Registered Dietitian Career Guide

• How to Become a Dietitian
• Dietitian Degree Requirements
• Online Dietitian Programs
• Dietitian Job Duties
• Dietitian Salary
• Dietitian Certification & Licensure

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Home / Registered Dietitian

Learn how to become a Registered Dietitian

If you wonder what to feed an astronaut who will be weightless in space for six months, or go to a Super Bowl party and speculate about what type of diet allows a quarterback to be on the field for three hours without collapsing, you may be the perfect candidate to pursue a career as a registered dietitian.

For you, it’s not just about the food. It’s about the science behind the food—and how the application of science and diet can impact health and well being. So, how do you become a registered dietitian? We’re here to help you understand what dietitians do, what the outlook for jobs is, what the requirements are, the dietetics education you’ll need, and how to navigate the process.

What Is a Dietitian?

Food and nutrition experts, a dietitian (sometimes spelled dietician) is trained at identifying and treating problems related to people’s nutrient intakes, or lack thereof.

As such, RDs and RDNs are required to study both dietetics (the science of food) and nutrition, take several years of science (like chemistry, physiology, biology, and biochemistry), earn a college degree, complete a supervised practice program and sit for a national registration exam—all of which will take four to five years.

As you read this, you might be wondering if a dietitian and a nutritionist are the same. They are not. While both deal with nutrition and some tasks seem similar, the education and training required for the two jobs is significantly different.

A nutritionist is generally required to have only a high school diploma (or GED) and to study nutrition in a certificate program, which usually takes six months or so. Though one can get a bachelor’s or a higher degree in nutrition. When in doubt, follow this wisdom from the Academy: “All registered dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians.”

Is Becoming a Dietitian Worth It?

With job growth for dietitians expected to be 6.6% through 2031, and earnings increasing at a rate higher than inflation—and higher than average compared to other jobs—the future for dietitians is bright. Opportunities for dietitians have rapidly expanded in the past few years as dietitians have moved into new roles and workplace settings.

“Growing public awareness of the importance of diet in relation to health has dramatically increased the demand for dietitians,” according to Seattle-based Ginger Hultin, MS, RDN, CSO a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). “Primary care physicians average 2,300 patients per year,” Hultin says.

During your annual check-up, there is a good chance your doctor tells you to change your diet to improve your health, but has no time to explain in detail how to go about doing that. That scenario makes private consulting one of the fastest growing jobs for dietitians. “That’s what I do,” Hultin says. “Having your own RDN makes sense as part of your care team whether you’re perfectly ‘healthy’ or you’ve got some things to work on.”

How to Become a Dietitian – Step by Step Guide

Step 1 – Decide Where You Want to Work

Dietitians work in a wide variety of settings and serve in a number of diverse roles. An associate’s degree can prepare you for an entry-level jobs such as a dietetic technician, dietetic service supervisor or nutrition assistant.

Registered Dietitians (RDs) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) (the titles are interchangeable), who hold at least a bachelor’s degree, are trained to provide scientific-based food and nutrition services, counseling, and education to individuals and groups. Once primarily found in large clinical institutions like hospitals, medical centers, doctor’s offices, and long-term care facilities, dietitians are now working in more public-facing settings:

On the job, you’ll find dietitians working in a variety of jobs:

Duties might include:

Some dietitians will choose to specialize in certain areas of practice and become board certified in focus areas like Oncology Nutrition, Sports Dietetics, Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition, or Renal Nutrition. You’ll love the diversity and options available to you in this career.

Step 2 – Budget For & Choose Your Schooling Format

Costs range widely depending on the school, its location, whether you are a resident or non-resident and the degree you seek. In general, average total costs for tuition, fees, room and board are around $20,000 per year to earn a bachelor’s at a public university and $41,000 a year at a private university.

For graduate degrees, average total cost to pursue a master’s is $25,000, while a research-focused doctoral degree costs $32,000. There are grants and scholarships, as well as financial aid, available at all levels for students in dietetic programs at accredited schools.

