Process to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

When you successfully complete a Didactic Program in Nutrition & Dietetics with a bachelor’s degree, a dietetic internship program, a graduate degree, and the Registration Examination for Dietitians, you qualify to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) through Lamar University. This internship program prepares you for careers in a variety of settings such as hospitals, health care agencies, food industries, schools, and private practice.

 

To become an RDN, an individual must:

  • Earn a bachelor’s degree and complete all Didactic Program in Dietetics required courses to receive a verification statement from a program accredited by ACEND (Ex: Lamar University’s DPD Program)
  • Successfully complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship (Ex: Lamar University’s DI Program) and a master's degree (Ex: MS in Nutrition).
  • Take and successfully pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s Examination for Dietitians.
  • Licensure requirements vary by state. In the state of Texas, licensure is required in certain practice areas. See the link below to determine your states Licensure requirements.
    • https://www.cdrnet.org/state-licensure-agency-list
  • Maintain 75 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) every five years to maintain registration status.

 

NOTE:

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). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited didactic in dietetics program at Lamar University are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.