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Career Pathways

How to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist 

  1. Complete a bachelor's degree and receive a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program. There are two options for obtaining a verification statement at UH.
    1. Complete a bachelors degree and obtain a verification statement: Complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods (ACEND Accredited Track) UH students must complete the ACEND Accredited Track or Nutritional Sciences Track with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the Didactic Program in Dietetics required coursework to qualify for a verification statement.
    2. Complete post-baccalaureate course work and obtain a verification statement: If you have a bachelor's degree from a US accredited institution and are interested in pursuing a career in nutrition and dietetics, you may be eligible to apply for the post-baccalaureate plan. UH students must complete the program with a GPA of 3.0 in the Didactic Program required coursework to qualify for a verification statement.
  2. Get matched to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program (some dietetic internships are combined with a master's degree, which is optional*). For students who do not match to an internship, applying to an Individual Supervised Practice Pathway is an option.
  3. The UH dietetic internship is an example of one such ACEND-accredited supervised practice program.
  4. Pass the CDR credentialing exam for Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/N).
  5. In most states, graduates also must obtain licensure or certification to practice. For more information about state licensure requirements click here.
  6. To obtain licensure in Texas, graduates can apply on the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation website.

Visit ACEND for more pathways to becoming a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist 

How to become a Nutrition Dietetic Technician, Registered

  1. Complete coursework in an ACEND-accredited didactic program and complete at least a bachelor's degree at a U.S. regionally accredited college or university. There are two options for obtaining a verification statement at UH.
    1. Complete a bachelors degree and obtain a verification statement: Complete the requirements of the Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition and Foods (ACEND Accredited Track) UH students must complete the ACEND Accredited Track or Nutritional Sciences Track with a minimum GPA of 3.0 in the Didactic Program in Dietetics required coursework to qualify for a verification statement.
    2. Complete post-baccalaureate course work and obtain a verification statement: If you have a bachelor's degree from a US accredited institution and are interested in pursuing a career in nutrition and dietetics, you may be eligible to apply for the post-baccalaureate plan. UH students must complete the program with a GPA of 3.0 in the Didactic Program required coursework to qualify for a verification statement.
  2. After completing the degree and dietetics coursework, pass a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). For more information regarding the examination, refer to the CDR website.
Visit ACEND for more pathways to becoming a Nutrition Dietetic Technician, Registered