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Requirements

REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME A REGISTERED DIETITIAN NUTRITIONIST (RDN)

To become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), you must first complete an accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (DPD), such as our dietetics program from which you earn a minimum of a bachelor's degree. Successful completion of a DPD undergraduate program also provides you with the necessary verification statement. This allows you to apply to our accredited Dietetic Internship program. Upon successful completion of the UWGB Dietetic Internship, graduates receive a Verification Statement of Dietetic Internship Completion, and are then eligible to take the credentialing exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Important:

Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master’s degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website. In addition, CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship Program at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN. In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here. For more information about educational pathways to become a RDN click here.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DIETETIC INTERNSHIP

For selection into the Internship, applicants must have:

  • A Master’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • A verification statement of completion from an ACEND accredited Didactic Program in Nutrition and Dietetics.
  • A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and 3.0 for professional courses (4.0 basis); recommended science grades of a C or better.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Demonstrated ability (as evidenced by the letters of recommendations and personal statement):
    1. To work effectively as a member of a team, as well as team leader
    2. To be a self-directed and independent learner, and
    3. To be flexible and enthusiastic.
  • Work and/or volunteer experience related to health care, community and/or food service encouraged.