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