How to Become a Registered Dietitian: Step-by-Step Guide

Published on: Jul 4, 2025
Kerra Henkin headshot

WRITTEN BY

Kerra Henkin, MPH, ML
Katherine Paul

REVIEWED BY

Katherine Paul, MPH

Registered Dietitians (RDs) are vital members in our public health system, playing a critical role in promoting health, nutrition needs, and managing clinical nutrition care. They apply their expertise in nutrition to help people manage diseases through food choices to improve overall health. From creating individualized meal plans to guiding community wellness programs, clinical dietitians use evidence-based practices to improve health outcomes for people of all ages. 

The prevalence of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease continues to increase in the United States1,2,3.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost 40% of people living in the United States, or 129 million people, have at least one major chronic disease4. The major chronic diseases afflicting Americans are heart disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, and hypertension (high blood pressure). All of these chronic conditions can be impacted by food and nutrition, and as the prevalence continues to rise, so does the demand for qualified nutrition professionals.

This article provides a comprehensive overview for how to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist - note that Registered Dietitian (RD) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) are interchangeable. For the purposes of this article, we will use the term ‘Registered Dietitian’ to encompass both. We’ll walk through the required education, training, and credentialing steps, and explore career outlooks and salaries. Whether you are just starting your exploration into the field or ready to take your RD certification exam, this guide will help you navigate the journey with confidence.

What is a Registered Dietitian?

Registered Dietitians are food and nutrition experts that have met strict academic and professional requirements, including obtaining a nutrition degree in dietetics, completing at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice, and passing a national RD certification exam. Registered Dietitians are qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy, council individuals on dietary changes, and lead nutrition-focused initiatives in a variety of settings. 

RDs are in high demand and play an important role in many different public health settings. They can work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, private practices, community programs, schools, public health departments, outpatient clinics, corporate wellness programs, and more. RD’s can also work in food service management, policy, and research.

What is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?

You may hear the terms “dietitian” and “nutritionist” used interchangeably, but there are great differences when it comes to education, training, and credentialing. Registered Dietitians must obtain a graduate degree from an accredited institution, complete at least 1,000 hours of supervision, and pass the national exam from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). RD’s are required to complete continuing education courses to keep their credentials, which can include attending webinars, trainings, and events to ensure their knowledge and skills are up to date.

Nutritionist, on the other hand, is a broader job title than an RD. Being a nutritionist is largely unregulated, so there aren’t the same requirements to obtain the job title. In short, all registered dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. We have an entire article dedicated to describing the differences between dietitians and nutritionists.

Education Requirements to Become a Dietitian

To become a Dietitian, you must first complete the required academic foundation:

Common Questions

Complete a Dietetic Internship

Along with obtaining both bachelor’s and master’s degrees, you also need to complete a Dietetic Internship (DI), which consists of at least 1,000 supervised practice hours. DI’s are a time for students to gain hands-on experience in a variety of settings. You could contribute to clinical care for patients with diabetes in an outpatient facility, help make the menu for your local public school, or create educational materials to be given out at the hospital. In your DI, you will work with RD’s to see what they actually do in their day-to-day work. Depending on your interests, you can select a DI in the sector and location you are interested in gaining experience.

  • Getting Matched -

    To enter your DI, applicants use the Dietetic Internship Centralized Application Services (DICAS). DICAS is similar to SOPHAS , which you may have used to apply to your undergraduate and/or graduate institutions. The platform essentially centralizes the DI application process so you can apply to multiple internships all in the same place. The DI process is competitive, so gaining experience and maintaining strong academic performance will help you stand out from the other applicants.

  • Distance Internship Options

    While traditional DI’s can be completed onsite and are affiliated with a university or hospital, there are also many distance DI options. Completing your Dietetics Internship remotely offers flexibility for students to arrange their individualized supervised practice pathway sites close to home, often paired with remote coursework. If you have specific nutrition counseling interests, such as renal nutrition, pediatric nutrition, or holistic nutrition, you can choose a supervised practice program that supports your specific nutrition education interests.

Wherever you end up completing your DI, make sure you are choosing a program that is accredited by ACEND to ensure you qualify to sit for the RD exam.

Pass the RD Exam

Once you have your bachelor’s and master’s degrees and completed your Dietetics Internship, you’ll be eligible to sit for the RD exam. 

Exam Details

  • Format:

    The RD exam is computer-based and consists of between 125 and 145 multiple choice questions to be completed within 3 hours. The exam covers principles of dietetics, nutrition care for individuals and groups, management of food and nutrition programs and services, and foodservice systems.

  • Cost:

    The exam fee is $200 for a dietitian and $120 for dietetic technician as of 2025.

  • Prep Tips:

    Passing the RD exam is no small feat, and it’s the last step to becoming a licensed dietitian. Use study guides, join study groups, and take practice exams to give yourself the best chance at passing on your first try. The Commission on Dietetic Registration offers many exam resources to help you prepare to sit for the exam.

The average passing rate for first-time attempts at the registration examination is about 65%, with over 86% of dietitians passing within the first year of taking the exam5,6. For more specific information on the exam and how to best prepare, review the official CDR exam content outline.

Obtain State Licensure

In addition to passing your RD exam, many states will also require a state-specific licensure or certification. Requirements vary widely and may include things like an application and background check, proof of an RD credential (like passing your RD exam), and application fees. 

As we said, requirements vary by state. Arizona, for example, doesn’t have any additional state-specific requirements to become a practicing RD. Explore your state’s regulations via the CDR State Licensure Map.

