Professions / Healthcare

Occupational licensing · Healthcare · 51 state boards

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist Licensing Requirements by State

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist licensing rules differ by state. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) compilation and responsible state boards (current as of May 15, 2026), this registry compares education hours, initial and renewal fees, exams, background checks and reciprocity notes across 51 boards. Use the table to compare differences, then verify the current rule with the responsible board before applying.

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist across 51 state boards. Nearest coverage peers (51-state band): Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

By ·Compiled from official state licensing boards

States regulated
51
Avg initial fee
$165
Require an exam
100%
View saved licenses

Board Pathway Strip

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist: 51 boards · exam on 100% · avg first fee $165. Same-lane boards: Athletic Trainer, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Dental Assistant.

Provides dietary counseling and plans therapeutic diets.

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist initial fees swing $50 (NH) to $297 (CA), a $247 spread across 51 boards ; Athletic Trainer often lands on a different fee band.

Board thresholds for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist drift board-to-board; the same pattern shows up on Athletic Trainer and Certified Nurse-Midwife in healthcare. Methodology notes live on our methods page.

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist states

51

Bottom quartile, lowest

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist first fee

$165

Above median

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist renewal

$142

Above median

Board gates for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist: exam on 51/51 (100%), background check on 0/51 (0%) , CE on 51/51 (avg 75 hrs/cycle) . Stack that against Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife before calling this license soft or hard.

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist: nationwide coverage neighbours

Coverage band

Cheapest vs priciest jurisdiction for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist

A $247 fee spread for the same credential

Initial licensing fees in New Hampshire ($ 50) and California ($ 297) bracket the field, a 5.9× spread for identical practice rights.

NH

New Hampshire

$50 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

CA

California

$297 initial licensing fee
Renewal cycle
2 years

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist boards vs Athletic Trainer / Certified Nurse-Midwife - state table

