2026 data Pennsylvania board official source

Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania data shows for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionists

Pennsylvania's path to registered dietitian / nutritionist licensure runs through board-approved instruction and a passing score on Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam before applicants younger than 18 can be licensed. Pennsylvania folds the credential into its broader occupational licensing statute, which classifies the training track as "Bachelor or Masters Degree plus Internship".

Budget $192 to get started, plus $164 at each renewal 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

F
Licensing Ease Score
36/100
Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Pennsylvania

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
$192
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$82/yr
$164 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 Pennsylvania

Education / Training Hours
Bachelor or Masters Degree plus Internship
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$192
Renewal Fee
$164
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 Pennsylvania licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Pennsylvania?
In Pennsylvania, the license path calls for, a passing score on Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam, and a $192 initial fee.
How do I get certified as a Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Pennsylvania?
Certification as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in Pennsylvania means clearing the state's checklist, and a passing exam score. The Pennsylvania licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist license to Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Pennsylvania require a background check for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist licensing?
Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania?
To stay licensed as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in Pennsylvania, plan on 75 hours of continuing education per 2-year renewal cycle; renewal itself runs $164.

What to do with this registered dietitian / nutritionist license

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Pennsylvania, 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 Pennsylvania 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.