Requirements for Registered Dietitians | Food and Nutrition Services | UC Davis Health

RD/RDNs are food and nutrition experts who have met the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) criteria to earn the RD/RDN credential. Dietitians translate the science of nutrition into everyday information about food for health and well-being. They help people live healthy active lives through the transformative power of food and nutrition. Dietitians work in a wide variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, media, research, government agencies and private practice.

Registered dietitians (RDs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria to earn the RD credential:

Step 1 – Meet eligibility requirements to sit for the CDR RD/RDN Exam by completing all of the following:

• Degree: Beginning January 1, 2024: A minimum of a graduate degree from a USDE-recognized accredited institution (or equivalent) is required to sit for the CDR RD/RDN Exam. Prior to January 1, 2024, a minimum of a bachelor’s degree was required.
• Nutrition-Related Coursework: Complete one of the ACEND-accredited programs for coursework (DPD, CP, or GP).
• Supervised Practice: Complete one of the ACEND-accredited programs for supervised practice (DI, ISPP, CP, or GP).  The supervised practice experience component is typically 6 months to one year in length, and is focused on gaining practical experience in various settings under the supervision of an RD / RDN in order to meet competency requirements for becoming an entry level dietitian. There are multiple pathways to obtain the requirements (DPD + DI, CP, GP, or Doctorate ISPP). Dietetics education programs in colleges and universities are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). As an accrediting agency, ACEND makes sure that students preparing for careers as RD / RDNs are getting the education they need to qualify for taking the national RD / RDN exam.

Step 2 – Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). 

Step 3 – Meeting requirements to practice in their state. Many states have regulatory laws (i.e. licensure for food and nutrition practitioners, or as in CA, a Business and Professions Code law). All states accept the RD / RDN credential for state licensure purposes.

Step 4 – Stay up to date in dietetics through completing continuing professional education requirements to maintain registration. After successfully passing the national exam and earning the credential, RD / RDNs maintain ongoing professional development in order to stay up to date on the latest research, recommendations and best practices.

Many Dietitians go on to pursue specialty and advanced practice certifications. To learn more, check out the Commission on Dietetic Registration and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist websites.