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Dietician Licensure

By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: January, 12 2010

Are there board exams that must be passed for entry into this field?

It is required to pass a board exam through the Commission on Dietetic Registration for entry into the field. Upon graduating from an approved bachelor’s or master’s in dietetics, and after completing the necessary internship, students are eligible to sit for the RD exam. Since the exam is nationally governed, the regulations are the same across all states. The exam is computerized with between 100 and 150 multiple-choice questions. Each question has a different degree of difficulty and everyone sitting for the exam gets a different batch of questions. The questions are divided to include testing knowledge on the three domains: clinical, food service, and community. The exam takes approximately two hours to complete and the results are shared immediately.
Oftentimes the dietitian internship organizations, such as hospitals, require students to attend review classes for the board exams to increase their chances of passing on the first attempt. From the organization’s perspective, they want to maintain a solid reputation by having their interns pass the exam with flying colors on the first attempt.

Does the field of dietetics require state licensure?

Dietitians are currently required to have state licensure to practice as a registered dietitian in all but four states: Arizona, New Jersey, Colorado, and Wyoming. Some states may require applicants to take an additional state exam but in most states individuals are just required to show proof of passing the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam, along with paying a fee.

What credentials or letters are behind a dietitian’s name?

Individuals who have passed the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam, have an RD behind their name, which stands for registered dietitian. In addition, after paying the fee and becoming licensed by their state, dietitians can put an LD behind their name for licensed dietitian. Other initials may be added depending on if the individuals have obtained a specialty certification. For example, for a certified diabetes educator the initials would be CDE.

What are the continuing education requirements?

For the Commission on Dietetic Registration, a portfolio of 75 continuing education units (CEUs) must be submitted online every five years. These credits must be based on learning goals and needs identified by each RD every five years. The state licensure does not require submitting actual CEUs unless an individual is audited. There are a variety of courses and online seminars that qualify towards CEUs. The Commission on Dietetic Registration typically sends members a portfolio binder to track CEUs through the course of the five years span. It is important for RDs to not only track the class or seminar that was taken toward CEUs, but also the objectives and a brief synopsis of what was learned.

To maintain state licensure, there are a certain number of CEUs that must be completed as well but this can vary from state to state. Some states require 15 continuing education credits to be completed every two years. However, there is a great deal of overlap and typically the CEUs taken count for both state licensure and national registry. What associations can I be involved in as a dietitian?

The American Dietetic Association (ADA) is a professional organization for dietitians. To become a member one must be a registered dietitian or a dietetic technician. This organization provides job postings and articles that are relevant to the field. Also, patients are able to find a dietitian in their area by looking on this organization’s website. The A.D.A. also has several specialized practice groups, which are sub-groups that are specific to a particular nutrition field and include: Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists (SCAN), Food and Culinary Professionals (FCP), Dietitians in Business and Communications (DBC), Nutrition Entrepreneurs (NE), and many more.

There are other professional organizations, such as the American Association of Diabetes Educators that attracts dietitians. For dietitians who focus on diabetes patients, this organization may be very useful. To become a member, one must be practicing as a healthcare professional and working with individuals with diabetes. Examples of healthcare professionals who may join the AADE include: registered dietitians, registered nurses, social workers, pharmacists, and physicians.