Licensing Path
Colorado does not currently require a separate state license for this path. Keep your national credential active and verify employer onboarding requirements.
Details on reciprocity or endorsement will be established by the new Board of Dietetics and Nutrition under DORA regulations. Active CDR registration will serve as the primary qualification for state licensure.
- Endorsement fee
- $0
- Processing time
- No state application
- Fingerprinting
- Required
- Temporary license
- Not needed
- Compact
- No active compact path
- Board
- State Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (New)
From the board
Readiness Steps
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Step 1
Complete Education & Supervised Practice
Earn a master's degree or higher from an ACEND-accredited program. Complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice in clinical, community, or foodservice settings.
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Step 2
Pass the CDR Examination (or Provide Active RD Status)
Successfully pass the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians and obtain active registration, OR provide proof of holding valid, current CDR registration.
-
Step 3
Complete CBI Background Check
Submit to a Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) fingerprint-based background check ($39.50 fee), required at initial registration.
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Step 4
File Application with DORA
Submit the application to the Director of the Division of Professions and Occupations with proof of education, supervised practice, examination/CDR status, and the estimated $200 registration fee.
Quick Facts
- Total fee
- ~$239.50 (Estimated)
- Processing time
- TBD (New program launching Sept 2026)
- Renewal fee
- ~$125–$180 (Estimated)
- Renewal cycle
- Annual (Estimated) + 75 CPE hours per 5-year CDR cycle
- Application
- $200
- Background check
- $39.50
- Jurisprudence exam
- $0
- Total estimated cost
- ~$239.50 (Estimated)
License Types
Licensed Dietitian (LD): Starting September 1, 2026, Colorado will require a state license to practice or offer medical nutrition therapy. Licensed Dietitians must hold current CDR registration or meet equivalent examination and education requirements.
Licensed Nutritionist (LN): Colorado's new law also creates a Licensed Nutritionist pathway, which will have a separate examination option (with a waiver period until September 1, 2028 for qualifying candidates).
Required Documents
- CDR Registration Verification: Proof of active registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
- CBI Background Check Fingerprints: Colorado Bureau of Investigation background check, processed at a DORA-approved provider.
- Proof of Supervised Practice: Verification of at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice from an ACEND-accredited program.
Board Contact
- Board
- State Board of Dietetics and Nutrition (New)
- Department
- Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), Division of Professions and Occupations
- Phone
- (303) 894-7800
- dora_dpo@state.co.us
- Board site
- https://dpo.colorado.gov/
- Compact source
- https://dietitianscompact.org/
Source: Primary board website
Renewal
Renewal fee is ~$125–$180 (Estimated). Renewal cycle: Annual (Estimated) + 75 CPE hours per 5-year CDR cycle.
Colorado Dietitian Licensing FAQ
When does Colorado's dietitian license requirement take effect?
The new licensure requirement takes effect on September 1, 2026. After this date, no person may practice or offer medical nutrition therapy without a state license.
How much will a Colorado dietitian license cost?
The estimated initial registration fee is approximately $200 for FY 2026-27, plus a $39.50 CBI background check. Annual renewal is estimated between $125 and $180.
Do I need a license before September 1, 2026?
No. Before September 1, 2026, Colorado does not mandate state licensure. The CDR credential (RD/RDN) remains the recognized standard until the new law takes effect.
Does Colorado have reciprocity for dietitians?
Colorado is currently a CDR State. There is no separate state endorsement transfer pathway right now; maintain an active CDR credential to practice.
How long does it take to transfer my dietitian license to Colorado?
This is currently a CDR State, so there is no state transfer timeline. You can usually start once your CDR credential and employer onboarding are complete.
Can I start working in Colorado while my endorsement application is processing?
There is no active state endorsement application to wait on right now. Start dates are typically driven by employer credentialing and onboarding requirements.