2026 data Kentucky board official source

Kentucky Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist License Requirements

What the state board actually requires: fees, renewal cycle, and requirements from official records.

Provides dietary counseling and plans therapeutic diets.

What the Kentucky data shows for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionists

To practice as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in Kentucky, the state licensing board requires board-approved training, a passing score on Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The regulation sits under Kentucky's professional licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelor or Masters Degree plus Internship".

Upfront cost is $118, with renewal running $104 on a 2-year cycle. Renewal isn't the end of the cost: 75 hours of continuing education are due every 2-year cycle, a recurring time commitment worth planning for.

Reciprocity for this profession works like this: Dietitian Licensure Compact: adoption underway.

Licensing Ease Score

D
Licensing Ease Score
47/100
Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Kentucky

A higher score means this specific license is LESS burdensome to obtain and maintain here than the national requirement corpus, based on education hours, fees, continuing education, and experience requirements, not an overall judgment of the profession or the state.

Education & Training N/A
N/A
Documented education/training hours required
Initial Fee D
$118
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden C-
$52/yr
$104 every 2 years
Continuing Education F
37.5 hrs/yr
75 hours every 2 years
Experience Required A+
None required
Supervised work experience required before licensure

Licensing Requirements in Kentucky

Education / Training Hours
Bachelor or Masters Degree plus Internship
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$118
Renewal Fee
$104
Renewal Cycle
Every 2 years
Continuing Education
75 hrs/cycle
Criminal History Check
Not Required
Minimum Age
18 years
Data sources: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice, state licensing boards. Verify current requirements with Kentucky licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Kentucky?
Kentucky requires, passing an exam (Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam), and an initial fee of $118.
How do I get certified as a Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Kentucky?
Certification as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in Kentucky means clearing the state's checklist, and a passing exam score. The Kentucky licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist license to Kentucky from another state?
Here's how reciprocity typically plays out for registered dietitian / nutritionists: Dietitian Licensure Compact: adoption underway. Many occupations are additionally covered by interstate licensing compacts that ease cross-state moves. Check with the Kentucky licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Kentucky require a background check for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist licensing?
No statewide background-check mandate applies to registered dietitian / nutritionist licensing in Kentucky at this time - individual employers may still run their own screening.
What are the continuing education requirements for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Kentucky?
To stay licensed as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in Kentucky, plan on 75 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $104.

What to do with this registered dietitian / nutritionist license

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Kentucky, with a documented reciprocity path, is one requirement row in a registered dietitian / nutritionist-wide, 50-state comparison.

Requirements shown are compiled from NCSL and Institute for Justice research; verify current rules with the Kentucky licensing board before making career decisions.

Source: NCSL Occupational Licensing Database, Institute for Justice License to Work (3rd Ed.), state licensing board websites

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures and the Institute for Justice, the PlainCredential comparison corpus (current as of May 15, 2026) maps 4,947 state licensing requirement records; see the methodology.