A career as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a popular choice for individuals passionate about health and wellness. RDNs are food and nutrition experts who play diverse roles within communities, from hospitals and medical facilities to schools, supermarkets, restaurants, and athletic fields. They improve health through education, counseling, and addressing nutritional aspects of medical problems.
Understanding the Role of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are food and nutrition experts with a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program. They have completed a supervised practice requirement, passed a national exam, and continue professional development throughout their careers. RDNs apply nutrition principles to improve health at the community and individual levels.
Career options for dietitians are diverse and flexible. Many work in acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, and medical offices as part of the healthcare team. Other areas of practice include corporate wellness, journalism, sports nutrition, and the food and nutrition industry. There are also specialty credentials in areas of gerontological nutrition (CSG), sports dietetics (CSSD), pediatric nutrition (CSP), renal nutrition (CSR), and oncology nutrition (CSO).
Educational Requirements: Paving Your Path to Becoming an RDN
Dietetics is a highly regulated profession where training and higher education matter. The path to becoming an RD, in large part, depends on if you hold or plan to earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree. A career in nutrition requires significant formal education.
Minimum Degree Requirement
Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement for eligibility to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians has changed from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree. By 2024, a minimum of a graduate degree in a related field is required to sit for the registered dietitians examination by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam.
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ACEND-Accredited Programs: The Cornerstone of Your Education
The first step to becoming a registered dietitian is to earn a degree in the area of nutrition and obtain a verification statement from an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited program. Dietetics education programs in colleges and universities are accredited by ACEND.
ACEND-accredited programs ensure that students meet the educational knowledge and skills specified by ACEND's accreditation standards. These programs provide nutrition and dietetics coursework. There are several kinds of accredited dietetics education programs - each offering a different experience and "pathway" to RDN eligibility.
Types of ACEND-Accredited Programs
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD): This is ACEND’s term for the collection of undergraduate courses that meet its accreditation standards. The DPD provides the required dietetics coursework leading to a bachelor’s or graduate degree. The core science, nutrition, foods, and food management courses in the Nutrition and Dietetics concentration meet the knowledge requirements. Students completing a DPD program receive a verification statement upon graduation, required to enter an accredited supervised practice program - Dietetics Internship (DI).
Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP): This type of ACEND®-accredited program combines classroom and supervised practical experience. A Coordinated Program provides the essential Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) coursework as well as supervised practice.
Future Education Model Graduate Program: This program combines classroom and supervised practical experience.
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International Dietitian Education Program (IDE): Similar ACEND®-accredited program types include a Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) or International Dietitian Education Program (IDE).
UWM Programs
If you are interested in a program that will prepare you to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, you have come to the right place. Enroll in an ACEND®-accredited program that combines classroom and supervised practical experience like UWMs MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics program, which is a Future Education Model Graduate Program. If you are a current or future UWM undergraduate student interested in pursuing an educational path leading to the RDN credential, consider the BS Nutritional Sciences with Pre-dietetics at UWM. However, Pre-dietetics can be combined with any UWM major! Students who successfully complete UWM’s MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics earn a master’s degree in public health and are eligible to take the credentialing examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.
Supervised Practice: Gaining Hands-On Experience
You must obtain hands-on clinical experience through an internship after completing your nutrition program to become a registered dietician. Completing required didactic coursework and supervised practice: Students must complete an ACEND-accredited program or programs that encompass all required coursework as well as a minimum 1,000 hours of supervised practice experience. This can involve completing 1) an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD, usually a bachelor’s degree program) followed by completion of a completely separate ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (i.e. dietetic internship) OR 2) a single ACEND-accredited program that combines coursework with supervised practice to meet all requirements in one place.
Dietetic Internship (DI)
After you receive your degree, you will then need to apply for and complete supervised practice experience in an ACEND®-accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) program. You can go through a traditional Dietetic Internship (DI). Many prospective RDs earn a degree and then pursue an internship separately.
To apply for a Dietetic Internship, you will use the online dietetic internship centralized application services (DICAS). Almost all internships take advantage of this system, and you can use it to be matched with appropriate DI and CP placements nationwide. Internships range in duration from eight to 24 months. You may work on a part- or full-time basis. You can choose an internship based on your interests and career goals.
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Coordinated Program (CP)
You can go through a Coordinated Program (CP). There is also the option of applying to a Coordinated Program, which provides the essential Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) coursework as well as supervised practice.
Individualized Supervised Practice Pathway (ISPP)
Another option is pursuing an ISPP, which is meant to provide supervised practice through ACEND-accredited dietetic programs.
ISPP for Didactic Program in Dietetics graduates (DPD): This option is for graduates who did not match with a dietetic internship but have a DPD verification statement.
ISPP for doctoral degree graduates: You also can apply for an ISPP without a DPD verification statement if you have a doctoral degree.
Registration Examination: The Final Hurdle
Passing the CDR exam is the most crucial step to earning the RD credential and becoming a registered dietitian. Upon completing your degree and fulfilling internship requirements, you can become validated by the CDR and then take the registered dietitian exam. The national credentialing examination is administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).
There are numerous testing locations. The exam is two and a half hours long and consists of up to 145 questions.
