Kansas 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 →
Kansas licenses dietitians under the Dietitians Licensure Act (K.S.A. §§65-5901 et seq.), implemented through Kansas Administrative Regulations (K.A.R.) 28-59, an agency-28 (Department of Health and Environment) regulation authorized by "the secretary" and administered day-to-day by "the department." Only the title "dietitian" and the abbreviation "L.D." are protected — the regulation text contains no separate license category or protected title for "nutritionist." Anyone already licensed to practice healing arts in Kansas (physicians, nurses, etc.) is exempt from needing a separate dietitian license to provide nutrition care within their own scope of practice.
Kansas Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Dietitians Licensure Act, K.S.A. 65-5901 et seq., implemented via K.A.R. 28-59) (KDHE) |
| Protected Title | Licensed Dietitian (LD) |
| Education | Baccalaureate or postbaccalaureate degree from a course of study accredited or approved by the American Dietetic Association (now the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics), or deemed equivalent by the secretary — 900 supervised-practice hours |
| Exam | Examination for dietitians approved by the secretary (in practice, the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians) (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)) |
| Continuing Education | 15 hours every 2 years |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | K.A.R. 28-59-2 allows an applicant currently or previously licensed in another state to apply for a Kansas license, provided the applicant meets current Kansas requirements, the issuing state's requirements were at least equal to Kansas's at the time of that license, and the applicant is in good standing (no pending administrative proceeding or discipline) in every state that has licensed them. |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $140 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $135 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| License renewal late fee | $50 |
| Temporary license application | $70 |
| Temporary license renewal | $70 |
| Reinstatement of lapsed/revoked license (in addition to renewal fee) | $100 |
| Wall/wallet card replacement | $10 |
| Continuing-education sponsorship application | $150 |
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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K.A.R. 28-59 (the full licensure regulation, covering applications, education/experience, examination, renewal, unprofessional conduct, and fees) never mentions a "nutritionist" title or license category — only "dietitian"/"L.D." is defined and regulated. Kansas has no separate licensed-nutritionist credential; a person providing nutrition services under the title "nutritionist" is not brought within this licensing scheme by that title alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Kansas require a dietitian license?
Yes. Kansas licenses dietitians through the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (Dietitians Licensure Act, K.S.A. 65-5901 et seq., implemented via K.A.R. 28-59) (KDHE). The protected title is Licensed Dietitian (LD).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Kansas?
The application/initial license fee is $140, with a $135 renewal fee every 2 years.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Kansas?
K.A.R. 28-59 (the full licensure regulation, covering applications, education/experience, examination, renewal, unprofessional conduct, and fees) never mentions a "nutritionist" title or license category — only "dietitian"/"L.D." is defined and regulated. Kansas has no separate licensed-nutritionist credential; a person providing nutrition services under the title "nutritionist" is not brought within this licensing scheme by that title alone.
Can I get a Kansas dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
K.A.R. 28-59-2 allows an applicant currently or previously licensed in another state to apply for a Kansas license, provided the applicant meets current Kansas requirements, the issuing state's requirements were at least equal to Kansas's at the time of that license, and the applicant is in good standing (no pending administrative proceeding or discipline) in every state that has licensed them.
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Kansas Department of Health and Environment — K.A.R. 28-59, Rules and Regulations for Licensure of Kansas Dietitians (full regulation text, effective/reviewed 10/22/21)