How to Become a Registered Dietitian

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). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited dietetic internship program at Tulane University are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.

  1. Complete a bachelor’s degree and receive a verification statement from the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)–an accredited didactic program in Dietetics. Effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will be required to be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam.

  2. Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program or Individual Supervised Practice Pathway of at least 1000 hours. Supervised practice/experiential learning can also be combined with the coursework in options such as: Coordinated Program, Future Graduate Program, and International Dietitian Education Program.

  3. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s dietetic registration exam

  4. Gain licensure in your state of practice. In the State of Louisiana, you must hold a valid license issued by the Louisiana Board of Examiners for Dietitians and Nutritionists, https://www.lbedn.org/

  5. Maintain continuing education

To learn more about these requirements, please visit the ACEND web page on How to Become a Registered Dietician Nutritionist. Scroll to the "How do I become an RDN?" section for detailed information and links. 

 

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