How to Get Your Registered Dietitian License in Georgia (2026)

How to Become a Registered Dietitian in Georgia

Registered Dietitians and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN) serve a large and growing population across Georgia. Clinical RDs work in hospital inpatient units, oncology and transplant programs, dialysis centers, pediatric hospitals, and intensive care departments across the Atlanta metropolitan area and in regional hospitals serving communities from Augusta and Savannah to Macon and Columbus. Outpatient nutrition counseling covers diabetes management, cardiovascular disease, bariatric surgery, eating disorders, sports nutrition, and pediatric nutrition. Georgia's large WIC program, public school nutrition operations, long-term care sector, and community health programs provide robust public-sector employment. Atlanta's position as a major Southeast business hub also drives demand for corporate wellness RDs. Georgia's rapid population growth continues to expand demand for credentialed nutrition professionals across all settings.

Step 1: Complete an ACEND-Accredited Nutrition Program

RD/RDN credentialing begins with completion of an ACEND-accredited program. ACEND — the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, the accrediting body of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) — sets national education and supervised practice standards. Since January 1, 2024, a Master's degree is required for new candidates to sit the CDR Registration Examination. The prior Bachelor's-level DPD pathway is no longer sufficient for first-time exam eligibility. The standard route combines a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) covering food science, biochemistry, medical nutrition therapy, and community nutrition with a supervised Dietetic Internship (DI) of at least 1,200 hours. Combined MS/DI programs integrating graduate coursework and supervised practice are the primary current pathway. Georgia institutions with ACEND programs include the University of Georgia (UGA), Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and Life University, among others. Coordinated Programs (CP) combining coursework and supervised practice are also eligible.

Step 2: Pass the CDR Registration Examination

The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing arm of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, administers the RD and RDN examinations. The exam is 145 computer-based questions at Pearson VUE centers; the fee is approximately $200. Domains cover food and nutrition sciences, clinical nutrition, food service systems management, and community nutrition. You must complete supervised practice and receive a Declaration of Intent to Complete from your program director before scheduling the exam. CDR requires 75 Professional Development Units (PDUs) every five years for credential renewal — the universal renewal standard for all U.S. RDs.

Step 3: Apply for Your Georgia Dietitian License

Georgia requires a state license to practice as a licensed dietitian. The licensing authority is the Georgia Board of Examiners of Licensed Dietitians, operating under the Georgia Secretary of State's Professional Licensing Boards Division. Application fees typically range from $50 to $100; verify the current fee on the Georgia Secretary of State's website before submitting. The application requires CDR credential verification, official educational transcripts, and personal identification. Background check requirements should be confirmed at the time of application. RDs licensed in other states can apply through an endorsement pathway by providing documentation of their active out-of-state license and CDR registration, typically allowing licensure without re-examination provided the originating state had comparable standards.

Continuing Education Requirements

Georgia RDs must satisfy CDR's universal 75 PDU per five-year renewal cycle. Georgia's Board of Examiners may require state-specific CE in addition to CDR renewal; verify current requirements with the Georgia Secretary of State's Professional Licensing division as rules can change. CDR-eligible PDU activities include AND-accredited courses, peer-reviewed publications, preceptoring dietetic interns, professional conferences, and distance learning. Atlanta's large AND Georgia chapter and its position as a major Southeast convention hub provide excellent in-person CE access.

RD vs. RDN: What's the Difference?

Both titles represent the same CDR credential. "RDN" was introduced in 2013 by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics as an optional alternative to the traditional "RD" title, explicitly including "Nutritionist" to better reflect the profession's scope. All credential requirements — education, supervised practice, CDR examination, and PDU renewal — are identical. Georgia's licensing law recognizes both titles. Employers and insurance credentialing panels in Georgia use both interchangeably; choose whichever designation you prefer on your professional materials and license application.

Georgia Registered Dietitian Salary Ranges

Georgia RD salaries are competitive for the Southeast, with Atlanta's metro market commanding the highest wages in the state. Annual ranges typically run $54,000 to $80,000. Entry-level inpatient clinical positions in Atlanta-area hospitals generally start around $55,000–$62,000. Experienced RDs at major health systems earn $65,000–$80,000. Renal dietitians at Georgia's extensive dialysis center network — one of the largest per capita in the country given Georgia's high rates of diabetes and hypertension-related end-stage renal disease — typically earn $65,000–$84,000. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta employs pediatric dietitians at competitive specialized rates. Travel dietitian contracts pay $37–$50 per hour. Rural Georgia counties with limited nutrition services sometimes offer loan repayment incentives through federal rural health programs.

Top Employers for Registered Dietitians in Georgia

Northside Hospital in Atlanta (Atlanta and Cherokee campuses) is a high-volume community hospital and one of the busiest cancer programs in the Southeast — a significant employer of oncology and clinical RDs. Wellstar Health System, the largest health system in Georgia, operates hospitals across the Atlanta metro area and employs clinical RDs statewide. Emory Healthcare — including Emory University Hospital, Emory Saint Joseph's, and affiliated facilities — is a major academic medical center employer for specialty clinical and research dietitians. Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA) is the region's premier pediatric health system and a leading employer of pediatric clinical and outpatient RDs. Grady Health System serves Atlanta's urban safety-net population and employs clinical RDs in a high-acuity environment. DaVita and Fresenius Kidney Care operate Georgia's extensive dialysis center network, employing large numbers of renal dietitians statewide. The Georgia Department of Public Health administers WIC programs across the state. Long-term care facilities, school nutrition programs through the Georgia Department of Education, and corporate wellness programs round out the employer landscape.