RDN Education and Professional Requirements

1. Complete a bachelor’s degree* granted by a college or university recognized by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) or foreign equivalent.
2. Complete coursework accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Our program type is a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). Upon successful completion of DPD coursework, individuals will be provided a copy of the DPD Verification Statement.
3. Complete supervised practice (Dietetic Internship) in an accredited dietetics program at a health-care facility, community agency, or a foodservice corporation or combined with undergraduate studies. Typically, a supervised practice program will run six to twelve months in length.
4. Pass the national registration exam for dietetics administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. For a full list of other options to be eligible to sit in the registration exam, visit the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) website.
5. Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.

* Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible for the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Some RDNs hold additional certifications in their specialized areas of practice. The Commission on Dietetic Registration offers Board Certification as a Specialist in Pediatric, Renal, Gerontological, Pediatric Critical Care, and Oncology Nutrition, as well as Sports Dietetics and Obesity and Weight Management. Board Certification is granted in recognition of an applicant's documented practice experience and successful completion of an examination in the specialty area.

RDN Licensure Requirement

The state of California does not require licensure to practice. However, in most states, graduates must also obtain licensure or certification to practice. Visit the CDR webpage on licensure for more information.

CDR RDN Credentialing Examination 

After successfully completing the eligibility requirements and being validated by CDR, individuals are eligible to take the registration examination for dietitians. Information about the RDN exam process, including frequently asked questions, can be found on the official CDR website. View the CDR Examination Resources to learn about the RDN test specifications, study outline, exam handbook for candidates, exam preparation, and to purchase a study guide ($ 50).

NDTR Education and Professional Requirements

1. Earn an associate degree and specific curriculum requirements OR complete a bachelor's degree from an accredited dietetics program such as California State University, Sacramento Didactic Program in Dietetics
2. Pass a national exam for NDTRs

NDTR Credential and Career Options

DPD graduates who earn the NDTR credential can obtain positions in food service management, clinical nutrition care in hospitals, long-term care, community nutrition, supermarket/retail, school nutrition, wellness and other settings and gain valuable work experience. NDTRs provide quality clinical nutrition care under the supervision of an RDN and are versatile employees who have been trained in food service and clinical aspects of nutrition management and care.

Click the links below for more information.

NDTR Informational Videos

NDTR Career Options

NDTR Exam Eligibility and Requirements

Careers in Dietetics

Dietetics is the science and art of applying the principles of food and nutrition to health. It is a vital, growing profession with many career possibilities. Whichever option you choose, you will share your knowledge of food and nutrition to help people make healthful food choices.

Registered dietitian nutritionists work in a wide variety of employment settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies and private practice.

Many work environments, particularly those in medical and health-care settings, require that an individual be credentialed as an RDN. RDNs work in:

• Hospitals, HMO's or other health-care facilities, educating patients about nutrition and administering medical nutrition therapy as part of the health-care team. They may also manage the foodservice operations in these settings, as well as in schools, day-care centers and correctional facilities, over-seeing everything from food purchasing and preparation to managing staff.
• Sports nutrition and corporate wellness programs, educating clients about the connection between food, fitness and health.
• Food and nutrition-related business and industries, working in communications, consumer affairs, public relations, marketing, product development or consulting with chefs in restaurants and culinary schools.
• Private practice,working under contract with health-care or food companies, or in their own business. RDNs may provide services to foodservice or restaurant managers, food vendors and distributors or athletes, nursing home residents or company employees.
• Community and public health settings,teaching, monitoring and advising the public and helping improve their quality of life through healthy eating habits.
• Universities and medical centers,teaching physician’s assistants, nurses, dietetics students, dentists and others the sophisticated science of foods and nutrition.
• Research areas in food and pharmaceutical companies, universities and hospitals directing or conducting experiments to answer critical nutrition questions and find alternative foods or nutrition recommendations for the public.