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Steps To Becoming A RDN

To become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), there is a multi-step process involving: 1) earning a bachelor's degree and verification statement from an accredited program; 2) applying and being matched to an accredited dietetic internship for a minimum of 1200 supervised practice hours; 3) passing the national registration exam to earn the RDN credential; and 4) maintaining continuing education requirements and obtaining a master's degree, which will be required starting in 2024 to maintain registration.

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160 views

Steps To Becoming A RDN

To become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), there is a multi-step process involving: 1) earning a bachelor's degree and verification statement from an accredited program; 2) applying and being matched to an accredited dietetic internship for a minimum of 1200 supervised practice hours; 3) passing the national registration exam to earn the RDN credential; and 4) maintaining continuing education requirements and obtaining a master's degree, which will be required starting in 2024 to maintain registration.

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How to Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

(RDN)
STEP 1: EARN A BACHELOR’S DEGREE AND VERIFICATION STATEMENT FROM AN ACEND-ACCREDITED
PROGRAM
CSULB offers a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), where students complete a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in course work
accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the credentialing agency of the Academy
of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Upon completing all degree requirements, graduating students will receive a Verification
Statement, which is a document indicating they are ready to complete a dietetic internship.

STEP 2: APPLY FOR ADMISSION IN A DIETETIC INTERNSHIP


Students must apply and be matched to an ACEND-accredited dietetic internship (also called supervised practice programs). A
dietetic internship is a rigorous residency-type program which offers a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised experiences across a
range of dietetic practice sites (i.e. clinical, food service, public health, research). Upon completing a dietetic internship, interns will
receive a new verification statement indicating they are ready to take the exam. During their senior year many of our students start
Step 2 prior to graduation.

The current first-time match rate is around 50% across applicants in the United States. Current and prospective students
are encouraged to diligently pursue academic excellence throughout their coursework and to seek paid, volunteer, and
shadowing nutrition-related experience across various disciplines to be competitive candidates for dietetic internships.

STEP 2.5: IF NOT MATCHED DURING STEP 2, APPLY FOR ADMISSION IN ISPP

ISPPs (Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways) offer the same rigorous experiences and learning objectives as a
dietetic internship (see this link for more information about ISPP programs in the United States), but are designed to
offer training opportunities for applicants who might not be matched or able to find a suitable internship that can be
tailored to their needs.

STEP 3: PASS A NATIONAL EXAM AND MAINTAIN PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS

After the dietetic internship, intern graduates will take a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic
Registration (CDR), referred to informally as the “RD exam.” Upon passing this exam, the once intern will now earn the RDN
credential after their name. To maintain registration, the RDN must provide evidence of fulfilling continuing professional
educational requirements to maintain registration.

STEP 4: MASTER’S DEGREE (REQUIRED BY 2024)

As of 2024, all entry-level registered RDNs will require a graduate degree to maintain their registration. For more information see
the Graduate Degree Registration Eligibility Requirement FAQ.

Some internships are “combined” and offer a graduate degree as part of the program (these are typically 2 years compared to the
usual 9-12 months). CSULB offers a 2-year combined dietetic internship program with M.S. in Nutritional Science.

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