RD Examination - Eligibility Requirements
Below are the key requirements to become eligible for the RD Examination:
- Degree: A minimum of a graduate degree from a USDE-recognized accredited institution (or equivalent).
Licensure and Certification: Meeting State Requirements
Before seeking employment in your desired state of practice, you may need to obtain a state license or certification. The CDR provides information on which states require additional licensure for registered dietitians. In some cases, you may be eligible for a license based on your degree, internship and exam result.
In some states, RDNs are required to obtain state licensure or certification in order to practice in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Additionally, individual facilities may have requirements that are above or separate from state-specific regulations. 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.
In 1995, the state of Wisconsin passed legislation to certify qualified nutrition providers. The state credential assures consumers that Certified Dietitians (CD) provide nutrition services that meet established professional standards, and that only those legally qualified may use the term CD. This program - like all other ACEND®-accredited programs - does not itself grant a license or certification to practice dietetics.
Timeline: Charting Your Course
It takes four to eight years or more to become a registered dietitian, depending on your career path and state. If you have a bachelor’s degree in required fields, you can complete a DPD program, receive a verification statement and move on to the next steps.
Reciprocity Agreements: For International Students
Individuals who have completed the education and credentialing requirements in one country may be eligible for another country's credentialing examination if the two countries have entered into a "reciprocity" agreement to allow this.
Individuals With Foreign Degrees
Each country has their own credentialing agency with policies and procedures that an individual must comply with to meet registration eligibility requirements and become credentialed in that country. Individuals who want to be credentialed as a RD in the US must comply with CDR’s eligibility (i.e., degree, didactic, and supervised practice) and examination requirements.
If your degree is from outside the US, you are required to have your transcript evaluated by an approved Foreign Degree Evaluation Agency. A detailed course-by-course evaluation is recommended. After receiving your evaluation report, you will need to contact the program director of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), Graduate Program (GP) or Coordinated Program (CP) to request they review your transcript and foreign degree evaluation report. They will determine to what degree your prior learning meets current requirements and counsel you regarding any additional coursework needed to complete their program requirements.
Canadian Registered Dietitian
Canadian applicants who are graduates of a dietetics program recognized as accredited in Canada, who are members of Dietitians of Canada, and who are licensed as a Canadian RD (or equivalent provincial designation) may apply for registration eligibility with CDR.
Philippines Reciprocity
Individuals registered by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Philippines will be eligible to take either CDR’s registration examination for dietitians or registration examination for dietetic technicians depending on their highest degree earned.
International Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICP)
All ICP programs are located in a country outside of the US and provide the required nutrition and dietetics coursework and at least 1000 hours of supervised practice experiences to meet ACEND®'s core knowledge and competency requirements to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. These programs provide nutrition and dietetics coursework and supervised practice experiences in the country in which the program is located, to meet ACEND's core knowledge and competency requirements to become a nutrition and dietetics practitioner in that country. in order to meet eligibility requirements to take CDR’s entry-level registration examination for dietitian nutritionists.
No Reciprocity
If reciprocity does not apply, you must have your academic degree validated as equivalent to the bachelor's or master's degree conferred by a US regionally-accredited college or university and complete any additional required course work plus an ACEND-accredited supervised practice requirement to establish your eligibility to sit for the exam. It is important to note that all individuals who establish registration eligibility - whether under the provisions of a reciprocity agreement or through the combination of a validated academic degree and supervised practice program - must successfully pass the RDN exam.
The Rewards of a Dietetics Career
Compared to nutritionists, dietitians function within a highly regulated industry that requires specific education, training, experience and licensure. However, the profession may prove rewarding, affording you the opportunity to pursue your passion for helping others.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists was $73,850 in 2024. The highest 10% of earners made more than $101,760 per year. -Employment of dietitians and nutritionists is expected to grow 6% from 2024 to 2034. The BLS notes that most RDs work full time, but working hours are flexible. The BLS lists a number of different career paths for registered dietitians.
According to the 2024 Compensation & Benefits Survey of the Dietetics Profession, the median full-time salary of RDNs is $79,000 per year. As with any profession, salaries and fees vary by region of the country, employment settings, scope of responsibility and supply of RDNs.
Staying Current: Continuing Education
After successfully passing the national exam and earning the credential, RDNs maintain ongoing professional development in order to stay up to date on the latest research, recommendations and best practices.
Financial Aid: Funding Your Education
There are many resources to help students pay for college. You may be able to obtain a grant or scholarship from a corporation, community or civic group, philanthropic or religious organization, or directly from your chosen school or college.
State and Local Sources of Financial Aid
Financial assistance is essential for many students enrolled in dietetics education programs. Information about student aid should be sought from the financial aid office or administrator at individual institutions. Additional sources include the state higher education agency and local civic, professional and community organizations or foundations.
Academy Scholarships
Progress in the educational and scientific advancement of dietetics inspires friends and members of the profession to make funds available for qualified candidates to receive scholarships through contributions to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation. In addition, some state and local dietetic associations may offer scholarships to prospective students in their area. and international students and professionals seeking funding for professional study, work experience or research in their home country or abroad.