Easiest States to Get a Dietitian License (2026): Ranked

Dietitian regulation varies more than almost any other healthcare profession. Some states require full licensure with fees up to $500; others have no state regulation at all. This guide ranks all 51 jurisdictions by the ease of obtaining and maintaining a dietitian credential.

Our composite ease score considers regulation type, government fees, CE hour requirements, telehealth allowance, and reciprocity. States with lighter regulation — or none at all — score highest. Note that the CDR (Commission on Dietetic Registration) RD/RDN credential is a national requirement for all regulated states, so that cost is consistent regardless of which state you choose.

Regulatory Landscape at a Glance

Min State Fee

$200

Median State Fee

$300

Max State Fee

$500

Avg CE Hours

Full licensure states

Partial regulation states

No state regulation

Top 8 Easiest States for RD/RDN Licensure

States with no regulation or title-only protection top the list since there is no state application fee or CE requirement. Within regulated states, lower fees and CE hours earn higher scores.

New JerseyNo RegulationScore: 75

Gov’t Fees

$200

CDR Required

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

No state license neededTelehealth allowed

ArizonaNo RegulationScore: 65

Gov’t Fees

$200

CDR Required

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

—

No state license needed

MichiganLicensureScore: 50

Gov’t Fees

None

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

VermontCertificationScore: 45

Gov’t Fees

$300

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

WashingtonCertificationScore: 45

Gov’t Fees

$275

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

15 hrs

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

WisconsinCertificationScore: 45

Gov’t Fees

$275

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

ArkansasLicensureScore: 35

Gov’t Fees

$250

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

15 hrs

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

ConnecticutCertificationScore: 35

Gov’t Fees

$390

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

Not mentioned on official pages hrs

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

Full Rankings — All 51 Jurisdictions

#	State	Regulation	Fees	CE Hrs	Telehealth	Score
1	New Jersey	No Regulation	$200	—	Yes	75
2	Arizona	No Regulation	$200	—	—	65
3	Michigan	Licensure	—	—	Yes	50
4	Vermont	Certification	$300	—	Yes	45
5	Washington	Certification	$275	15	Yes	45
6	Wisconsin	Certification	$275	—	Yes	45
7	Arkansas	Licensure	$250	15	Yes	35
8	Connecticut	Certification	$390	Not mentioned on official pages	Yes	35
9	Hawaii	Licensure	$280	15	Yes	35
10	Idaho	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
11	Kentucky	Licensure	$250	15	Yes	35
12	Louisiana	Licensure	$300	15	Yes	35
13	Maine	Licensure	$350	15	Yes	35
14	Minnesota	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
15	Missouri	Licensure	$250	—	Yes	35
16	Montana	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
17	Nevada	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
18	New Mexico	Licensure	$350	15	Yes	35
19	Oklahoma	Licensure	$300	15	Yes	35
20	Oregon	Licensure	$310	—	Yes	35
21	South Dakota	Licensure	$275	—	Yes	35
22	Utah	Certification	$260	No state-specific CE hours required beyond CDR CPEU requirements	Yes	35
23	West Virginia	Licensure	$250	15	Yes	35
24	Georgia	Licensure	$275	30	Yes	30
25	Illinois	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
26	Indiana	Licensure	$220	30	Yes	30
27	Iowa	Licensure	$320 (application fee $120 + CDR exam fee $200)	30	Yes	30
28	Kansas	Licensure	$250	30	Yes	30
29	Mississippi	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
30	Nebraska	Licensure	$275	24	Yes	30
31	New Hampshire	Licensure	$310	20	Yes	30
32	New York	Certification	$494	No state-mandated continuing education hours required for NY CDN renewal	Yes	30
33	North Carolina	Licensure	$410	15	Yes	30
34	North Dakota	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
35	Ohio	Licensure	$275	24	Yes	30
36	Pennsylvania	Licensure	$245	30	Yes	30
37	Rhode Island	Licensure	$260	30	Yes	30
38	South Carolina	Licensure	$280	30	Yes	30
39	Tennessee	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
40	Wyoming	Licensure	$400	—	Yes	30
41	Alabama	Licensure	$450	30	Yes	25
42	California	title_protection	$200	—	Yes	25
43	Delaware	Licensure	$409	30	Yes	25
44	District of Columbia	Licensure	$429	30	Yes	25
45	Florida	Licensure	$408	30	Yes	25
46	Maryland	Licensure	$500 ($300 state fee + $200 CDR exam fee)	30	Yes	25
47	Massachusetts	Licensure	$400	30	Yes	25
48	Texas	Licensure	$308	12 hours per 2-year licensing period, including completion of jurisprudence exam and human trafficking prevention training	Yes	25
49	Virginia	title_protection	$200	—	Yes	25
50	Alaska	Licensure	$450	No state CE hours requirement found on the official page; renewal form does not list CE requirements.	Yes	20
51	Colorado	title_protection	$200	—	—	15

