonly several years in total. Program length, internship availability, and full-time vs. part-time study all affect the exact timeline, so we don't cite a single fixed number here.