Rhode Island 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 →
Rhode Island licenses dietitians and nutritionists together as a single combined credential — "Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist" (L.D.N.) — through the Rhode Island Department of Health's Board of Dietetics Practice, under regulation 216-RICR-40-05-30 and R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 5-64. Only licensed individuals may practice dietetics/nutrition or use the title "dietitian/nutritionist" or the letters "L.D.N."
Rhode Island Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Dietetics Practice |
| Protected Title | Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (L.D.N.) |
| Education | Baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree from a U.S. regionally accredited university, with coursework approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) — 900 supervised-practice hours |
| Exam | Registration Examination for Dietitians (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)) |
| Continuing Education | 20 hours every 2 years |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | 216-RICR-40-05-30 permits licensure without examination for applicants who provide proof of valid registration sent directly from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) — an endorsement-style pathway for CDR-registered dietitians. The application also accepts license verification from any other state where the applicant has held a dietetics/nutrition license. |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $75 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years (renew by November 1 of odd-numbered years)) | $75 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Reinstatement (added to base renewal fee) | $75 |
| License certificate suitable for framing (optional) | $30 |
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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Rhode Island does not license "dietitian" and "nutritionist" as separate credentials — 216-RICR-40-05-30 regulates them as one combined profession under the single title "dietitian/nutritionist" (abbreviated L.D.N.). There is no distinct, separately-issued "nutritionist" license apart from this combined credential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Rhode Island require a dietitian license?
Yes. Rhode Island licenses dietitians through the Rhode Island Department of Health, Board of Dietetics Practice. The protected title is Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist (L.D.N.).
How much does a dietitian license cost in Rhode Island?
The application/initial license fee is $75, with a $75 renewal fee every 2 years (renew by November 1 of odd-numbered years).
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island does not license "dietitian" and "nutritionist" as separate credentials — 216-RICR-40-05-30 regulates them as one combined profession under the single title "dietitian/nutritionist" (abbreviated L.D.N.). There is no distinct, separately-issued "nutritionist" license apart from this combined credential.
Can I get a Rhode Island dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
216-RICR-40-05-30 permits licensure without examination for applicants who provide proof of valid registration sent directly from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) — an endorsement-style pathway for CDR-registered dietitians. The application also accepts license verification from any other state where the applicant has held a dietetics/nutrition license.
Sources
- 216-RICR-40-05-30 — Dietitians/Nutritionists regulation (RI Dept. of State rules portal)
- Rhode Island Department of Health — Dietitians licensing page
- RI Board of Dietetics Practice — Dietitian/Nutritionist application & instructions (fees, board address)
- 216-RICR-10-05-2 — RI Dept. of Health fee structure regulation (Dietitian/Nutritionist fee lines)
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: 216-RICR-40-05-30 — Dietitians/Nutritionists regulation (RI Dept. of State rules portal)