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Registered Dietitian
Dietitian regulation varies across the United States, from full licensure to title protection only. Most states require CDR registration, an ACEND-accredited education, and supervised practice hours. Understanding each state's specific requirements is essential for practice and mobility.
51
Total States
40
Licensure States
45
CDR Required
47
MNT Authorized
Becoming a registered dietitian involves completing accredited education, supervised practice, and passing the CDR examination, with additional state-specific requirements varying by jurisdiction.
Dietitians must complete a minimum of a bachelor's degree (master's required as of 2024) from an ACEND-accredited program, plus 1,000+ hours of supervised practice through a dietetic internship. Programs cover medical nutrition therapy, food science, community nutrition, and clinical practice.
After completing education and supervised practice, candidates take the CDR Registration Examination. Most states then require a separate state license, certification, or registration. Some states accept the CDR credential directly, while others have additional requirements.
Dietitian scope varies by state and may include medical nutrition therapy (MNT), nutrition counseling, enteral/parenteral nutrition management, and telehealth. Many states have title protection laws restricting who can use 'dietitian' or 'nutritionist' designations.
Side-by-side fees, hours, exams, and timelines across all 50 states. Sort by cost, hours, or any column.
Compare All StatesFind out if your license transfers to another state and what extra steps are needed.
Check ReciprocityBrowse approved programs by state — compare costs, requirements, and timelines.
Click any column header to sort. Click a state to view full requirements.
| State | Regulation | CDR Req? | MNT? | Fees | CE Hours | Telehealth? | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama(AL) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $450 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Alaska(AK) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $450 | No state CE hours requirement found on the official page; renewal form does not list CE requirements. | Yes | March 2026 |
| Arizona(AZ) | None | No | No | $200 | — | N/A | March 2026 |
| Arkansas(AR) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $250 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| California(CA) | title_protection | Yes | Yes | $200 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Colorado(CO) | title_protection | No | No | $200 | — | N/A | March 2026 |
| Connecticut(CT) | Certification | Yes | Yes | $390 | Not mentioned on official pages | Yes | March 2026 |
| Delaware(DE) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $409 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| District of Columbia(DC) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $429 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Florida(FL) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $408 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Georgia(GA) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $275 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Hawaii(HI) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $280 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Idaho(ID) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | null (no state-specific CE hours required; maintenance of CDR registration is the sole CE-equivalent requirement) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Illinois(IL) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Indiana(IN) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $220 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Iowa(IA) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $320 (application fee $120 + CDR exam fee $200) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kansas(KS) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $250 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Kentucky(KY) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $250 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Louisiana(LA) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maine(ME) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $350 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Maryland(MD) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $500 ($300 state fee + $200 CDR exam fee) | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Massachusetts(MA) | Licensure | No | Yes | $400 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Michigan(MI) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | — | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Minnesota(MN) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Mississippi(MS) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Missouri(MO) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $250 | null (no state-specific CE hours required for dietitian license renewal) | Yes | March 2026 |
| Montana(MT) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Nebraska(NE) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $275 | 24 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Nevada(NV) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Hampshire(NH) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $310 | 20 | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Jersey(NJ) | None | No | No | $200 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| New Mexico(NM) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $350 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| New York(NY) | Certification | No | Yes | $494 | No state-mandated continuing education hours required for NY CDN renewal | Yes | March 2026 |
| North Carolina(NC) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $410 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| North Dakota(ND) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Ohio(OH) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $275 | 24 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Oklahoma(OK) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Oregon(OR) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $310 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Pennsylvania(PA) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $245 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Rhode Island(RI) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $260 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| South Carolina(SC) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $280 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| South Dakota(SD) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $275 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Tennessee(TN) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $300 | 30 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Texas(TX) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $308 | 12 hours per 2-year licensing period, including completion of jurisprudence exam and human trafficking prevention training | Yes | March 2026 |
| Utah(UT) | Certification | Yes | Yes | $260 | No state-specific CE hours required beyond CDR CPEU requirements | Yes | March 2026 |
| Vermont(VT) | Certification | Yes | Yes | $300 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Virginia(VA) | title_protection | No | No | $200 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Washington(WA) | Certification | Yes | Yes | $275 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| West Virginia(WV) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $250 | 15 | Yes | March 2026 |
| Wisconsin(WI) | Certification | Yes | Yes | $275 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
| Wyoming(WY) | Licensure | Yes | Yes | $400 | — | Yes | March 2026 |
Dietitians often collaborate with other healthcare professionals. Explore related licensing requirements.
Study guides for the CDR registration exam for dietitians.
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See the full comparison table above for all 51 states.
In-depth articles to help you get licensed
Moving to a new state?
See which states have reciprocity for Dietitian licenses and what's required to transfer.
Explore similar licensing requirements
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