What “Easiest” Does Not Mean

Unregulated does not mean unrestricted: In states with no regulation, anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist,” which can actually make it harder to differentiate yourself as a credentialed RD/RDN.
MNT scope varies: Only 47 states explicitly authorize dietitians to provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for clinical conditions. This affects billing and scope in clinical settings.
CDR costs are constant: Regardless of state, you still pay for the CDR registration exam (~$200) and annual maintenance (~$65/year). The ease ranking only reflects state-level variation.
Master’s degree requirement: As of 2024, the CDR requires a master’s degree for new RD/RDN candidates. This education cost applies regardless of which state you practice in.

Next Steps

How to Become a Registered Dietitian →

Education, CDR exam, and state licensure steps

Dietitian License Cost by State →

Government fee breakdowns for all 51 jurisdictions

Sources

State dietitian licensing board websites (all 51 jurisdictions)
Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) — cdrnet.org
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — eatright.org
Ease scores are composite calculations; not official rankings.
Data last verified March 2026

Practice Tests for the RD Exam (Registered Dietitian Exam)

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Top 8 Easiest States for RD/RDN Licensure

States with no regulation or title-only protection top the list since there is no state application fee or CE requirement. Within regulated states, lower fees and CE hours earn higher scores.

New JerseyNo RegulationScore: 75

Gov’t Fees

$200

CDR Required

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

No state license neededTelehealth allowed

ArizonaNo RegulationScore: 65

Gov’t Fees

$200

CDR Required

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

—

No state license needed

MichiganLicensureScore: 50

Gov’t Fees

None

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

VermontCertificationScore: 45

Gov’t Fees

$300

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

WashingtonCertificationScore: 45

Gov’t Fees

$275

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

15 hrs

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

WisconsinCertificationScore: 45

Gov’t Fees

$275

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

—

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

ArkansasLicensureScore: 35

Gov’t Fees

$250

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

15 hrs

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

ConnecticutCertificationScore: 35

Gov’t Fees

$390

CDR Required

Yes

State CE Hours

Not mentioned on official pages hrs

Telehealth

Yes

Telehealth allowedAccepts out-of-stateMNT scope included

Full Rankings — All 51 Jurisdictions

#	State	Regulation	Fees	CE Hrs	Telehealth	Score
1	New Jersey	No Regulation	$200	—	Yes	75
2	Arizona	No Regulation	$200	—	—	65
3	Michigan	Licensure	—	—	Yes	50
4	Vermont	Certification	$300	—	Yes	45
5	Washington	Certification	$275	15	Yes	45
6	Wisconsin	Certification	$275	—	Yes	45
7	Arkansas	Licensure	$250	15	Yes	35
8	Connecticut	Certification	$390	Not mentioned on official pages	Yes	35
9	Hawaii	Licensure	$280	15	Yes	35
10	Idaho	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
11	Kentucky	Licensure	$250	15	Yes	35
12	Louisiana	Licensure	$300	15	Yes	35
13	Maine	Licensure	$350	15	Yes	35
14	Minnesota	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
15	Missouri	Licensure	$250	—	Yes	35
16	Montana	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
17	Nevada	Licensure	$300	—	Yes	35