51 states
State Edu. Hours Exam Init. Fee Renewal Cycle CE Hrs Same-board peer
Alabama - Yes $128 $112 2 yrs 75 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Alaska - Yes $87 $80 2 yrs 75 Also Chauffeur / Limousine Driver · Dental Hygienist
Arizona - Yes $258 $216 2 yrs 75 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Arkansas - Yes $111 $99 2 yrs 75 Also Dental Hygienist · Esthetician
California - Yes $297 $247 2 yrs 75 Also Home Inspector · Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Colorado - Yes $263 $220 2 yrs 75 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Connecticut - Yes $219 $185 2 yrs 75 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Delaware - Yes $189 $161 2 yrs 75 Also Painter (Contractor) · Physical Therapist
District of Columbia - Yes $193 $165 2 yrs 75 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Florida - Yes $205 $174 2 yrs 75 Also Armed Security Guard · Casino/Gaming Dealer
Georgia - Yes $165 $142 2 yrs 75 Also Body Piercer · Cosmetologist
Hawaii - Yes $247 $208 2 yrs 75 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Idaho - Yes $84 $77 2 yrs 75 Also Locksmith · Nail Technician
Illinois - Yes $280 $234 2 yrs 75 Also Notary Public · Pesticide Applicator (Commercial)
Indiana - Yes $158 $136 2 yrs 75 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Iowa - Yes $97 $88 2 yrs 75 Also Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) · Medical Lab Technician
Kansas - Yes $94 $85 2 yrs 75 Also Water Well Driller · Auctioneer
Kentucky - Yes $118 $104 2 yrs 75 Also Athletic Trainer · Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Louisiana - Yes $232 $196 2 yrs 75 Also Veterinary Technician · Athletic Trainer
Maine - Yes $57 $55 2 yrs 75 Also Dental Assistant · Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
Maryland - Yes $216 $182 2 yrs 75 Also Debt Collector · Elevator Installer
Massachusetts - Yes $209 $177 2 yrs 75 Also Commercial Truck Driver (CDL) · Electrician
Michigan - Yes $168 $145 2 yrs 75 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
Minnesota - Yes $138 $120 2 yrs 75 Also Farrier / Horseshoer · Hearing Aid Specialist
Mississippi - Yes $124 $109 2 yrs 75 Also Glazier · Interior Designer
Missouri - Yes $134 $118 2 yrs 75 Also Fire Sprinkler Installer · Home Health Aide
Montana - Yes $239 $201 2 yrs 75 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
Nebraska - Yes $91 $82 2 yrs 75 Also Home Health Aide · Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
Nevada - Yes $272 $228 2 yrs 75 Also Nail Technician · Pest Control Applicator
New Hampshire - Yes $50 $50 2 yrs 75 Also Insurance Agent · Locksmith
New Jersey - Yes $212 $180 2 yrs 75 Also Land Surveyor · Massage Therapist
New Mexico - Yes $243 $204 2 yrs 75 Also Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) · Mobile Home Installer
New York - Yes $197 $168 2 yrs 75 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
North Carolina - Yes $161 $139 2 yrs 75 Also Hair Braider · Land Surveyor
North Dakota - Yes $77 $72 2 yrs 75 Also Hearing Aid Specialist · Landscape Architect
Ohio - Yes $178 $153 2 yrs 75 Also Optician (Dispensing) · Pharmacy Technician
Oklahoma - Yes $101 $91 2 yrs 75 Also Paramedic · Physician Assistant
Oregon - Yes $285 $238 2 yrs 75 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Pennsylvania - Yes $192 $164 2 yrs 75 Also Physician Assistant · Radiologic Technologist
Rhode Island - Yes $236 $199 2 yrs 75 Also Certified Public Accountant (CPA) · Dental Assistant
South Carolina - Yes $104 $93 2 yrs 75 Also Electrologist · Food Handler / Food Safety Certification
South Dakota - Yes $70 $66 2 yrs 75 Also Elementary School Teacher · Funeral Director / Embalmer
Tennessee - Yes $145 $126 2 yrs 75 Also Mobile Home Installer · Painter (Contractor)
Texas - Yes $182 $155 2 yrs 75 Also Pesticide Applicator (Commercial) · Private Investigator
Utah - Yes $121 $107 2 yrs 75 Also Real Estate Agent / Salesperson · School Librarian / Media Specialist
Vermont - Yes $60 $58 2 yrs 75 Also Taxi/Ride-Share Driver · Arborist / Tree Surgeon
Virginia - Yes $151 $131 2 yrs 75 Also Psychologist · School Bus Driver
Washington - Yes $253 $212 2 yrs 75 Also Tattoo Artist · Amusement Ride Operator
West Virginia - Yes $121 $107 2 yrs 75 Also Childcare Center Director · Dietetic Technician
Wisconsin - Yes $131 $115 2 yrs 75 Also Animal Breeder · Bartender / Alcohol Server
Wyoming - Yes $64 $61 2 yrs 75 Also Court Reporter / Stenographer · Elementary School Teacher

What to do with this

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist is regulated in 51 states -- here's how to use that before you act.

  • Compare Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist's requirements against every other tracked profession. Browse all professions
  • #77 of 97 professions by number of states requiring a license -- see which states are strictest overall. State burden rankings
  • Initial fees for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist range from $50 (NH) to $297 (CA) -- check whether your license transfers before assuming you'd need to pay again. Reciprocity guide

Requirements are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research and verified against state board sites where possible; always confirm current rules with the licensing board before relying on any single row.

Data sources

Related

Strictest states →Athletic Trainer →Compare states →Reciprocity guide →

Data sourced from NCSL, Institute for Justice, and state licensing board websites. See our methodology for details.

Disclaimer: For informational purposes only; not professional licensing advice. Verify current requirements with your state board before making career decisions.

Every figure on PlainCredential is rendered directly from NCSL and state occupational- licensing board data, no number is typed in by an editor. Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist requirements from NCSL and state board schedules: 51 rows, no hand-typed figures. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.