How to Become a Dietitian

1. Earn a Bachelor's Degree (4 Years)

A four-year college degree with a major in dietetics is required to become a registered dietitian (RD). There are two types of programs available:

A didactic program involves classroom instruction during college, followed by a field internship for one-year
A coordinated program in dietetics requires both classroom instruction and 900 hours of supervised practice.

Before enrolling, ensure that the program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

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The preparation timeline below provides an example curriculum:

Grade Level	Example Courses
Freshman	Nutrition I General Chemistry I & Lab General Chemistry II & Lab Psychology I Pre-Calculus Calculus I Humanities Requirements Electives
Sophomore	Human Physiology Organic Chemistry I & Lab Nutrition II Microbiology I Life Span Nutrition Statistics I Humanities Requirements Electives
Junior	Physiological Chemistry Foodservice Operations Management Communication I Medical Terminology Technical Writing Food Preservation and Packaging Vitamins and Minerals Energy, Metabolism, and Metabolic Integration Humanities Requirements Electives
Senior	Food & Nutrition in the Community Foodservice Systems Management Professional Issues in Dietetics Clinical Nutrition I Clinical Nutrition II Nutrition Counseling Interpreting Current Nutrition Research Nutrition Counseling Remaining Requirements & Electives

2. Complete an ACEND-Accredited Supervised Practice Program (6 - 12 Months)

ACEND offers two pathways to the completion of 1200 supervised practice hours:

Accredited Dietetic Internship - Completed separate from a bachelor's degree
Accredited Coordinated Program - Completed alongside a bachelor's degree

These options allow candidates some measure of flexibility when seeking to become a registered dietitian.

Search for a Supervised Practice Program

For more information, check out the Registration Eligibility Requirements for Dietitians.

3. Take the Registration Examination for Dietitians

Upon graduation, successful completion of the Registration Examination for Dietitians is required to become a registered dietitian. Candidates may not register individually.

Upon completion of a supervised practice program, the director will submit the eligible candidates to CDR for registration.CDR does not allow individuals to contact directly.

The exam is broken down in the following sections:

Section	% of Exam
Food & Nutrition Food Science & Nutrition Composition of Foods Nutrition & Supporting Sciences	12%
Nutrition Care Process & Model - Simple & Complex Conditions Nutrition Screening & Assessment Nutrition Diagnosis Normal Intervention Medical Monitoring & Evaluation	40%
Counseling, Communication, Education & Research Assessment & Planning Implementation & Evaluation Research	10%
Foodservice Systems Menu Planning Procurement, Production, Distribution, & Service Sanitation & Safety Facility Planning	17%
Management Human Resources Finance & Materials Marketing Products & Services Functions & Characteristics Quality Improvement	21%

Specialized areas of practice, such as renal nutrition or pediatric dietetics, nutritional support and diabetes education can be obtained with additional certification.

This type of certification is awarded through CDR, the agency for credentialing through the ADA. Certification is also available through other medical or nutritional organizations.

These specialized certifications are recognized within the professional community but are not required for entry into or maintenance of registration.

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