As the American public continues to gain an understanding of the importance of good nutrition, the practice of dietetics—and the number of people pursuing a dietitian certification—is rapidly on the rise. This is a good thing.
After all, as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics explains, what we consume is among the key contributors to illness and wellness, and increasing access to dietitians can have an exponential impact on people’s lives.
Another driving factor is the ease with which technology has enabled people to earn a registered dietitian degree online. Especially for busy professionals and career changers, who can not afford to waste precious hours sitting in traffic.
The Importance of Credentials
As you explore career and education options as a dietitian, it’s important not only to understand the training you need, but also the licensing and certification required to work with the title of dietitian.
“Dietitians play a critical role in delivering medical nutrition therapy to prevent or manage diseases such as Type 2 diabetes,” says Academy spokesperson Vandana Sheth. “Dietitians are uniquely educated and have the training to provide individualized care based on a person’s needs, abilities, and resources.”
However, not everyone claiming to be a dietitian actually has that education and experience. Some people are “exploiting this newly recognized market,” the Academy reports. “Some individuals are not qualified because they lack the objective accredited education, experience, and examination demonstrating their competency to provide services.” It’s something that gets even more confusing when you try to decode the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian.
Dietitian Credentials – RD vs. RDN
Dietitian, RD, RDN—what exactly do all the titles mean and who can use them?
To earn your license or certification and legally practice with certain titles, most states require you meet the registration criteria for the Academy’s Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), in addition to other state requirements.
Dietitian
A person trained in the science of nutrition and dietetics (food science). Many people who don’t fulfill the requirements of a registered dietitian end up working as a dietitian technician.
Registered Dietitian (RD)
A dietitian who has passed the national registration exam.
Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
An RD who prefers to also highlight their nutritional expertise. Formerly just the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential, the CDR recently enacted the RDN credential for professionals who wish to communicate a broader understanding of nutritional wellness as well as medical nutrition therapy. Using this title is optional but has the same requirements as those for the RD.
Note on RD vs. RDN: These credentials have identical meanings. Also, all registered dietitians are nutritionists, but not every nutritionist is a registered dietitians.
Keep in mind that these credentials are not the same as an optional dietitian certification through a specialty board or private association—something that shows deeper study in a particular area, but we’ll touch more on that later.
The Role of State Regulators in Dietitian Licensure
This is where state regulations come in. To ensure consumer safety, the majority of U.S. states have imposed regulations in some form on the field of dietetics.
By requiring professionals to prove their knowledge, skill set, and that they have met a set of standards, these laws can help give you a clear path to the necessary education and licensing requirements to work in your state.
And in turn, as the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics reports, that gives consumers the confidence they’re protected against unsafe or inaccurate nutritional advice or interventions that may lead to poor or even dangerous health outcomes—and unnecessary, expensive products and services.
Licensing, Certification, and Title Protection
Before we get into the laws of each state, it’s important to first understand the different levels of credentialing states offer—and that, ultimately, to practice as a dietitian, you must meet criteria accepted by the professional community.
Dietitian License
Check regional accrediting bodies to verify that the institution is accredited. Check ACEND to make sure the degree program at that institution is accredited for RDNs.
Dietitian Certification
Similar to a license, state certification requires specific education and experience, grants the legal use of the title, and binds you to the standards and ethics of the profession. However, unlike with most licensing laws, there isn’t an included provision known as “practice exclusivity.”
In states that offer dietitian certification instead of a license, uncertified individuals can practice dietetics regardless of their education or experience. Just as long as they don’t promote themselves with any protected title (such as registered dietitian) or otherwise imply that they’ve been vetted by the board.
For this reason, consumers should be cautious of receiving services from uncertified individuals and, if unsure, should verify a practitioner’s credentials with the board.
Dietitian Title Protection
To make things even more confusing, there’s also what’s known as title protection, which is the least protective level of regulation. This law ensures that only individuals who meet certain criteria can call themselves dietitians, but the state doesn’t regulate the ethics or standards of practice, even for titled practitioners. As with certification, title protection means that anyone can legally practice dietetics without a legal credential.
State-by-State Dietitian Requirements
Find your state below to learn about the level of credentialing it offers, what the requirements are, and how much continuing education you need to keep your license or certification current.
Search licensing requirements by state
Alabama
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Alaska
Title: Licensed Dietitian (Separate licensing for nutritionists) Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: None required by the state, but you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your credential with the CDR, with at least one hour in ethics
Arizona
No state regulations
Arkansas
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 12 hours each year to renew your license with the state, however you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration
California
There are no statewide regulations for licensing, but title protection is offered for registered dietitians. To legally use the title, you must have:
At least a bachelor’s degree in dietetics or nutrition from a regionally accredited college or university
A minimum of 900 hours of supervised clinical practice, but typically more depending on the exam you take
A passing score on a test approved by the California Department of Public Health, such as the CDR or CNS examination
Colorado
There are no statewide regulations for licensing, but title protection is offered for certified dietitians. To legally use the title, you must meet the standard criteria for CDR registration.
Connecticut
Title: Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification Continuing Education for Certification Renewal: None required by the state, but you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration or CNS certification
Delaware
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
District of Columbia
Title: Licensed Dietitian (Separate licensing for nutritionists) Requirements: Standard CDR registration criteria Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years, with at least two hours in LGBTQ cultural competency
Florida
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years, with at least two hours in medical error
Georgia
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Hawaii
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs every three years. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
Idaho
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs each year. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
Illinois
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: There are three primary pathways to becoming a licensed dietitian/nutritionist in Illinois. You can meet the standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification. You can also apply with your credentials as a Certified Clinical Nutritionist (CCN). To earn CCN certification, you must:
Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with the competition of a program approved by the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board
Complete the four-session postgraduate clinical nutrition program within 90 days
Pass the CCN Examination
Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years, or 40 to maintain CCN certification
Indiana
Title: Licensed Dietitian (At the state level, licensing is optional and only provides title protection, however dietitians working in certain healthcare facilities may be required to be licensed by the board. Contact the Indiana State Department of Health for more information.) Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Iowa
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Kansas
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 15 hours every two years to renew your license with the state, however you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration
Kentucky
Title: Licensed Dietitian (Separate certification for nutritionists) Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 15 hours each year
Louisiana
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 15 hours each year
Maine
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 15 hours each year
Maryland
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Massachusetts
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Education Requirements: You can either meet the standard criteria for CDR registration or:
Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university, with a major course of study in dietetics, nutrition, or food systems management
Complete an internship or a paid professional experience approved by the board
Pass a board-administered exam or another approved test
Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Michigan
No regulations
Minnesota
Title: Licensed Dietitian (Separate licensing for nutritionists) Education Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 45 credits every three years
Mississippi
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Missouri
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs every two years. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
Montana
Licensing of nutritionists only
Nebraska
Title: Medical Nutrition Therapist (Nebraska does not license the title of dietitian, but RDs should pursue licensing as a Medical Nutrition Therapist in order to provide the full scope of services) Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Nevada
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs every two years. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
New Hampshire
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 20 hours every two years to renew your license with the state, however you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration
New Jersey
No regulations
New Mexico
Title: Licensed Dietitian (Separate licensing for nutritionists) Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs each year. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
New York
Title: Certified Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification Continuing Education for Certification Renewal: None required by the state, but you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your credential with the CDR, with at least one hour in ethics
North Carolina
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification Continuing Education for License Renewal: 75 hours every five years, however license renewal occurs each year
North Dakota
Title: Licensed Registered Dietitian (Separate licensing for nutritionists) Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 75 hours every five years, however license renewal occurs each year
Ohio
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 75 hours every five years, however license renewal occurs every two years
Oklahoma
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: You can either meet the standard criteria for CDR registration or:
Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management
Complete a minimum of 900 hours of supervised experience
Pass a non-CDR dietetics/nutrition certification test approved by the board
Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs each year. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must meet the criteria to maintain any registration or certification that you hold.
Oregon
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 15 hours each year
Pennsylvania
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Rhode Island
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 20 hours every two years to renew your license with the state, however you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration
South Carolina
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 75 hours every five years, however license renewal occurs every two years
South Dakota
Title: Licensing of nutritionists only, however licensed nutritionists who are also registered with the CDR may legally use the title of dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 15 hours each year
Tennessee
Title: Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist Education Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs every two years. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
Texas
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: You can either meet the standard criteria for CDR registration, or:
Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management
Complete a minimum of 900 hours of an internship or approved professional experience
Pass a non-CDR dietetics/nutrition exam prepared by the Texas Department of Licensing or a national testing service approved by the board
Continuing Education for License Renewal: 12 hours every two years to renew your license with the state, however you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years if you have your CDR registration. Continuing education requirements include the successful completion of the Texas Jurisprudence Exam for each renewal period.
