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 programs.
  2. Successful completion of a graduate degree. Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR requires a graduate degree as part of the eligibility requirements to sit for the national qualifying CDR examination (i.e., the RD exam) which entitles one to be a credentialed Registered Dietitian. UMass Amherst offers an MSDI program with two tracks (4+1 MSDI or MSDI) that combines a master’s degree with supervised practice. Note: if applying to the standalone dietetic internship program, applicants must currently hold (or be near completion at time of application) a graduate degree (MS, MPH, or clinical doctorate, or PhD) in nutrition or health-related field (e.g., public health). Contact the cmaxwell [at] umass [dot] edu (program director) for more information.
  3. Successful completion of 1,000 hours of supervised practice. A dietetic internship is typically where students complete their supervised practice hours. At UMass Amherst, this may be conducted in the standalone DI program or part of the MSDI program. Per ACEND standards, CDR (RD) exam eligibility requires a minimum of 1,000 supervised practice and/or experiential learning hours; during which, students are expected to become competent in the Core Competencies (CRDNs) in the current 2022 ACEND accreditation learning standards (pages 9-11). After successful completion of the supervised practice portion, students will earn a DI verification statement.
  4. Once students have met the above requirements (i.e., graduate degree and DI verification statement), they are eligible to sit for the national qualifying CDR exam, which when passed, entitles one to be a Registered Dietitian.
  5. Note: Dietetic programs across the country differ widely in terms of graduation requirements, program duration, cost, rotation sites, and specialties. Although rare and highly competitive, some internship programs provide stipends for students, making the pathway to becoming an RDN more affordable. The current tuition for the UMass Amherst DI program (not including additional costs & fees) is $10,000 and payable in two installments. For the MSDI programs, see Graduate School Costs for more information on graduate tuition. At this time, financial aid is not available for the standalone DI program but may be available for undergraduate (DPD) and graduate (MSDI) 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.