Nebraska 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 →
Nebraska licenses two distinct credentials under the Medical Nutrition Therapy Practice Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§38-1801–38-1823), administered by the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) under its Board of Medical Nutrition Therapy: the "Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist" (LDN) and the "Licensed Nutritionist" (LN). Effective September 2, 2023 (2023 Neb. Laws LB227), the former single "Licensed Medical Nutrition Therapist" (LMNT) credential was split into these two separately defined license types — existing LMNTs who held current CDR credentials were deemed LDNs, and those without CDR credentials were deemed LNs. A license is required only to practice medical nutrition therapy (patient nutritional assessment plus treatment, typically under physician consultation); general nonmedical nutrition information and education do not require licensure.
Nebraska Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Medical Nutrition Therapy) (DHHS) |
| Protected Titles | Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN), Licensed Nutritionist (LN) |
| Education | LDN: master's or doctoral degree in human nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, nutrition science, clinical nutrition, or ACEND-equivalent coursework as approved by the board. LN: master's or doctoral degree with an approved major in medical nutrition therapy (or equivalent foreign degree validated by the board), plus 30 semester hours of specified coursework (15 hours clinical/life science; 15 hours nutrition and metabolism, including at least 6 hours of biochemistry). — 1,000 supervised-practice hours |
| Exam | CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians (LDN pathway) or Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) certification / equivalent board-approved exam (LN pathway) (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) / Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (CNS)) |
| Continuing Education | 30 hours every 2 years |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1813 provides that current, valid CDR registration as a registered dietitian nutritionist independently satisfies Nebraska's LDN licensure requirements (in lieu of the state's own degree/hours/exam pathway) — functioning as an endorsement route for CDR/RD holders, though a Nebraska license application is still required. |
Fee Breakdown
| Initial License Fee | $114 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $114 |
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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Nebraska formally defines and licenses "Licensed Nutritionist" (Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1808.01, licensed per §38-1817) as a credential distinct from "Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist" (§38-1808, licensed per §38-1813) — both practice medical nutrition therapy under the same Act and the same Board of Medical Nutrition Therapy, but through separate license types with separate qualification pathways (LN requires a Certified Nutrition Specialist-track credential rather than CDR/RD registration). Neither license reaches the bare, unregulated act of giving "general nonmedical nutrition information" (a term Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1807 specifically defines and excludes from the licensure requirement).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Nebraska require a dietitian license?
Yes. Nebraska licenses dietitians through the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Licensure Unit (Board of Medical Nutrition Therapy) (DHHS). The protected titles are Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN), Licensed Nutritionist (LN).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Nebraska?
The application/initial license fee is $114, with a $114 renewal fee every 2 years.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Nebraska?
Nebraska formally defines and licenses "Licensed Nutritionist" (Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1808.01, licensed per §38-1817) as a credential distinct from "Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist" (§38-1808, licensed per §38-1813) — both practice medical nutrition therapy under the same Act and the same Board of Medical Nutrition Therapy, but through separate license types with separate qualification pathways (LN requires a Certified Nutrition Specialist-track credential rather than CDR/RD registration). Neither license reaches the bare, unregulated act of giving "general nonmedical nutrition information" (a term Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1807 specifically defines and excludes from the licensure requirement).
Can I get a Nebraska dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1813 provides that current, valid CDR registration as a registered dietitian nutritionist independently satisfies Nebraska's LDN licensure requirements (in lieu of the state's own degree/hours/exam pathway) — functioning as an endorsement route for CDR/RD holders, though a Nebraska license application is still required.
Sources
- Nebraska DHHS — Medical Nutrition Therapist licensure page
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1801 — Medical Nutrition Therapy Practice Act, citation
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1805 — Definition of "Board" (Board of Medical Nutrition Therapy)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1807 — Definition of "general nonmedical nutrition information" (exempt from licensure)
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1808 — Definition of "Licensed dietitian nutritionist"
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1808.01 — Definition of "Licensed nutritionist"
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1813 — LDN licensure qualifications, CDR pathway, 2023 transitional provisions
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §38-1817 — LN licensure qualifications
- 172 Neb. Admin. Code, Chapter 2 (Fees) — Medical Nutrition Therapist fee table, effective 09/15/2020
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Nebraska DHHS — Medical Nutrition Therapist licensure page