CDR: Graduate Degree Requirement

Options for students pursing RD credentialling.

UMass Amherst students interested in becoming registered dietitians (RD) as of 2024, must now meet the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requirement of a graduate degree to be RD exam eligible.

  • First, undergraduate students should follow the dietetics track in the nutrition department to complete their ACEND-accredited coursework and earn a DPD verification statement.
  • Once a UMass Amherst student has earned a DPD verification statement, they have three options:
    • Complete the accelerated (4+1) MSDI program at UMass Amherst, which incorporates a master’s degree in nutrition with the required supervised practice hours and can be completed in 16 months.
    • Complete the accelerated (4+1) master's program at UMass Amherst and apply to a standalone dietetic internship (DI) program in Massachusetts or elsewhere.
    • Complete an MSDI (or MPH/DI) through another ACEND-accredited program.
  • Students with a DPD verification statement from another ACEND-accredited university may apply to the MSDI program at UMass Amherst and complete their master’s degree in nutrition and supervised practice hours in 21-24 months.

For more information on the graduate requirement visit CDR at https://www.cdrnet.org/. For more information about eligibly requirements visit the CDR website.