RD EXAMINATION - ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Option 1 - Dietetic Internship

1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree* granted by a university accredited by a USDE recognized accrediting agency (or foreign equivalent).
2. Completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
3. Completion of an ACEND accredited Dietetic Internship (DI).

Option 2 - Coordinated Program

1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree* granted by a university accredited by a USDE recognized accrediting agency (or foreign equivalent).
2. Completion of an ACEND Coordinated Program (CP).

Option 3 - Graduate Program

1. ACEND accredited graduate-level, competency-based dietitian nutritionist program that integrates coursework and at least 1,000 hours of experiential learning.

In 2011, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics announced the development of ISPPs (pronounced "iss-pees") which are intended to add supervised practice capacity through ACEND-accredited dietetics programs. For more information click here. There are two ISPP options:

Option 4 - DPD ISPP 

1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree* granted by a university accredited by a USDE recognized accrediting agency (or foreign equivalent).
2. Completion of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD).
3. Did not match with a DI.
4. Completion of an ACEND accredited DPD ISPP.

Option 5 - Doctorate ISPP

1. Completion of a doctorate granted by a university accredited by a USDE recognized accrediting agency (or foreign equivalent).
2. Completion of an ACEND accredited doctorate ISPP.

Each country has their own credentialing agency with policies and procedures that an individual must comply with to meet registration eligibility requirements and become credentialed in that country. Individuals who want to be credentialed as a RD in the US must comply with CDR’s eligibility and examination requirements.

If your degree is from outside the US, you are required to have your transcript evaluated by an approved Foreign Degree Evaluation Agency. A detailed course-by-course evaluation is recommended. After receiving your evaluation report, you will need to contact the program director of an Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), Graduate Program (GP) or Coordinated Program (CP) to request they review your transcript and foreign degree evaluation report. They will determine to what degree your prior learning meets current requirements and counsel you regarding any additional coursework needed to complete their program requirements.

Option 6 - Registration Eligibility Reciprocity

Registration eligibility reciprocity is extended to individuals who completed all certification requirements (academic, didactic, experiential, and examination) in the country with whom CDR has an agreement. CDR currently has reciprocity agreements with the following foreign regulatory boards.

• Dutch Association of Dietitians/Ministry of Welfare, Public Health and Culture (NVD).
• Philippine Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).
• Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute (INDI).

If you have completed certification requirements with one of the above credentialing bodies, please follow the instructions on the International Registration Eligibility Application.

Option 7 - Canadian Registered Dietitian

Canadian applicants who are graduates of a Partnership in Dietetic Education and Practice (PDEP) accredited program, and who are licensed as a Canadian RD (or equivalent provincial designation) may apply for registration eligibility with CDR. This pathway is in effect January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2023. Click here to learn how to apply.

Option 8 - International Dietetics Programs

Foreign Dietitian Education Programs (FDE)

All FDE programs are located in a country outside of the U.S. These programs provide nutrition and dietetics coursework and supervised practice experiences in the country in which the program is located, to meet ACEND's core knowledge and competency requirements to become a nutrition and dietetics practitioner in that country. A verification statement is issued to individuals who successfully complete the program as evidence of eligibility to apply for a U.S.-based ACEND accredited dietetic internship. An individual must apply, be accepted to and complete a dietetic internship or other ACEND accredited supervised practice program in the U.S. in order to meet eligibility requirements to take CDR’s entry-level registration examination for dietitian nutritionists.

International Coordinated Program in Dietetics (ICP)

All ICP programs are located in a country outside of the US and provide the required nutrition and dietetics coursework and at least 100 hours of supervised practice experiences to meet ACEND^®'s core knowledge and competency requirements to become a registered dietitian nutritionist. A verification statement is issued to individuals who successfully complete the program in order to be eligible to take the CDR credentialing examination.

To access the list of ACEND accredited International Dietetics Programs, please click here.

^{*Effective January 1, 2024, the minimum degree requirement will be a graduate degree granted by a USDE recognized institution (or foreign equivalent). More information can be found here.}