Tag: Rdn requirements

As of January 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) updated the requirements, mandating a master's degree to sit for the RD exam. This significant change means that the path has become more rigorous for aspiring professionals. So, is it hard to become a registered dietician? The journey is demanding, but attainable with dedication.

As of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration requires a master's degree to sit for the national RDN exam, a major change that impacts all prospective dietitians. Pepperdine University's Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD), part of the Nutritional Science major at Seaver College, provides the foundational undergraduate coursework required for this career path.

As of 2024, more than 118,000 Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) were working in the U.S., a number that reflects the profession's growing importance. Understanding what are the credentials for RDN is the first step toward joining this expanding field and helping people improve their health through nutrition.

The average medical school curriculum includes only about 25 hours of nutrition coursework, highlighting a significant gap in nutritional expertise compared to a dietitian's specialized training. This critical difference helps explain why dietitians do not need med school, as their career path and scope of practice are entirely separate from that of medical doctors.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow faster than average, leading many to ask: is it easier to become a dietician or a nutritionist? The answer depends heavily on your career goals and location, as the educational and legal requirements for each role differ significantly.

As of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) updated the education requirements, making a master's degree a minimum requirement for eligibility to sit for the national exam. This change fundamentally shapes the three requirements for becoming a registered dietician nutritionist, a protected and highly respected title within the health industry.