South Carolina 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 →

South Carolina licenses dietitians through the South Carolina Panel for Dietetics, part of the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation (LLR), under S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 20. Only "dietitian" (defined by statute as synonymous with "registered dietitian") and the practice of "dietetics"/"tele-dietetics" are regulated; "nutritionist" does not appear as a defined or protected title in the statute, and the state's own Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics affiliate confirms anyone may call themselves a nutritionist in South Carolina without a license.

South Carolina Dietitian License Requirements

Licensing Authority	South Carolina Panel for Dietetics (Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) (LLR)
Protected Title	LD
Education	Baccalaureate or master's degree in human nutrition, nutrition education, foods and nutrition, public health nutrition, or an equivalent major course of study from a regionally accredited college or university (licensure-by-examination route); or current, valid registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (licensure-by-registration route)
Exam	CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians (or a Panel-approved equivalent examination for the licensure-by-examination pathway) (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR))
Continuing Education	30 hours every 2 years
Endorsement (CDR/RD holders)	The Panel's licensure-by-registration pathway effectively serves as an endorsement route: an applicant with current, valid CDR registration may obtain an SC license by submitting the application, a copy of their current CDR registration card, and license verifications from all jurisdictions in which they hold or have held a license — without a separate SC-administered exam.

Fee Breakdown

Application Fee	$175
Renewal Fee (every 2 years (biennial, due by May 31 of the renewal year))	$100

Related & additional fees

Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.

Late renewal fee (within 30 days of May 31 deadline)	$50
Reinstatement fee (in addition to renewal + late fees)	$50
Replacement wall certificate	$15
Duplicate pocket card	$10
Name change / new pocket card	$10
Returned check fee	$30
License verification	$5

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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Is “Nutritionist” a Protected Title in South Carolina?

South Carolina's Dietetics Practice Act (S.C. Code Title 40, Chapter 20) defines and regulates only "dietitian" (statutorily synonymous with "registered dietitian") and the practice of dietetics/tele-dietetics; "nutritionist" does not appear anywhere in the chapter as a defined or protected title. The SC Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics affiliate states directly: "Anyone may call himself or herself a nutritionist, the term is a general, non-accredited title and not regulated by law" in South Carolina — only "RD"/"RDN" are protected, via the CDR credential requirement built into the dietitian license.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does South Carolina require a dietitian license?

Yes. South Carolina licenses dietitians through the South Carolina Panel for Dietetics (Dept. of Labor, Licensing and Regulation) (LLR). The protected title is LD.

How much does a dietitian license cost in South Carolina?

The application/initial license fee is $175, with a $100 renewal fee every 2 years (biennial, due by May 31 of the renewal year).

Is the title "nutritionist" protected in South Carolina?

Can I get a South Carolina dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?

The Panel's licensure-by-registration pathway effectively serves as an endorsement route: an applicant with current, valid CDR registration may obtain an SC license by submitting the application, a copy of their current CDR registration card, and license verifications from all jurisdictions in which they hold or have held a license — without a separate SC-administered exam.

Sources

Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: South Carolina Panel for Dietetics — LLR licensure page