Utah
Title: Certified Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for Certification Renewal: License renewal occurs every two years. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
Vermont
Title: Certified Dietitian Requirements: You can either meet the standard criteria for CDR registration or:
Have at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management
Complete a minimum of 900 hours of supervised experience
Pass a non-CDR dietetics/nutrition certification test approved by the board
Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
Virginia
There are no statewide regulations for licensing, but title protection is offered for dietitian/nutritionists, whether the title is used alone or in any combination with “licensed,” “certified,” or “registered.” To legally use the title, you must have one of the following:
Active registration with the CDR
Active certification as a CNS
Active certification as a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, or
At least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or dietetics with at least two years of relevant work experience for a government agency
Washington
Title: Certified Dietitian (Separate certification for nutritionists) Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs every year. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
West Virginia
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration or CNS certification. The exam requirement may be supplemented with an oral exam if determined appropriate by the board. Continuing Education for License Renewal: 20 hours every two years to renew your license with the state, however you’ll need to complete at least 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration
Wisconsin
Title: Certified Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: License renewal occurs every two years. There are no continuing education requirements defined by the state, but you must complete 75 hours every five years to maintain your CDR registration.
Wyoming
Title: Licensed Dietitian Requirements: Standard criteria for CDR registration Continuing Education for License Renewal: 30 hours every two years
As of 2021, 48 states (plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C.) require the licensing or certification of dietitians. Each state bestows a specific title—typically certified dietitian or licensed dietitian upon meeting all requirements. (Some states offer separate licensing for dietitians and nutritionists, while others have a dual credential that allows you to use either or both titles as you wish.)
Remember, though, that as part of the licensing or certification process, most states require fulfillment of the standard criteria for CDR requirements.
In states that only offer certification, uncertified individuals can practice dietetics as long as they don’t promote themselves with any protected title.
However, in place of CDR requirements, some states accept the criteria for the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential from the American Nutrition Association. Earning CNS certification requires at least a master’s degree and a passing score on a different exam, but only 1,000 hours of supervised experience. But keep in mind, this doesn’t allow you to use the title of registered dietitian.
Dietitian Specialty Certification
Beyond any requirements of your state, you can also choose to pursue voluntary dietitian certification through a national credentialing agency. Additional certifications demonstrate that you have expertise and experience beyond entry-level requirements, are likely specializing in a specific area, and are dedicated to staying up to date on the latest advancements in the field.
Keep in mind that in states without certain legal requirements, “anyone without formal education or experience could practice nutrition in some from,” says Corinne Bush, the American Nutrition Association’s (ANA) senior vice president of nutrition science and education.
If this applies to where you live, earning optional certification is especially recommended. These credentials can not only boost your competitiveness when searching for jobs, but also help guide you into leadership positions and increase your earning potential as a dietician.
Specialty Areas to Consider
If you earned a state credential then you’ll likely already be certified as an RD with the CDR or as a CNS through the ANA’s Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS). Both of these associations offer additional certifications in specialty areas of dietetics and nutrition.
Pre-requisites for Specialty Dietitian Certifications
To earn any of these certifications, you must have been holding current RD status for at least the two previous years, have 2,000 hours of practice experience in the specialty area in within the last five years, and pass the appropriate exam. To maintain certification, you’ll need to provide documentation for another 2,000 hours of specialty experience and retake the exam every five years.
The (BCNS) also offers the Certified Ketogenic Nutrition Specialist credential for professionals who want to gain deeper knowledge of how the metabolic process of ketosis can be used to treat conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, or Alzheimer’s disease. To earn this credential, you must:
Be an RD, CNS, or licensed healthcare practitioner with legal scope to practice nutrition
Complete all six modules of the ANA’s ketogenic training course
Get a passing score on the certification exam
Complete 30 continuing education credits every five years to maintain your credentials
Written and reported by: Natural Healers Team
With professional insight from: Vandana R. Sheth, RDN, CDCES, FAND Spokesperson, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
With professional insight from: Corinne Bush, MS, CNS SVP of Nutrition Programs, American Nutrition Association®
