• Completed a minimum of a bachelor’s degree at a US regionally accredited university or college and coursework accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.  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), along with the required supervised practice provided by an internship. For more information about this requirement, visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree.
  • Applied and completed an ACEND® accredited supervised practice program, such as Morrison Healthcare Dietetic Internship, which allows the intern to sit for the national examination to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.   
  • Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to CDR’s website at www.cdrnet.org.
  • Once interns become an RDN, if the state they reside in requires licensure, they must follow that state's requirement to become licensed/certified.  While state interpretations of statutes may vary, ACEND believes the program meets the educational requirements for dietetics licensure and certification in all states. However, completing an ACEND-accredited academic program alone does not qualify an individual for licensure or certification as a dietitian in any state. Individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements needed to obtain a dietetics license, including supervised practice and examinations. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure.