How to Become a Registered Dietitian
There are three steps to becoming a registered dietitian:
- Academic Requirements: Complete a minimum of a Master's degree and receive a verification statement from a Didactic Program in Dietetics accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
- Supervised Practice Requirements: Complete an ACEND-accredited program providing supervised practice experience, such as a dietetic internship, and meet all requirements of the program in order to receive a verification statement from the internship program director. The University of Kentucky Hospital Dietetic Internship meets this requirement.
- Registration Examination for Dietitians: Successfully complete the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s Examination for Dietitians.
Get more information about becoming a dietitian.
Licensure
The majority of states have enacted legislation regulating the practice of dietetics. State licensure and state certification are entirely separate and distinct from registration or certification by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Check with your state of residence/employment to see if licensure/certification is required.
In Kentucky, a person must be licensed by the Kentucky Board of Licensure and Certification for Dietitians and Nutritionists in order to practice dietetics and nutrition. Find information about Kentucky licensure.
Statement from ACEND regarding state licensure
“While state interpretations of statutes may vary, it is ACEND's considered opinion that the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice and examinations, needed to obtain a dietetics license. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure."
2024 Commission on Dietetic Registration Mandate
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).