2026 data North Carolina board official source

North Carolina Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist License Requirements

State-board requirements, fees, and renewal cycle drawn from official regulator records.

Provides dietary counseling and plans therapeutic diets.

What the North Carolina data shows for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionists

Becoming a licensed registered dietitian / nutritionist in North Carolina means clearing a defined set of hurdles: board-approved training, a passing score on Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam once the applicant turns 18. North Carolina regulators place this credential inside their licensing framework, which classifies the training track as "Bachelor or Masters Degree plus Internship".

The initial price tag is $161, and renewal costs $139 every 2 years. The license also carries an ongoing 75-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

For registered dietitian / nutritionists, the reciprocity picture is: Dietitian Licensure Compact: adoption underway.

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
39/100
Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · North Carolina

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 F
$161
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$70/yr
$139 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 North Carolina

Education / Training Hours
Bachelor or Masters Degree plus Internship
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$161
Renewal Fee
$139
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 North Carolina licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in North Carolina?
North Carolina requires, passing an exam (Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam), and an initial fee of $161.
How do I get certified as a Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in North Carolina?
Certification as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in North Carolina means clearing the state's checklist, and a passing exam score. The North Carolina licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist license to North Carolina 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 North Carolina licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does North Carolina require a background check for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist licensing?
North Carolina doesn't condition registered dietitian / nutritionist licensure on a criminal background check, though employers in the field may impose their own screening requirements.
What are the continuing education requirements for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in North Carolina?
To stay licensed as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in North Carolina, plan on 75 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $139.

What to do with this registered dietitian / nutritionist license

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in North Carolina, 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 North Carolina 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.