2026 data Washington board official source

Washington Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist License Requirements

Requirements, fees, and renewal timing for this license, sourced from state board records.

Provides dietary counseling and plans therapeutic diets.

What the Washington data shows for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionists

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

Upfront cost is $253, with renewal running $212 on a 2-year cycle. The license also carries an ongoing 75-hour continuing-education requirement per 2-year cycle that adds to the true cost of staying licensed.

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

Licensing Ease Score

F
Licensing Ease Score
31/100
Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist · Washington

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
$253
One-time application/license fee
Renewal Burden F
$106/yr
$212 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 Washington

Education / Training Hours
Bachelor or Masters Degree plus Internship
Not specified
Exam Requirement
Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam
Required
Initial License Fee
$253
Renewal Fee
$212
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 Washington licensing authorities before making career decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What license do I need for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Washington?
Washington requires, passing an exam (Commission on Dietetic Registration Exam), and an initial fee of $253.
How do I get certified as a Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Washington?
Certification as a registered dietitian / nutritionist in Washington means clearing the state's checklist, and a passing exam score. The Washington licensing board can confirm the current details.
Can I transfer my Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist license to Washington 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 Washington licensing board for how this applies to you.
Does Washington require a background check for Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist licensing?
Washington 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 Washington?
Washington ties continued registered dietitian / nutritionist licensure to 75 continuing-education hours, due every 2 years, alongside a $212 renewal fee.

What to do with this registered dietitian / nutritionist license

Registered Dietitian / Nutritionist in Washington, 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 Washington 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.