The process to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) includes:

• Completion of the bachelor's degree from an ACEND-accredited dietetics program (UD's undergraduate program is ACEND-accredited).
• Complete the internship and graduate application (DICAS portal) and matching process (D&D Digital) during senior year (faculty coaching and support provided during advising and in HSS 439 Professional Seminar)
• Awarding of the verification statement upon the conferral of the degree from an ACEND-accredited undergraduate dietetics program.
• Successful completion of an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
  • In January 2024, completion of a graduate degree with the ACEND-accredited supervised practice program will be required to earn the verification statement to sit for the RDN credentialing exam. All students pursuing the RDN credential should plan to attend graduate school with an ACEND-accredited supervised practice after graduation.(UD’s Partnered MDN Premier Health Dietetic Internship Program provides both the accredited supervised practice and graduate degree)
• Passing the RDN credentialing exam.
• Apply for Licensing (if applicable in your state)
  • The majority of states have enacted laws that regulate the practice of dietetics.  State licensure and state certification are entirely separate and distinct from the registration or credentialing RDNs and NDTRs obtain from the CDR.  According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, requirements to become a licensed dietitian nutritionist in most states are generally similar to those required to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.  To be licensed as a dietitian nutritionist, all states require documentation of education or equivalent in addition to non-academic requirements such as supervised practice and satisfactory scores on credentialing exams. The National Dietetics Licensure Listings, provided by the Commission on Dietetics Registration, provides information to licensure requirements in your state. RDNs practicing in the State of Ohio are required to hold licensure through the State Medical Board of Ohio.