Tennessee 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 →
Tennessee licenses dietitians and nutritionists together as a single "Dietitian/Nutritionist" credential under Tenn. Code Ann. §§63-25-101 et seq., administered by the Tennessee Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners within the Department of Health. It is an exclusive-scope-of-practice state: it is unlawful for anyone to represent themselves as a "dietitian" or "nutritionist," or use the titles "licensed dietitian"/"licensed nutritionist" or the letters "LDN," "LD," or "LN," without holding a license from the Board.
Tennessee Dietitian License Requirements
| Licensing Authority | Tennessee Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners |
| Protected Titles | LDN, LD, LN |
| Education | Baccalaureate or post-baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a major in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management — 900 supervised-practice hours |
| Exam | Registration Examination for Dietitians (Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)) |
| Continuing Education | Not required |
| Endorsement (CDR/RD holders) | Tennessee accepts licensure by endorsement/reciprocity for applicants already licensed as a dietitian/nutritionist in another state whose requirements are substantially equivalent to Tennessee's, per Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0470-01-.04; the fee schedule (0470-01-.06) lists a distinct $20 endorsement/verification fee for this pathway. |
Fee Breakdown
| Application Fee | $75 |
| Initial License Fee | $55 |
| Renewal Fee (every 2 years) | $70 |
Related & additional fees
Separate or situational costs — not part of the standard initial application.
| State regulatory fee (biennial, in addition to renewal) | $10 |
| Endorsement/verification | $20 |
| Late renewal penalty | $100 |
| Reinstatement | $90 |
| Replacement license | $25 |
| Temporary permit | $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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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 Tennessee?
Tennessee does not license "nutritionist" as a distinct credential from "dietitian." Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0470-01-.03 makes it unlawful for anyone not licensed by the Board to represent themselves as either a "dietitian" or a "nutritionist," or to use "licensed dietitian," "licensed nutritionist," or the letters "L.D.N.," "L.D.," or "L.N." — both titles flow from the same Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners license, not separate application tracks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tennessee require a dietitian license?
Yes. Tennessee licenses dietitians through the Tennessee Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners. The protected titles are LDN, LD, LN.
How much does a dietitian license cost in Tennessee?
The application/initial license fee is $75, with a $70 renewal fee every 2 years.
Is the title "nutritionist" protected in Tennessee?
Tennessee does not license "nutritionist" as a distinct credential from "dietitian." Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0470-01-.03 makes it unlawful for anyone not licensed by the Board to represent themselves as either a "dietitian" or a "nutritionist," or to use "licensed dietitian," "licensed nutritionist," or the letters "L.D.N.," "L.D.," or "L.N." — both titles flow from the same Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners license, not separate application tracks.
Can I get a Tennessee dietitian license by endorsement if I'm already a CDR-registered RD?
Tennessee accepts licensure by endorsement/reciprocity for applicants already licensed as a dietitian/nutritionist in another state whose requirements are substantially equivalent to Tennessee's, per Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0470-01-.04; the fee schedule (0470-01-.06) lists a distinct $20 endorsement/verification fee for this pathway.
Sources
- Tennessee Department of Health — Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners (About)
- Tennessee Department of Health — Board of Dietitians and Nutritionist Examiners overview
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0470-01-.03 — Necessity of Licensure
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0470-01-.04 — Qualifications for Licensure
- Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 0470-01-.06 — Fees
- Rules of the Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners (full chapter, Tennessee Secretary of State)
Data last verified: 2026-07-22 | Source: Tennessee Department of Health — Board of Dietitian/Nutritionist Examiners (About)