Indiana 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 →
Indiana licenses dietitians under Indiana Code Article 25-14.5, administered by the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA) for the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana, which took over from the former Indiana Dietitians Certification Board in 2019. The licence protects a title rather than a practice: IC 25-14.5-7-1 bars anyone without a licence from professing to be a "licensed dietitian" or implying it with letters such as "LD" (a Class A misdemeanor under 25-14.5-7-2), while CDR-registered dietitians may still call themselves "registered dietitian" or "RD" (25-14.5-7-3). Because IPLA runs a real application, issuance and renewal process for the licence, it is modeled here as a licensing state per this project's classification rule.
Indiana Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA), for the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana (IPLA) |
| Protected Title | Licensed Dietitian (LD) |
| Education | Baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited US college or university, with a major course of study in human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, and dietetics or food systems management (IC 25-14.5-3-1) |
| Exam | Registration Examination for Dietitians (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)) |
| Continuing Education | 30 hours every 2 years |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | IC 25-14.5-4-4(a) lets the board license, without Indiana's examination, an applicant licensed in a state whose requirements the board finds equivalent (it may refuse an applicant who failed the board's examination). IPLA's application instructions run this as "Dietitian by Reciprocity" under IC 25-1-21-5, requiring current verification sent directly from the other state's licensing authority. |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $20 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $20 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Late renewal total ($20 renewal + $10 penalty, after Dec. 31 of the renewal year) | $30 |
| Activation from inactive status | $10 |
| Reinstatement (license expired 3+ years) | $40 |
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 →Is “Nutritionist” a Protected Title in Indiana?
Indiana Code Article 25-14.5 does not use the word "nutritionist" at all: the only protected title is "licensed dietitian" / "LD" (IC 25-14.5-7-1), and 25-14.5-7-3(b) says nothing in the article limits anyone from disseminating free information, conducting a class or seminar, or giving a speech related to nutrition. There is no separate nutritionist licence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Indiana require a dietitian license?
Yes. Indiana licenses dietitians through the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (IPLA), for the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana (IPLA). The protected title is Licensed Dietitian (LD).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Indiana?
The application/initial license fee is $20, with a $20 renewal fee every 2 years.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Indiana?
Indiana Code Article 25-14.5 does not use the word "nutritionist" at all: the only protected title is "licensed dietitian" / "LD" (IC 25-14.5-7-1), and 25-14.5-7-3(b) says nothing in the article limits anyone from disseminating free information, conducting a class or seminar, or giving a speech related to nutrition. There is no separate nutritionist licence.
Can I get a Indiana dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
IC 25-14.5-4-4(a) lets the board license, without Indiana's examination, an applicant licensed in a state whose requirements the board finds equivalent (it may refuse an applicant who failed the board's examination). IPLA's application instructions run this as "Dietitian by Reciprocity" under IC 25-1-21-5, requiring current verification sent directly from the other state's licensing authority.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-09-24 | Source: IPLA — Dietitians Licensing Information (application routes, fee schedule, renewal, 844 IAC 19-1-6 CE text)