18	New Mexico	Licensure	$350	15	Yes	35
19	Oklahoma	Licensure	$300	15	Yes	35
20	Oregon	Licensure	$310	—	Yes	35
21	South Dakota	Licensure	$275	—	Yes	35
22	Utah	Certification	$260	No state-specific CE hours required beyond CDR CPEU requirements	Yes	35
23	West Virginia	Licensure	$250	15	Yes	35
24	Georgia	Licensure	$275	30	Yes	30
25	Illinois	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
26	Indiana	Licensure	$220	30	Yes	30
27	Iowa	Licensure	$320 (application fee $120 + CDR exam fee $200)	30	Yes	30
28	Kansas	Licensure	$250	30	Yes	30
29	Mississippi	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
30	Nebraska	Licensure	$275	24	Yes	30
31	New Hampshire	Licensure	$310	20	Yes	30
32	New York	Certification	$494	No state-mandated continuing education hours required for NY CDN renewal	Yes	30
33	North Carolina	Licensure	$410	15	Yes	30
34	North Dakota	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
35	Ohio	Licensure	$275	24	Yes	30
36	Pennsylvania	Licensure	$245	30	Yes	30
37	Rhode Island	Licensure	$260	30	Yes	30
38	South Carolina	Licensure	$280	30	Yes	30
39	Tennessee	Licensure	$300	30	Yes	30
40	Wyoming	Licensure	$400	—	Yes	30
41	Alabama	Licensure	$450	30	Yes	25
42	California	title_protection	$200	—	Yes	25
43	Delaware	Licensure	$409	30	Yes	25
44	District of Columbia	Licensure	$429	30	Yes	25
45	Florida	Licensure	$408	30	Yes	25
46	Maryland	Licensure	$500 ($300 state fee + $200 CDR exam fee)	30	Yes	25
47	Massachusetts	Licensure	$400	30	Yes	25
48	Texas	Licensure	$308	12 hours per 2-year licensing period, including completion of jurisprudence exam and human trafficking prevention training	Yes	25
49	Virginia	title_protection	$200	—	Yes	25
50	Alaska	Licensure	$450	No state CE hours requirement found on the official page; renewal form does not list CE requirements.	Yes	20
51	Colorado	title_protection	$200	—	—	15

What “Easiest” Does Not Mean

Unregulated does not mean unrestricted: In states with no regulation, anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist,” which can actually make it harder to differentiate yourself as a credentialed RD/RDN.
MNT scope varies: Only 47 states explicitly authorize dietitians to provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for clinical conditions. This affects billing and scope in clinical settings.
CDR costs are constant: Regardless of state, you still pay for the CDR registration exam (~$200) and annual maintenance (~$65/year). The ease ranking only reflects state-level variation.
Master’s degree requirement: As of 2024, the CDR requires a master’s degree for new RD/RDN candidates. This education cost applies regardless of which state you practice in.

Next Steps

Sources

State dietitian licensing board websites (all 51 jurisdictions)
Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) — cdrnet.org
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics — eatright.org
Ease scores are composite calculations; not official rankings.
Data last verified March 2026

Easiest States to Get a Dietitian License (2026): Ranked

Regulatory Landscape at a Glance

Top 8 Easiest States for RD/RDN Licensure

Full Rankings — All 51 Jurisdictions

What “Easiest” Does Not Mean

Next Steps

Sources

Dietitian Exam Prep Books

Professional Equipment & Supplies

Ready to Become a Registered Dietitian?

Get free licensing guides delivered to your inbox

Easiest States to Get a Dietitian License (2026): Ranked

Regulatory Landscape at a Glance

Top 8 Easiest States for RD/RDN Licensure

Full Rankings — All 51 Jurisdictions

What “Easiest” Does Not Mean

Next Steps

Sources

Dietitian Exam Prep Books

Professional Equipment & Supplies

Ready to Become a Registered Dietitian?

Get free licensing guides delivered to your inbox