Minnesota 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 →
Minnesota licenses dietitians and nutritionists as two distinct, separately regulated credentials under Minn. Stat. §§148.621-148.633, administered by the Minnesota Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice. The Licensed Dietitian pathway is bachelor's-degree entry with CDR registration, while the Licensed Nutritionist pathway requires a master's or doctoral nutrition degree (or Certified Nutrition Specialist certification) — a materially different structure from most neighboring states, which fold "dietitian" and "nutritionist" into a single combined credential.
Minnesota Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Minnesota Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice |
| Protected Titles | Licensed Dietitian (LD), Licensed Nutritionist (LN) |
| Education | Licensed Dietitian: baccalaureate or postgraduate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited institution with a major in dietetics, human nutrition, nutrition education, food and nutrition, or food services management. Licensed Nutritionist: master's or doctoral degree from an accredited institution with a major in human nutrition, public health nutrition, clinical nutrition, nutrition education, community nutrition, or food and nutrition (certification as a Certified Nutrition Specialist by the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists can satisfy this pathway in lieu of the degree/hours combination). — 900 supervised-practice hours |
| Exam | Registration examination for dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)) |
| Continuing Education | 45 hours every 3 years |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | Minn. Stat. §148.624 subd. 1 allows an applicant with a valid, current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to obtain Licensed Dietitian status by providing evidence of that national credential, functioning as an endorsement pathway for CDR-registered dietitians. |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $100 |
| Initial License Fee | $150 |
| Renewal Fee (every 1 year) | $75 |
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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Minnesota is unusual in licensing "dietitian" and "nutritionist" as two genuinely distinct credentials with separate statutory education pathways: Minn. Stat. §148.624 subd. 1 (Licensed Dietitian, bachelor's-level entry) and subd. 2 (Licensed Nutritionist, graduate-degree entry, or Certified Nutrition Specialist certification). Minn. Stat. §148.622 further requires the Board itself to include at least two dietitian members and two nutritionist members, underscoring that the two are treated as separate professions rather than a single combined title.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Minnesota require a dietitian license?
Yes. Minnesota licenses dietitians through the Minnesota Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice. The protected titles are Licensed Dietitian (LD), Licensed Nutritionist (LN).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Minnesota?
The application/initial license fee is $100, with a $75 renewal fee every 1 year.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Minnesota?
Minnesota is unusual in licensing "dietitian" and "nutritionist" as two genuinely distinct credentials with separate statutory education pathways: Minn. Stat. §148.624 subd. 1 (Licensed Dietitian, bachelor's-level entry) and subd. 2 (Licensed Nutritionist, graduate-degree entry, or Certified Nutrition Specialist certification). Minn. Stat. §148.622 further requires the Board itself to include at least two dietitian members and two nutritionist members, underscoring that the two are treated as separate professions rather than a single combined title.
Can I get a Minnesota dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
Minn. Stat. §148.624 subd. 1 allows an applicant with a valid, current registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) to obtain Licensed Dietitian status by providing evidence of that national credential, functioning as an endorsement pathway for CDR-registered dietitians.
Sources
- Minnesota Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice — official board site
- Minnesota Statutes §148.624 — Licensure requirements for dietitians and nutritionists
- Minnesota Statutes §148.622 — Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice; membership
- Minnesota Statutes §148.625 — Application requirements
- Minnesota Rules 3250.0050 — Fee schedule (application, initial license, annual renewal fees)
- Minnesota Rules 3250.0140 — Schedule of required continuing education units
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Minnesota Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice — official board site