Becoming A Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN)
Outlook for Registered Dietitians/Nutritionists
See this link.
Verification Statement Policy
The Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR) requires written verification from the Program Director that an Intern has successfully completed the requirements of the Dietetic Internship Program in order to determine eligibility for taking the Registration Examination for Dietitians/Nutritionists. Graduates are provided with Verification Statements upon conclusion of the program, which are required for this verification process and may also be required for other reasons, such as applications for jobs, licensure applications and/or graduate programs.
Following the completion of Program requirements, these Verification Statements are submitted to CDR together with your DPD Verification Statement and transcripts. The Program Director initiates the application and verifies eligibility for registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration, but it is the Intern’s responsibility to accurately complete the remaining paperwork and schedule the examination.
When program completion has been verified by the Program Director, a Verification Statement with the Program Director’s original signature will be sent to the graduate. It is important to keep the Program and Program Director informed of any address changes.
The Steps to becoming a Registered Dietitians Nutritionist (RDN) include:
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the organization that administers the exam, will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the exam. More information is available on the CDR website https://www.cdrnet.org/.
*Complete an ACEND®-accredited supervised practice program such as PNCDDI or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies. Typically, a practice program will run six to 12 months in length.
*Pass a national examination administered by CDR. For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR's website https://www.cdrnet.org/.
*Complete continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
For more information about the educational process to becoming a RDN, visit this ACEND webpage.
Click the folowing link for information about educational pathways to become an RDN: https://www.cdrnet.org/rd-eligibility .
State Licensure
Numerous states have legislation or regulations regulating the practice of dietetics. State licensure and state certification are entirely separate and distinct from registration or certification by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
Information on state licensure and certification is provided at the CDR link regarding licensure (https://www.cdrnet.org/licensure).
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) is the accrediting agency for education programs preparing students for careers as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) or Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians, Registered. (NDTRs) Priority Nutrition Care's Distance Dietetics Internship Program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2190, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040 ext. 5400. https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend