Pathway to Becoming an RD/RDN

The field of nutrition and dietetics is broadly diverse and continually evolving. Registered Dietitians (RDs/RDNs) play an essential role in healthcare by delivering targeted medical nutrition therapy, and using their knowledge and counseling skills to promote health and prevent/manage nutrition-related disease. In addition to the clinical setting, RDs are employed in a variety of commercial and institutional settings including, academia, sports nutrition, food service management, sustainable food systems and agriculture, community nutrition programs, public relations and media, corporate wellness, and public policy both home and abroad. A growing number of RDs work in private practice or as entrepreneurs lending their unique expertise of nutritional products and services to consumers. In addition, RDs provide a vital service to national, international, and state government agencies through programs such as Women Infants and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education (SNAP-ED), as well as agencies such as the USDA and FDA. 

Pathway to Becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

The following are the steps required to become an RD as set forth by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) and the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

  1. Successful completion of an undergraduate or graduate program yielding a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) verification statement. Students may complete the DPD requirements in their undergraduate program or complete an MS/DPD program that fulfills these requirements while obtaining a master’s degree (or PhD). Note: there are programs that allow you to bypass the DPD verification statement requirement called Graduate Programs (GP), formerly called Future Education Models. UMass Amherst is not a GP/FEM program and thus, requires applicants to have a DPD verification statement prior to applying to our dietetic internship.
  2. Successful completion of a graduate degree. Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR requires that students have a graduate degree (master’s degree or PhD), in addition to other requirements, to be eligible to sit for the national CDR examination (i.e., the RD exam) that entitles you to be a credentialed Registered Dietitian. UMass Amherst DI program requires dietetic internship applicants to have completed (or be near completion at time of application) a graduate degree (MS, MPH, or PhD) in nutrition or another health-related field (e.g., public health, kinesiology). Note: some programs offer a combined master’s + dietetic internship (MS/DI) or other combinations (e.g., MS/DPD/DI). UMass Amherst does not offer an MS/DI program; however, we reserve five internship slots for currently matriculated students who plan to complete the 4+1 program in nutrition. In most cases, these students are able to complete their MS/DI in under two years. Contact the cmaxwell [at] umass [dot] edu (program director) for more information.
  3. Successful completion of 1,000 hours of supervised practice. The dietetic internship is typically where students complete their supervised practice hours. ACEND requires a minimum of 1,000 supervised practice and/or experiential hours for RD exam eligibility (in addition to a graduate degree). During this time, students are expected to be competent in the 50 core competencies (CRDNs) in the 2022 ACEND accreditation learning standards (pages 9-11). 
  4. Finally, once students have met the above requirements of completing their graduate degree and the minimum 1,000 hours of supervised practice (hence successfully meeting the 50 core competencies and earning a DI verification statement), they will be eligible to sit for the national CDR credentialing exam, which if passed, entitles one to be a Registered Dietitian. 
  5. Additionally, programs across the country vary greatly in their pathways including, graduation requirements, program duration, cost, and their specialties. Although rare and highly competitive, some internship programs even provide a stipend for their students. The tuition for the UMass Amherst DI program (not including additional costs & fees) is $10,000 and payable in two installments. Unfortunately, financial aid is not available for the DI program, but is available for the DPD, master’s degrees, MS/DPD, and 4+1 programs. 

Applying for State Licensure (Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist, LDN)

After successfully completing the UMass Amherst Dietetic Internship (following the processes listed above), a graduate is eligible to apply for state licensure in Massachusetts. Note: completion of an internship program does not automatically guarantee state licensure, nor does it entitle one to be a credentialed Registered Dietitian (see above regarding the CDR exam).

Requirements for state licensure in Massachusetts (per mass.gov) include, but are not limited to: 

  1. be at least 18 years of age or older; 
  2. be of good moral character; 
  3. possesses a bachelor’s degree, its equivalent or higher, in Dietetics and Nutrition, human nutrition, nutrition education, or public health nutrition;
  4. have successfully completed a Board approved clinical internship or supervised professional experience not less than 900 hours;
  5. have passed a written or electronic competency examination approved by the Board and designed to test the competency and knowledge needed to practice; 
  6. have paid the appropriate fee as established by the Secretary of Administration and Finance pursuant to M.G.L. c. 7, § 3B.

A credentialed Registered Dietitian in good standing meets the Massachusetts State licensure requirements, and therefore, would only need to apply and pay the appropriate fees. Each state has its own variation on licensure requirements. Interested individuals should review their state's licensing statutes and regulations to understand the specific requirements, including supervised practice hours and examinations required to become a Licensed Dietitian/Nutritionist. More information about state licensure and certification can be found at this link: State Licensure. 

For further information on Massachusetts State licensure visit https://www.mass.gov/orgs/board-of-registration-of-dietitians-and-nutritionists or contact the Massachusetts Division of Professional Licensure, 1000 Washington Street, Suite 710, Boston, 617-727-9925 or the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure at https://www.mass.gov/orgs/bureau-of-health-professions-licensure. To apply for licensure in MA, visit https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-dietitiannutritionist-license.