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Becoming a Registered Dietitian

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A Registered Dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional requirements to qualify for the credential RD. In addition to RD credentialing, many states have regulatory laws for dietitians. State requirements are met through the same education and training required to become an RD. For more information about the process of becoming an RD, read the RD Fact Sheet from the American Dietetic Association or for more information about careers in Dietetics read their Career FAQ Sheet. You may also want to read this summary of the 2007 Benefits and Compensation Survey for Dietitians.

For additional information on job outlook and salaries in the field, read the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook section for Dietitians and Nutritionists.

The Dietetics program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), the credentialing body of the American Dietetic Association, as a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD). CADE is located at 120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000, Chicago, IL 60606-6995, (312) 899-0040.

Students wishing to become Registered Dietitians must:

  1. Earn a Bachelor's degree
  2. Complete coursework that constitutes a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), as defined by the American Dietetic Association.
  3. Complete a Dietetic Internship program

The first two items can be accomplished by completing the Dietetics curriculum at the University of Maryland which combines the American Dietetic Association's 2008 Eligibility Requirements and Accreditation Standards for Didactic Programs in Dietetics and the University of Maryland's CORE general education requirements.

Upon successful completion of the Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, a Verification Statement will be issued to the student. This statement indicates that he/she has successfully completed an accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics and may pursue a Dietetic Internship. A student will be considered to have successfully completed the DPD if all required courses are completed and the student has received a grade of C or higher in all courses in NFSC, MATH, CHEM, BCHM, BSCI, BMGT and Restricted Electives.

Students in the Didactic Program in Dietetics are evaluated through interim and final examinations in all courses.

Following completion of the Bachelor's degree in Dietetics, students must be accepted into and complete a post-baccalaureate Dietetic Internship. These programs require a minimum of 900 hours of supervised practice and help students gain practical experience in clinical dietetics, community nutrition, foodservice management and many other areas in the field of dietetics. The University of Maryland College Park Dietetic Internship Program includes all of these areas in addition to an emphasis in information technology. There are also several other internship programs in the Washington, DC area as well as throughout the country. Click here for a list of all dietetic internship programs in the country.

After the internship, students must take and pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians and will then be eligible for licensure in the state that they practice.

Acceptance into Dietetic Internships is based upon a number of factors including:

Informational meetings are held once per year to assist students in understanding the requirements for obtaining a Dietetic Internship. Students are provided with information about job and volunteer opportunities, networking, leadership, and many other topics. Students who attend one of these meetings report feeling better prepared for the Dietetic Internship application process. It is strongly encouraged that you attend one of these meetings before your Junior year in the Dietetics program.

Each October, a meeting is held for senior Dietetics students who are considering applying for internships. Information is provided on the entire internship application process. Students are required to attend this meeting during the Fall semester of their Senior year if they wish to apply for Dietetic Internships.

Please visit our FAQ page for more information on Dietetics and the process of becoming a Registered Dietitian.

For more information, contact nfscinfo@umd.edu

Last updated: 06/18/2009