Step 3 – Earn Your Dietitian Degree

What Should I Study to Become a Dietitian?

Currently, to become an RD or RDN, the minimum educational requirement is typically a bachelor’s degree (in any subject) granted by a U.S. regionally accredited college or university and with course work accredited by the Academy’s Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND®).

Upcoming Changes to Educational Requirements

However, beginning January 1, 2024, the minimum educational requirement for new RDs and RDNs will be a graduate degree, such as a master’s or PhD. Many students already opt for a master’s degree because their earnings potential is higher with a graduate degree. (This new requirement will not affect current RDs and RDNs.)

How Long Does It Take To Become a Dietitian?

It will generally take you four or five years to complete your bachelor’s degree. A master’s degree will take an additional two to three years, depending on what your undergraduate major was. If you did not take all the basic science requirements as an undergrad, you’ll need to take them as a post-grad student.

How to Become a Registered Dietitian if You Already Have a Degree?

Not to worry if you’ve already graduated, have been working for a few years and your bachelor’s is not in dietetics, nutrition, or a related field. There is an education pathway for you. You’ll complete the prerequisites for science and math post-graduation. Then you enroll in a graduate program.

Hultin was an English major as an undergrad and worked as a fitness trainer when she made the decision to become a dietician. She went back to school for more than two years to prepare for her enrollment as a graduate student at Bastyr University. Was it worth it? “Yes, 100%,” Hultin says. “Becoming an RDN was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

For those who attend a community college and earn an associate’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, or a related field, you will be able to work in an entry level job. You won’t, however, be eligible to take the Academy’s Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) National Registration Exam and may not use the RD or RDN designation until you complete your bachelor’s degree and fulfill the other requirements for test eligibility.

Step 4 – Complete an ACEND-Accredited Practice Program

You will also need to complete an accredited supervised practice program for hands-on experience at a health care facility, community agency, or a food service corporation. These programs generally run six to 12 months and may be combined with an undergraduate program or graduate studies. To be eligible to take the national registration exam, the CDR requires completion of a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised practice.

During your supervised practice rotations, you’ll be assigned to work in different areas (like clinical care, pediatrics, surgery, health promotion, and food services) and will perform duties that RDs and RDNs normally handle. It’s hard work, but very rewarding—and it gives you the chance to explore different practice areas to determine which best fit your interests and talents.

There are three options for supervised practice:

Step 5 – Pass the CDR’s National Registration Examination

Once you have completed your accredited supervised practice program, you’ll be eligible to take the national registration examination. When you successfully pass that exam, you become a registered dietitian and may use either the RD or RDN credential, whichever your prefer. In recent years, RDN has become the credential of choice for professionals in this field.

Step 6 – Get Licensed or Certified in Your State

Because of the medical nature of the work, earning dietitian credentials is a far more stringent complicated process than many people may think, especially if you’re also exploring studying and working as a nutritionist.

Common State Requirements

In fact, to legally practice as an RD or a RDN—titles most employers demand dietitians have—most states require the following to become licensed or certified (note that different states use both terms somewhat interchangeably):

In addition, to maintain and renew your license, you’ll need to complete about 75 hours of continuing education every five years.

Voluntary Board Certification

Beyond licensing through your state, you can choose to pursue voluntary board certification through the NCBTMB. Certification symbolizes a certain level of expertise and commitment by demonstrating that you’ve gone above and beyond the entry-level requirements. Maintaining your certification involves a good amount of continuing education, so employers and clients will know that you’re dedicated to staying on top of the latest advancements in the field.

Step 7 – Keep Up with the Industry Trends

Whether you’re just getting started in school or looking for courses to add to your skill set, staying on top of the latest dietitian practices, philosophies, and changes in the industry is key to staying current and competitive in order to offer clients a full spectrum of services. These blogs, podcasts, newsfeeds, association journals, and social media feeds will help keep you in the know.