Concordia
Concordia students will be prepared to face life’s unscripted challenges and thoughtfully influence the affairs of the world.
Become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Requirements for registration are established by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). The present eligibility requirements are described on the ACEND page of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website.
Upon successful completion of our DI/MS, you will be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam, a necessary step to becoming a registered dietitian nutritionist. Review the information below to find out what you need to accomplish to become a registered dietitian nutritionist.
Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor’s degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited combined dietetic internship and master of science at Concordia College are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN.
In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.
For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.
To become a registered dietitian nutritionist, a path of higher education is a must as well as a dietetic internship from an ACEND-accredited program, and passing the national registration examination. The pathway listed below is a common route many traditional students take, but it is not the only path to become an registered dietitian nutritionist.
Complete a bachelor's degree; Note, effective January 1, 2024, a graduate degree will be required to be eligible to take the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam. (Dietetic Registration Exam.)
Complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program. Supervised practice/experiential learning is combined with the Coordinated Program and Graduate Program in Nutrition and Dietetics.
Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam for registered dietitian nutritionists.
Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.
Maintain continuing education.
Upon successful completion of the DI/MS program at Concordia College, the DI/MS Director will issue to the graduate a verification statement, which indicates completion of supervised practice requirements for eligibility to write the Commission on Dietetic Registration credentialing exam. The combined program is designed so that students must complete both components – dietetic internship and graduate program – in order to receive a Master of Science degree and a verification statement. Students cannot receive a verification for the dietetic internship without completing the master’s degree, and they cannot receive the master’s degree without completion of the dietetic internship.
In addition to the registration requirements, the state of Minnesota has a licensure requirement for dietitians. Minnesota statutes define licensure and states in 148.630(a): No person may engage in dietetics or nutrition practice unless the person is licensed as a dietitian or nutritionist by the board. Additional information is available from the state's Board of Dietetics and Nutrition Practice website. Several other states also have licensure/certification requirements for dietitians, including North Dakota, Florida, Arkansas, New Mexico, Montana and Nebraska. For more information about licensure requirements in these states, see the state licensure agency contact list posted on the CDR website.
Understand the costs and fees related to the program. Find information for financial aid.
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Contact the admission team at DietInternship@cord.edu with questions about the program.
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