You must complete the following steps to become a registered dietitian:
- Complete a Didactic Program in Dietetics, or DPD, that is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, or ACEND.
- Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
- Pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, or CDR.
- Many states have regulatory laws (i.e., licensure) for dietitians and nutritionists. these requirements are often met by similar training to becoming an RDN.
- Illinois state licensure info can be found at www.idfpr.com.
Effective Jan. 1, 2024:
The Commission on Dietetic Registration, or CDR, will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
To be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s, you must meet all eligibility requirements. You must also be submitted into CDR’s Registration Eligibility Processing System before midnight Central Time, Dec. 31, 2023.
Visit CDR’s website for more information about this requirement.
In addition, CDR requires you to complete coursework and supervised practice in programs accredited by ACEND.
Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited MS/DI program at RUSH University are eligible to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
If you have a bachelor’s that is not in dietetics and are interested in applying to RUSH, have your college transcript evaluated by a director of a DPD program accredited by ACEND.
They will evaluate your previous work and identify courses you need to complete to meet nutrition and dietetics requirements to receive a verification statement. This gives you the ability to apply to RUSH’s program.