Pennsylvania 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 →
Pennsylvania licenses the Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN) credential under the Professional Nursing Law (63 P.S. §§211–225.5), administered by the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (which also regulates dietetics-nutrition licensure). The law protects the titles "dietitian," "registered dietitian," "licensed dietitian-nutritionist," "nutritionist," and "certified nutrition specialist" (and the abbreviations RD, LDN, CNS) for LDN holders, but does not otherwise restrict the general practice of nutrition by unlicensed people who don't use those protected titles.
Pennsylvania Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (Dietitian-Nutritionist Licensure) |
| Protected Title | Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN) |
| Education | Baccalaureate or higher degree from a Board-approved, regionally accredited college or university, including a major course of study in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management. — 900 supervised-practice hours |
| Exam | Board-approved written examination (in practice, the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians) (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)) |
| Continuing Education | 30 hours every 2 years |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | Under Act 41, out-of-state licensees who hold a substantially equivalent license and have practiced under it for at least 3,600 hours in the five years preceding application, remain in good standing, and have no disqualifying disciplinary or criminal history may be licensed by endorsement. |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $95 |
| Initial License Fee | $95 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $71 |
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 Pennsylvania?
49 Pa. Code §21.701 defines only the unified "Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN)" credential — there is no separate license category for "nutritionist" alone. 63 P.S. §212 likewise treats "dietitian-nutritionist" as a single combined title throughout the Professional Nursing Law's dietetics-nutrition provisions; "RD" and "CNS" are referenced only as underlying national credentials that qualify a person for the one PA license, not as separate PA license types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Pennsylvania require a dietitian license?
Yes. Pennsylvania licenses dietitians through the Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing (Dietitian-Nutritionist Licensure). The protected title is Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Pennsylvania?
The application/initial license fee is $95, with a $71 renewal fee every 2 years.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Pennsylvania?
49 Pa. Code §21.701 defines only the unified "Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN)" credential — there is no separate license category for "nutritionist" alone. 63 P.S. §212 likewise treats "dietitian-nutritionist" as a single combined title throughout the Professional Nursing Law's dietetics-nutrition provisions; "RD" and "CNS" are referenced only as underlying national credentials that qualify a person for the one PA license, not as separate PA license types.
Can I get a Pennsylvania dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
Under Act 41, out-of-state licensees who hold a substantially equivalent license and have practiced under it for at least 3,600 hours in the five years preceding application, remain in good standing, and have no disqualifying disciplinary or criminal history may be licensed by endorsement.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: PA Department of State — Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist Licensure Snapshot