{"application_form_url":null,"application_portal_url":"https://www.cdrnet.org/","board_contact_url":null,"board_email":"Not Applicable","board_fax":"Not Applicable","board_mailing_address":"Not Applicable","board_name":"No State Licensing Board","board_parent_org":"Title Protection Only (Business and Professions Code Section 2585)","board_phone":"Not Applicable","board_physical_address":"Not Applicable","board_source_url":"N/A","board_url":"https://www.cdrnet.org/","canonical_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/california-dietitian","ce_requirements_url":null,"common_delays":[{"description":"Waiting for the university registrar to officially post the degree on your transcript can delay the program director's ability to submit your eligibility to the CDR.","title":"Degree Conferral Processing"},{"description":"Eligibility is not automatic; your program director must manually upload your information to the CDR. Delays here prevent you from scheduling your exam.","title":"Program Director Submission"},{"description":"Testing centers may have limited slots during peak graduation seasons (May-June and December-January). Schedule your exam as soon as you receive your eligibility email.","title":"Pearson VUE Availability"}],"compact_member":false,"compact_name":"N/A","compact_privilege_fee":"N/A","created_at":"2026-04-09T17:05:28.570598+00:00","credential_type":"Registered Dietitian (RD)","description":"California does not issue state dietitian licenses, but strictly protects the Registered Dietitian (RD) title. Learn about CDR requirements and CA practice laws.","endorsement_application_url":null,"endorsement_fees":{"app_fee":"$0","background_check_fee":"$0 (included in application)","jurisprudence_exam_fee":"$0","total_estimated_cost":"$0"},"endorsement_steps":[{"description":"Because California has no state licensing board, 'endorsement' simply requires maintaining an active, valid registration with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).","title":"Verify National RD Status","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Ensure your address and contact information are updated in the CDR portal to reflect your California practice location.","title":"Update Contact Information","url":"https://www.cdrnet.org/","url_label":"CDR Portal"},{"description":"California employers and health facilities verify your legal right to practice by requesting your CDR registration card or using the CDR online verification tool.","title":"Provide Proof to Employers","url":null,"url_label":null}],"exam_registration_url":null,"faqs":[{"answer":"No. California does not have a state licensing board for dietitians. Instead, it has 'title protection' under Business and Professions Code Section 2585, which requires anyone using the title 'Registered Dietitian' to be registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).","question":"Does California require a state-specific license for dietitians?"},{"answer":"Yes, for new practitioners. As of January 1, 2024, the CDR requires a minimum of a graduate degree to be eligible for the Registration Examination for Dietitians.","question":"Is a Master's degree required to practice in California?"},{"answer":"There is no state license to renew. You must maintain your national CDR registration by paying the annual maintenance fee and completing 75 Continuing Professional Education Units (CPEUs) every five years.","question":"How do I renew my dietitian license in California?"},{"answer":"No. There are no application or renewal fees paid to the State of California. You only pay the national registration and maintenance fees directly to the CDR.","question":"Are there any state-specific fees for California dietitians?"},{"answer":"Employers verify credentials through the CDR's online verification portal using your registration number or name.","question":"How can an employer verify my credentials in California?"}],"fee_payment_url":null,"fingerprint_delay_weeks":"N/A","fingerprint_fee":"N/A","fingerprint_method_in_state":"N/A","fingerprint_method_out_of_state":"N/A","fingerprint_required":false,"fingerprint_url":null,"fingerprint_vendor":"N/A","fingerprint_vendor_url":"N/A","initial_fee_amount":0.0,"initial_fee_breakdown":"No state fees (CDR national fees apply)","last_updated":"2026-02-25","last_verified":"2026-02-25","license_duration":"Not Applicable","licensing_pathway":"endorsement","payload_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/api/california-dietitian.json","processing_time":"No state license required","profession":"Dietitian","provisional_info":"Because there is no state licensing board, there are no state-issued provisional permits in California.","reciprocity_info":"If you are a licensed dietitian moving to California from another state, you do not need to transfer your license. As long as your national CDR registration is active, you are legally permitted to practice.","renewal_cycle":"No state renewal required","renewal_fee_amount":0.0,"renewal_portal_url":null,"required_documents":[{"description":"Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions showing the conferral of a graduate degree.","name":"Official Transcripts","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"A signed document from your ACEND-accredited program director verifying completion of academic and supervised practice requirements.","name":"ACEND Verification Statement","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"The application for exam eligibility, typically submitted electronically by your program director to the CDR database.","name":"CDR Eligibility Application","url":null,"url_label":null}],"slug":"california-dietitian","state_name":"California","state_slug":"california","statutes_url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&division=2.&title=&part=&chapter=5.65.&article=","steps":[{"description":"Earn a master's or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited college or university. As of January 1, 2024, a graduate degree is a mandatory prerequisite for the CDR registration exam.","title":"Complete Graduate Education","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Complete a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) or Coordinated Program (CP) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).","title":"Complete ACEND-Accredited Coursework","url":"https://www.eatrightpro.org/acend/accredited-programs/about-accredited-programs","url_label":"Find Accredited Programs"},{"description":"Complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice through an ACEND-accredited Dietetic Internship (DI) or Coordinated Program.","title":"Complete Supervised Practice","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Your program director must provide a signed verification statement confirming you have met all educational and supervised practice requirements.","title":"Obtain Verification Statement","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Once your program director submits your eligibility to the CDR, you will receive an email to register for the exam via Pearson VUE. You must pass this national exam to use the title 'Registered Dietitian' in California.","title":"Pass the CDR Registration Examination","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"California does not issue a state license. To practice legally, you must maintain your national CDR registration by paying the annual maintenance fee and completing 75 continuing education units every five years.","title":"Maintain CDR Registration","url":null,"url_label":null}],"temp_license_available":false,"temp_license_duration":null,"temp_license_fee":"See board","temp_license_processing_time":null,"updated_at":"2026-05-24T10:19:21.567324+00:00","verify_license_url":null}