Becoming a Registered Dietitian

Registered Dietitians (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are credentialed food and nutrition experts who work in a variety of settings including but not limited to hospitals and other health care settings, government agencies, the military, schools and universities, public health and wellness programs, athletes and sports teams, food and nutrition-related businesses and industries, health coaching, private consulting and communications . The steps to become an RD/RDN include:

1. Complete educational requirements to take the registration exam for dietitians. Pathways to meet these requirements include:
   1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree program and earn a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program (like the Murray State B.S. in Nutrition, Dietetics Track program).
   2. Completion of an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (like the Murray State Dietetic Internship).
2. Pass the national Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) dietetic registration exam.
3. Obtain certification or licensure in the state where you work, if applicable.
4. Complete the required number of continuing professional education hours to maintain the RD/RDN credential.

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). 

For more information about this requirement visit CDR’s website.

In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice.