Process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN)
Requirements and process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist
If you are interested in a program that will prepare you to become a registered dietitian nutritionist, you have come to the right place. You would need to:
- Enroll in an ACEND®-accredited program that combines classroom and supervised practical experience like UWMs MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics program, which is a Future Education Model Graduate Program. Similar ACEND®-accredited program types include a Coordinated Program in Dietetics (CP) or International Dietitian Education Program (IDE). Graduates of these programs are then eligible to take the CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians to become credentialed as registered dietitian nutritionists.
Or: - Enroll in an ACEND®-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) academic program (UWM does not offer this type of program, but other University of Wisconsin System schools do). This type of ACEND®-accredited program typically grants a bachelor’s degree. After you receive your degree, you will then need to apply for and complete supervised practice experience in an ACEND®-accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) program, Future Education Model Graduate Program, or graduate level Coordinated Program in Dietetics. A minimum of master’s degree will be required to be eligible to take the CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians.
A list of ACEND®-accredited programs with contact information can be viewed on the ACEND® website.
Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement for eligibility to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians will change from a bachelor’s degree to a graduate degree. As UWM’s accredited program awards a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree, you will be prepared to meet this requirement.
If you are a current or future UWM undergraduate student interested in pursuing an educational path leading to the RDN credential, consider the BS Nutritional Sciences with Pre-dietetics at UWM. However, Pre-dietetics can be combined with any UWM major! If you already have a bachelor’s degree and are interested in a career change, contact the MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics Program Director for more information.
State certification/licensure
In some states, RDNs are required to obtain state licensure or certification in order to practice in the field of nutrition and dietetics. Additionally, individual facilities may have requirements that are above or separate from state-specific regulations. For most states, registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) obtained by graduation from an ACEND®-accredited program (like UWM’s MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics concentration), fulfilling fieldwork requirements, and successful passage of the RDN credentialing exam, fulfills the baseline licensure or certification requirements.
In 1995, the state of Wisconsin passed legislation to certify qualified nutrition providers. The state credential assures consumers that Certified Dietitians (CD) provide nutrition services that meet established professional standards, and that only those legally qualified may use the term CD. Information about obtaining certification in Wisconsin is available from the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services.
Students who successfully complete UWM’s MPH-Nutrition and Dietetics earn a master’s degree in public health and are eligible to take the credentialing examination to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. This program – like all other ACEND®-accredited programs – does not itself grant a license or certification to practice dietetics. However, it does provide the necessary training required to become a Certified Dietitian in the state of Wisconsin.
More information about state-specific licensure, certification, and professional regulation of dietitians is available from the Commission on Dietetic Registration.