{"application_form_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","application_portal_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","board_contact_url":null,"board_email":"mailto:ST-NURSE@pa.gov","board_fax":"(717) 783-0822","board_mailing_address":"State Board of Nursing<br>P.O. Box 2649<br>Harrisburg, PA 17105-2649","board_name":"Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing","board_parent_org":"Pennsylvania Department of State","board_phone":"(717) 783-7142","board_physical_address":"One Penn Center<br>2601 N. 3rd Street<br>Harrisburg, PA 17110","board_source_url":null,"board_url":null,"canonical_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/pennsylvania-dietitian","ce_requirements_url":null,"common_delays":[{"description":"Completing training from a provider not approved by the PA Department of Human Services will result in rejection.","title":"Unapproved Child Abuse Training"},{"description":"Using the wrong service code for IdentoGO prevents the Board from receiving your background check results.","title":"Incorrect Fingerprint Service Code"},{"description":"Transcripts must be sent directly from the school; student-uploaded copies are not accepted.","title":"Transcript Delivery Issues"},{"description":"Failure to provide the specific Board-required form for supervised practice hours can stall the application.","title":"Missing Supervised Practice Verification"}],"compact_member":false,"compact_name":"N/A","compact_privilege_fee":"N/A","created_at":"2026-04-09T17:05:34.583742+00:00","credential_type":"Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN)","description":"Apply for a Pennsylvania Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN) credential through the State Board of Nursing. $95 application fee. Complete requirements, processing times, and official links.","endorsement_application_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","endorsement_fees":{"app_fee":"$95","background_check_fee":"$0 (included in application)","jurisprudence_exam_fee":"$0","total_estimated_cost":"$95"},"endorsement_steps":[{"description":"Ensure you hold an active, valid license in another state with substantially equivalent requirements.","title":"Verify Out-of-State License","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Demonstrate at least 3,600 hours of practice in the five years preceding the application if applying via Act 41 portability.","title":"Meet Act 41 Requirements","url":"https://www.dos.pa.gov/ProfessionalLicensing/Pages/Act-41.aspx","url_label":"Act 41 Information"},{"description":"Apply through the PALS portal and select the 'Licensure by Endorsement' option.","title":"Submit Endorsement Application","url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","url_label":"Apply via PALS"},{"description":"Submit a criminal history record check from every state where you have lived or worked in the past 10 years.","title":"Provide Background Checks","url":null,"url_label":null}],"exam_registration_url":null,"faqs":[{"answer":"The initial application fee is $95.00, which is non-refundable.","question":"What is the initial application fee for an LDN license?"},{"answer":"Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionists must complete 30 hours of approved CE every two years, including at least 2 hours of child abuse recognition and reporting training.","question":"How many continuing education (CE) hours are required for renewal?"},{"answer":"Licensure is required to use the title 'Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist' or the abbreviation 'LDN'. While nutrition practice itself is not strictly limited, most clinical roles require the credential.","question":"Is the LDN license mandatory to practice in Pennsylvania?"},{"answer":"Licenses expire biennially on September 30 of even-numbered years.","question":"When does the LDN license expire?"},{"answer":"The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing regulates the licensure of dietitian-nutritionists.","question":"Which board oversees Dietitian-Nutritionist licensing?"}],"fee_payment_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","fingerprint_delay_weeks":"2-4 weeks from the fingerprint appointment to the Board receiving and processing the clearances.","fingerprint_fee":"$24.95","fingerprint_method_in_state":"IdentoGO Live Scan (digital fingerprinting at a physical center).","fingerprint_method_out_of_state":"IdentoGO Cardscan (applicant obtains ink prints on an FD-258 card locally and mails them to IdentoGO for digital conversion).","fingerprint_required":true,"fingerprint_url":"https://uenroll.identogo.com/","fingerprint_vendor":"IdentoGO by IDEMIA","fingerprint_vendor_url":"https://uenroll.identogo.com/","initial_fee_amount":95.0,"initial_fee_breakdown":"$95 Application Fee","last_updated":"2026-02-25","last_verified":"2026-02-25","license_duration":"2 Years","licensing_pathway":"endorsement","payload_url":"https://statelicensingreference.com/api/pennsylvania-dietitian.json","processing_time":"4 to 8 Weeks","profession":"Dietitian","provisional_info":"Pennsylvania does not grant temporary permits, but Act 41 allows the Board to issue provisional licenses to practitioners coming from other jurisdictions who need time to fulfill specific PA requirements.","reciprocity_info":"Pennsylvania does not currently participate in interstate licensure compacts for nutritionists. Out-of-state applicants must apply via endorsement through the PALS system and provide verification of their active, good-standing license from their home state, along with proof of passing a Board-approved exam.","renewal_cycle":"Biennial (Every 2 years)","renewal_fee_amount":71.0,"renewal_portal_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","required_documents":[{"description":"Must be sent directly from the educational institution to the Board of Nursing.","name":"Official Transcripts","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Documentation confirming completion of at least 900 hours of supervised experience.","name":"Verification of Supervised Practice","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Official proof of passing the CDR or BCNS examination.","name":"Verification of Examination","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Verification of 3 hours of approved training (submitted electronically by the provider).","name":"Child Abuse Training Certificate","url":"https://www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu/","url_label":"Training Provider"},{"description":"FBI fingerprint-based background check results via IdentoGO.","name":"Criminal History Record Check","url":"https://uenroll.identogo.com/","url_label":"IdentoGO"}],"slug":"pennsylvania-dietitian","state_name":"Pennsylvania","state_slug":"pennsylvania","statutes_url":"https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/049/chapter21/subchapGtoc.html","steps":[{"description":"Earn a baccalaureate or higher degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a major in human nutrition, food and nutrition, dietetics, or food systems management.","title":"Complete Educational Requirements","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Complete at least 900 hours of planned, continuous supervised practice experience under the supervision of a Registered Dietitian or a Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist.","title":"Complete Supervised Practice","url":null,"url_label":null},{"description":"Successfully pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or the Certification Examination for Nutrition Specialists administered by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS).","title":"Pass the Professional Examination","url":"https://www.cdrnet.org/","url_label":"Visit CDR Website"},{"description":"Complete 3 hours of Board-approved training in child abuse recognition and reporting. The provider must submit the results electronically to the Board.","title":"Complete Mandatory Child Abuse Training","url":"https://www.reportabusepa.pitt.edu/","url_label":"Approved Training Portal"},{"description":"Create an account on the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS) and submit the online application for a Dietitian-Nutritionist license.","title":"Register and Apply via PALS","url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/","url_label":"PALS Portal"},{"description":"Register with IdentoGO for a fingerprint-based FBI background check using the specific service code provided within your PALS application.","title":"Complete FBI Background Check","url":"https://uenroll.identogo.com/","url_label":"IdentoGO Registration"},{"description":"Arrange for official transcripts and verification of exam passage to be sent directly to the State Board of Nursing.","title":"Submit Supporting Documentation","url":null,"url_label":null}],"temp_license_available":false,"temp_license_duration":"N/A","temp_license_fee":"N/A","temp_license_processing_time":"N/A","updated_at":"2026-05-17T09:11:16.655378+00:00","verify_license_url":"https://www.pals.pa.gov/#/page/search"}