Optional: Specialize or Pursue Advanced Credentials

Once you are a credentialed RD, you may choose to pursue specialization through additional certifications. Some popular specializations and certifications include:

Specializations are not required, but they will help you stand out against your peers if you are interested in a specific area of nutrition, like diabetes, sports nutrition, or geriatrics. CDR has an entire list of specializations, so if none of the above interest you, explore more board certified dietetics specializations here. With specializations and without, continuing professional education (CPE) is required to maintain your RD status. Explore CPE options and available activities on CDR’s website.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Dietitian?

An example RD path looks like this:

  • Bachelor’s Degree: 4 years

  • Master’s Degree: 1-3 years

  • Dietetic Internship Program: 6-12 months (depending on how many hours per week you can spend on your DI - remember it is a minimum of 1,000 hours to be eligible to sit for your RD exam)

  • Exam preparation & process to gain licensure: 3-6 months (but this can also vary depending on how much time you can dedicate to exam prep)

In total, becoming a Dietitian Nutritionist can take anywhere from 6-8+ years depending on program structure, personal pace, and competing priorities. If you are working full-time while earning your master’s, completing your dietetic internship, and preparing for your RD exam, you may take closer to 8-9+ years. If your full-time job is your degree program and dietetic internship, you could obtain licensure in closer to 6 years.

Career Outlook and Dietitian Salary

After all this information, you might be asking how much do registered dietitians make? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median salary for dietitians is $73,850 per year7. As with any other job, this number will vary by location, sector/setting, and experience.

  • Job Growth

    The field of dietetics is expected to grow 7% in the next decade, which is faster than the national average for other occupations7. This growth reflects the increasing demand for preventive health and nutrition guidance, and emphasizes the need for more RD’s in the field.

  • Work Opportunities

    You can work in a variety of settings as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. You could pursue a career in clinical nutrition, community health, telehealth consulting, sports and fitness, corporate wellness, health coaching, and many more. If you are not sure what setting you want to work in, explore different DI options and get a feel for what hospital nutrition is like compared to corporate wellness, telehealth consulting, or sports and fitness. Different environments will require different skillsets and specializations, so make sure you are choosing the right fit for you.

Final Tips and Resources

Starting your journey as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist can be incredibly exciting and rewarding. Here are a few tips and resources to get you started.

  • Join professional networks:

    Consider the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) as a great resource during this process. AND has information on food, health, and fitness, links to awareness campaigns, information on how to become an RD, and more. There are also local state dietetic associations that you can join depending on where you would like to build your professional network.

  • Stay current:

    Stay up to date with continuing professional educational requirements (CPEs) and keep your licensure up to date. Make sure you are staying current on regulations and policies that impact nutrition guidance. AND is a great place to keep current for nutrition guidance and CDR will have information for all things related to your licensure requirements.

  • Network with mentors:

    Reach out to professionals in your area and program alumni.

Becoming a Registered Dietitian is a fulfilling and important career. With the field growing, we need RD’s more than ever to help us combat the high rates of chronic conditions in the United States. Whether you want to become a sports dietitian, corporate wellness professional, or telehealth consultant, earning your RD licensure is a great way to advance your career in the field.

References

  1. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0912-adult-obesity.html

  2. https://diabetesresearch.org/diabetes-statistics/ 

  3. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/heart-disease-remains-leading-cause-of-death-as-key-health-risk-factors-continue-to-rise

  4. https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2024/23_0267.htm#:~:text=An%20estimated%20129%20million%20people,and%20Human%20Services%20(2)  

  5. https://www.cdrnet.org/vault/2459/web//First%20Time%20Pass%20Rate%20July-Dec%202024.pdf 

  6. https://www.cdrnet.org/vault/2459/web//Pass%20Within%20One%20Year%20-%20Year%20Ending%202024%20RD.pdf 

  7. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/dietitians-and-nutritionists.htm

About the Authors

Written by:

Kerra Henkin , MPH, ML

Kerra Henkin, MPH, ML, is a program manager at one of the largest academic medical centers in the country. In her current role, she aligns and expands programming with needs identified in the federally mandated community health needs assessment, and deploys organizational resources to support community health improvement. Prior to this role, she was a community health educator for an advocacy nonprofit organization in Philadelphia. She has co-authored multiple research papers on criminal justice and substance abuse, and will be presenting on law enforcement assisted diversion at the 2023 American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting. 

Ms. Henkin holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) and Master in Law (ML) from the University of Pennsylvania. She holds a Bachelors of Science in Health Sciences from Ithaca College.

Opinions and information published by the author on MastersPublicHealth.com are of her own and do not necessarily represent the views of opinions of her employer.

Kerra Henkin headshot

Kerra Henkin , MPH, ML

Program Manager

Education: University of Pennsylvania

Knowledge: Community health education

Reviewed by:

Katherine Paul , MPH

Katherine Paul, MPH is a senior project manager at a leading medical communications and publications organization. She supports multidisciplinary teams handling large-scale accounts, the deliverables of which improve health outcomes and patient well-being. Ms. Paul holds a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree in Health Promotion from Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health and passed the Certified Health Education Specialist (CHES) shortly after graduation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Dickinson College.

Ms. Paul previously worked at a public health non-profit where she managed all aspects of diverse health-related projects, including the implementation of a randomized controlled clinical trial on sexual health for teens with developmental disabilities, as well as the evaluation of a statewide tobacco cessation program with more than 20,000 annual cases. She has developed and delivered posters and presentations at national conferences including the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting. 

Opinions and information published by the author here on MastersPublicHealth.com are of my own and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of my employer or other organizations for my designated roles.

Katherine Paul

Katherine Paul , MPH

Editorial Lead

Education: Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health

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