How to Become a Registered Dietitian in Maryland 2026: License Guide

How to Become a Registered Dietitian in Maryland

Maryland licenses dietitians through the Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice. Before practicing dietetics or using the protected title "Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist" (LDN) in Maryland, you must hold both an active CDR registration and a Maryland state license. Maryland's healthcare market is among the most concentrated in the United States, anchored by Johns Hopkins Medicine, University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), MedStar Health, and — uniquely — the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, the world's largest research hospital. Federal nutrition program demand is a distinctive feature of Maryland's dietitian employment landscape.

Step 1: Complete an ACEND-Accredited Nutrition Program

CDR's master's-degree requirement effective January 1, 2024 applies to all new RD/RDN candidates, including those entering Maryland practice. Your educational pathways:

• DPD + Dietetic Internship: ACEND-accredited didactic program followed by a supervised practice internship of at least 1,200 hours with graduate credit or a concurrent master's degree. The University of Maryland, College Park and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health offer graduate-level nutrition programs.
• Coordinated Program (CP): Single ACEND-accredited master's program integrating coursework and supervised practice. Several mid-Atlantic universities near Maryland offer CP options.
• MS/DI Combined Programs: Combined degree and internship — designed for post-baccalaureate candidates; typically two years to completion.

Core curriculum includes medical nutrition therapy, food science, biochemistry, community nutrition, foodservice management, and research. Verify ACEND accreditation at eatright.org/acend before enrolling.

Step 2: Pass the CDR Registration Examination

Maryland requires active CDR registration before granting state licensure. Exam details:

• Format: 145 questions (125 scored + 20 unscored), computer-adaptive
• Delivery: Pearson VUE centers (Baltimore, Bethesda/Rockville, Annapolis, Towson) or remote proctoring
• Fee: ~$200 (verify at eatrightpro.org)
• Domains: Principles of Dietetics, Nutrition Care for Individuals and Groups, Management of Food and Nutrition Programs, Population and Community Nutrition
• Maintenance: 75 PDUs per 5-year CDR recertification cycle; 1 PDU must address ethics

The University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins nutrition programs both offer exam prep support; the Washington DC metro area has multiple Pearson VUE testing options for Maryland candidates.

Step 3: Apply for Your Maryland Dietitian License

After earning CDR registration, apply for Maryland LDN licensure through the Maryland Board of Dietetic Practice:

• Application portal: Maryland Department of Health Professional Licensing (health.maryland.gov)
• Required documents: CDR registration certificate, official transcripts, supervised practice verification, and application fee payment
• License fee: Approximately $75–$100 (verify current fee on the Board website)
• Endorsement: Out-of-state dietitians with active equivalent licensure may apply by endorsement
• Processing time: Typically 4–8 weeks for complete applications
• Renewal: Biennial; CE verification required

Maryland does not participate in a multistate dietitian licensure compact as of 2026. Practitioners in the Washington DC metro may serve patients in Virginia and DC; verify licensure in each jurisdiction for telehealth cross-state practice.

Continuing Education Requirements

Maryland CE requirements for license renewal align with CDR's national recertification standard:

• CDR requirement: 75 PDUs per 5-year cycle
• Maryland state requirement: CE hours required at biennial renewal — verify current hour requirement on the Maryland Board website
• Approved CE: AND-sponsored programs, CPEU-approved webinars, NIH and Johns Hopkins research conferences, university courses, and preceptorship
• Maryland's proximity to NIH and federal nutrition agencies (USDA, FDA, HRSA) creates exceptional access to cutting-edge nutrition science CE and research collaboration opportunities
• Retain CE documentation for at least 5 years

RD vs. RDN: What's the Difference?

"Registered Dietitian" (RD) and "Registered Dietitian Nutritionist" (RDN) are one credential with two optional names. CDR added "RDN" in 2013 to reflect the full scope of nutrition practice. Maryland's state title is "Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist" (LDN):

• Identical education, CDR exam, and 75-PDU maintenance requirements for both RD and RDN
• Both titles carry full Medicare/Medicaid billing privileges
• Johns Hopkins, UMMS, MedStar, and NIH credentialing bodies recognize both equally

Johns Hopkins and NIH Clinical Center environments heavily use "RD"; outpatient wellness and community nutrition roles more commonly see "RDN."

Maryland RD Salary Ranges

Maryland — particularly the Baltimore-DC corridor — offers some of the strongest dietitian compensation in the country due to concentration of academic medical centers and federal employers:

• Entry-level clinical RD (Baltimore/DC metro): $56,000–$70,000
• Experienced clinical RD: $70,000–$88,000
• Renal/dialysis RD: $65,000–$85,000
• Federal nutrition (NIH, USDA, VA): $70,000–$100,000+ (GS pay scale; federal benefits substantial)
• Travel RD: $35–$50/hr (housing and stipends separate)
• Research dietitian (NIH Clinical Center, academic institutions): $68,000–$95,000
• Outstate Maryland (western MD, Eastern Shore): $50,000–$65,000

NIH Clinical Center is a uniquely prestigious employer offering research dietitian roles at GS-11 through GS-13 levels; federal benefits and research exposure make these positions highly competitive.

Top Employers for Registered Dietitians in Maryland

• Johns Hopkins Medicine — World-renowned academic health system; Johns Hopkins Hospital and multiple satellite campuses; clinical nutrition, oncology, transplant, and research roles
• University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) — Large state academic health system; UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center and statewide hospitals
• MedStar Health — Regional health system with hospitals in Baltimore and the DC suburbs; MedStar Harbor and Union Memorial among key sites
• NIH Clinical Center — World's largest research hospital in Bethesda; research dietitian positions with federal GS pay scale and exceptional benefit packages
• Mercy Medical Center / LifeBridge Health — Baltimore-based Catholic health systems with active clinical nutrition programs
• DaVita Kidney Care / Fresenius Medical Care — Dialysis clinics throughout the metro Baltimore and suburban DC corridor
• Maryland WIC Program — MDH-administered; local health department positions across all 24 jurisdictions
• Federal agencies (USDA, FDA, HHS/HRSA) — Policy nutrition roles, food safety, and nutrition program administration in the DC suburbs