South Dakota 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 Dakota licenses dietitians and nutritionists together under a single combined credential — the "Licensed Nutritionist/Dietitian" (LN) — regulated under SDCL Chapter 36-10B and issued by the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (SDBMOE). Under SDCL §36-10B, no person may offer nutrition or dietetics services or use the titles "nutritionist," "dietitian," "licensed nutritionist," or the abbreviations LN or LD without this license (subject to statutory exemptions). Unlike states that issue two separate license types, South Dakota's single LN credential admits applicants through either a registered-dietitian (CDR) track or a graduate-level Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) track.
South Dakota Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (SDBMOE) |
| Protected Title | Licensed Nutritionist/Dietitian (LN) |
| Education | Two qualifying pathways under the same LN license: (1) a bachelor's or graduate degree from an ACEND-accredited program plus CDR registration (the registered-dietitian track); or (2) a master's or doctoral degree in a nutrition-related field plus the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CBNS) certifying examination (the CNS track). |
| Exam | CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD track) or CBNS Certified Nutrition Specialist Certifying Examination (CNS track) (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) / Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (CBNS)) |
| Continuing Education | 15 hours every 1 year |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | SDCL §36-10B-11 (License by Reciprocity) allows the board to grant a South Dakota license to an applicant already "licensed as a dietitian or nutritionist in another state or territory of the United States" if that state's licensure standards are not less stringent than South Dakota's own requirements. |
Fee Breakdown
| Initial License Fee | $75 |
| Renewal Fee (every 1 year) | $35 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| Late renewal fee | $100 |
| Temporary permit | $50 |
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.
Some links below are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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 South Dakota?
South Dakota does not license "nutritionist" and "dietitian" as separate credentials — SDCL §36-10B protects both titles (plus "licensed nutritionist" and the LN/LD abbreviations) under a single combined "Licensed Nutritionist/Dietitian" license issued by SDBMOE, admitting applicants through either the CDR/RD pathway or the graduate-level CNS pathway into the same license type.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does South Dakota require a dietitian license?
Yes. South Dakota licenses dietitians through the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners (SDBMOE). The protected title is Licensed Nutritionist/Dietitian (LN).
How much does a dietitian license cost in South Dakota?
The application/initial license fee is $75, with a $35 renewal fee every 1 year.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in South Dakota?
South Dakota does not license "nutritionist" and "dietitian" as separate credentials — SDCL §36-10B protects both titles (plus "licensed nutritionist" and the LN/LD abbreviations) under a single combined "Licensed Nutritionist/Dietitian" license issued by SDBMOE, admitting applicants through either the CDR/RD pathway or the graduate-level CNS pathway into the same license type.
Can I get a South Dakota dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
SDCL §36-10B-11 (License by Reciprocity) allows the board to grant a South Dakota license to an applicant already "licensed as a dietitian or nutritionist in another state or territory of the United States" if that state's licensure standards are not less stringent than South Dakota's own requirements.
Sources
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners — Licensed Nutritionist/Dietitian (LN)