How to Become a Registered Dietitian
dietitians help people by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modifications to increase a person’s health.
There are four major areas of practice for those interested in gaining their Master of Science in Nutrition, including clinical, community health and wellness, management, and consultant dietetics.
Educational and Professional Requirements*
- Registered Dietitians (RDs) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts who have met the following criteria and earned the RD or RDN credential:
- Complete a bachelor’s degree and receive a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program (Didactic Program in Dietetics, Coordinated Program, Future Graduate Program, Foreign or International Dietitian Education Program) Note, effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will be required to be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration. (Dietetic registration exam.)
- Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program or Individual Supervised Practice Pathway is an option. Supervised practice/experiential learning is combined with the Coordinated Program, Future Graduate Program, and International Dietitian Education Program.
- Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s dietetic registration exam.
- Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.
- Maintain continuing education.
*While the process above is the most common route students take, there are other pathways to becoming an RDN.
In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here. For more information on North Carolina licensure, please visit the North Carolina Board of Dietetics/Nutrition website.
State Licensure Agency Map and Contact List
Find licensure information about individual states using the Academy’s licensure map or by viewing its licensure spreadsheet.
Contact Information
Cathie Ostrowski
Martin Hall, Suite 122
(919) 760-8419
ostrowsk@meredith.edu
The Internship Program in Nutrition and Dietetics is currently granted accredited status by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606 | (800) 877-1600, ext. 5400
