Maryland 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 →
Maryland licenses dietitians and nutritionists under Health Occupations Article Title 5 ("Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionists"), administered by the State Board of Dietetic Practice. Unlike most states in this batch, Maryland issues two distinct license titles under the same Board: a Licensed Dietitian (LD), qualified via Commission on Dietetic Registration (RD) credentials, and a Licensed Nutritionist (LN), qualified via Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (CNS) credentials — each with its own academic track.
Maryland Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Maryland State Board of Dietetic Practice |
| Protected Titles | Licensed Dietitian (LD), Licensed Nutritionist (LN) |
| Education | For licensure as a Dietitian (LD): a minimum baccalaureate degree from an accredited college meeting Commission on Dietetic Registration standards, including at least 24 semester hours in human nutrition/food and nutrition/dietetics/food systems management (with specific minimums in disease-related nutrition, food-service management, biochemistry, and food science). For licensure as a Nutritionist (LN): a master's or doctoral degree from an accredited college or university in nutrition sciences (or equivalent training in nutrition education and food science). |
| Exam | Examination approved by the Board (in practice, satisfied via CDR registration for the LD pathway or BCNS certification for the LN pathway) (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS)) |
| Continuing Education | 30 hours every 2 years |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $300 |
| Initial License Fee | $300 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $250 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Reactivation fee (from inactive status) | $150 |
| Reinstatement fee (lapsed license, within 5 years) | $576 |
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 Maryland?
Maryland licenses "Dietitian" and "Nutritionist" as two distinguishable license tracks under the same Board of Dietetic Practice, each with its own qualifying-degree pathway (RD-based for Dietitian, CNS-based for Nutritionist) — the Board's own initial-application instructions explicitly separate "(A) Academic Requirements — For Licensure as a Dietitian (RD)" from "(B) Academic Requirements — For Licensure as a Nutritionist (CNS)." The statute governing both is titled "Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionists" (Health Occupations Article Title 5) and centers the umbrella term "dietitian-nutritionist" licensed to "practice dietetics," so the two tracks operate under one licensing scheme and one Board rather than fully independent regulatory regimes — but they remain separately defined, separately titled credentials rather than a single undifferentiated license.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maryland require a dietitian license?
Yes. Maryland licenses dietitians through the Maryland State Board of Dietetic Practice. The protected titles are Licensed Dietitian (LD), Licensed Nutritionist (LN).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Maryland?
The application/initial license fee is $300, with a $250 renewal fee every 2 years.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Maryland?
Maryland licenses "Dietitian" and "Nutritionist" as two distinguishable license tracks under the same Board of Dietetic Practice, each with its own qualifying-degree pathway (RD-based for Dietitian, CNS-based for Nutritionist) — the Board's own initial-application instructions explicitly separate "(A) Academic Requirements — For Licensure as a Dietitian (RD)" from "(B) Academic Requirements — For Licensure as a Nutritionist (CNS)." The statute governing both is titled "Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionists" (Health Occupations Article Title 5) and centers the umbrella term "dietitian-nutritionist" licensed to "practice dietetics," so the two tracks operate under one licensing scheme and one Board rather than fully independent regulatory regimes — but they remain separately defined, separately titled credentials rather than a single undifferentiated license.
Sources
- Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice — Licensure (Initial Application Instructions)
- Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice — home/about
- Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice — Continuing Education requirements
- Maryland Health Occupations Article §5-302 — Qualifications of Licensees (official statute text)
- Maryland Health Occupations Article §5-101 — Definitions (official statute text)
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice — Licensure (Initial Application Instructions)