How to Become a Registered Dietitian in Pennsylvania (2026 Guide)

How to Become a Registered Dietitian in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is home to some of the nation's largest and most prestigious healthcare systems — including UPMC, Penn Medicine, Jefferson Health, and an extensive DaVita and Fresenius dialysis network. The state requires dietitians to hold a license from the Pennsylvania State Board of Dietitian-Nutritionists and includes a Pennsylvania-specific continuing education mandate (Act 31 child abuse recognition) that distinguishes PA from most other states.

Here is the complete 2026 roadmap to Pennsylvania RD licensure.

Step 1: ACEND-Accredited Nutrition Program

Effective January 1, 2024, the CDR requires all new RD candidates to hold a minimum master's degree from an ACEND-accredited program. This is a national requirement that applies equally in Pennsylvania. ACEND programs at the graduate level integrate the required supervised practice hours (at least 1,000 hours) into the degree program, ensuring graduates meet CDR eligibility requirements upon completion.

Pennsylvania has numerous ACEND-accredited graduate programs, including those affiliated with UPMC, Drexel University, Penn State, and other institutions. Graduates of out-of-state or online ACEND programs are equally eligible to apply for PA licensure.

Step 2: CDR Registration Examination

After completing an ACEND-accredited graduate program, you must pass the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians:

• Fee: approximately $200
• Format: 145 questions (125 scored + 20 unscored pretest), computer-adaptive
• Domains: principles of dietetics; nutrition care for individuals and groups; management of food and nutrition programs; food science and nutrient composition
• Maintenance: 75 PDUs per five-year cycle to maintain active CDR registration

Pennsylvania requires proof of active CDR registration as part of the state licensure application — the CDR exam must be passed before the PA Board will issue a license.

Step 3: State Dietitian License

The Pennsylvania State Board of Dietitian-Nutritionists (under the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs) issues the Pennsylvania Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist credential. Steps include:

1. Complete the PA State Board of Dietitian-Nutritionists licensure application.
2. Provide proof of current, active CDR registration (RD or RDN credential).
3. Submit official transcripts from your ACEND-accredited graduate program.
4. Pay the licensure fee (approximately $75–$100; verify the exact current fee on the PA Department of State website before submitting).
5. Complete all required attestations and any background check as required by the Board.

Pennsylvania issues licenses on a biennial renewal cycle. Confirm the current renewal date and any updated requirements with the PA State Board at the time of your application.

Continuing Education

Pennsylvania dietitians have both standard CDR CE requirements and a Pennsylvania-specific mandate:

• CDR: 75 PDUs per five-year cycle (standard national requirement)
• Act 31 — Child Abuse Recognition and Reporting: Pennsylvania law requires all licensed healthcare professionals, including dietitians, to complete a mandatory 2-hour Act 31 training on child abuse recognition and reporting as part of each license renewal cycle. This training must be from a PA-approved provider and is in addition to standard CDR CE requirements.

Confirm current total CE hours required per biennial cycle and any additional PA-specific requirements directly with the PA State Board of Dietitian-Nutritionists, as requirements may be updated between renewal cycles.

RD vs. RDN

Registered Dietitian (RD) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) are legally equivalent and interchangeable CDR credentials. Pennsylvania's Board of Dietitian-Nutritionists recognizes both titles, and major PA health systems including UPMC and Penn Medicine accept both designations. The title "Dietitian-Nutritionist" in Pennsylvania's official licensure name is distinct from the CDR credential name — your CDR RD or RDN credential satisfies the PA Board's requirements regardless of which title option you prefer.

Pennsylvania RD Salary Ranges

Pennsylvania's concentration of major academic medical centers and large dialysis networks supports strong RD compensation across the state:

• Entry-level (0–2 years): approximately $52,000–$59,000 per year
• Mid-career (3–7 years): approximately $59,000–$69,000 per year
• Experienced (8+ years) or specialty: approximately $69,000–$78,000 per year
• Renal/dialysis premium: DaVita and Fresenius operate extensively across Pennsylvania; renal RD specialists typically earn $4,000–$8,000 more annually than general clinical rates
• Travel RD contracts: travel assignments in rural Pennsylvania and underserved communities typically pay $35–$50 per hour with stipends

Top Employers

Pennsylvania's leading employers of Registered Dietitians include:

• UPMC (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center) — one of the nation's largest integrated health systems, with extensive clinical nutrition, research, and outpatient dietitian positions across western PA
• Penn Medicine — the University of Pennsylvania Health System, with academic medical center and community hospital dietitian roles across Philadelphia and southeastern PA
• Jefferson Health — Thomas Jefferson University's health system, with clinical and outpatient dietitian positions in Philadelphia and the surrounding region
• DaVita and Fresenius Kidney Care — both operate large networks of dialysis clinics across Pennsylvania, with consistent renal RD openings
• Geisinger Health, Main Line Health, WellSpan Health, WIC Pennsylvania, long-term care networks, and private outpatient practices across the Commonwealth