Can I work as a dietitian before I pass the RD exam?

In some states, yes, under a limited, temporary or provisional permit and usually under a licensed dietitian's supervision. Ohio, Florida, Georgia, Kansas and Maine all offer a version. In states that restrict practice and offer no permit, you wait until you pass and are licensed.

How long does a provisional dietitian permit last?

It depends on the state. Ohio's limited permit lasts six months and can be renewed once. Florida's temporary permit lasts one year with one possible extension. Kansas allows six months plus one renewal of up to six months, and Maine's temporary license runs one year.

What happens to my Ohio limited permit if I fail the exam?

After a first failure you must report it to the board and may practice only under the direct supervision of an Ohio licensed dietitian. A second failure ends the permit immediately, and Ohio does not issue a limited permit to anyone who has already failed twice.

Does my supervisor have to sign anything?

In Florida, yes: the initial temporary permit application must be signed by the supervising licensee. In Ohio, a supervising dietitian of a permit holder who has failed once must document a supervision plan. Check each state's form before you apply.

Provisional Permits for New Dietitians Awaiting the RD Exam

Most new dietitians finish their supervised practice months before they sit for the registration exam. Some states let them work during that gap. The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) describes the option in its February 2026 credentialing tip on certification and licensure: if you have completed the academic and supervised practice requirements and are eligible for the exam, "you may be able to practice for a limited time, usually under the supervision of a licensed practitioner, using a temporary or provisional license."

The names vary. Ohio calls it a limited permit, Florida a temporary permit, Georgia a provisional permit, Kansas and Maine a temporary license. What they share is a short life, a supervision requirement and an end point tied to the exam. What differs is everything a new graduate would want to plan around: how long the permit lasts, whether it can be renewed, and what happens after a failed attempt.

Who can get a provisional permit?

In general, a graduate who has finished the education and supervised practice that make them eligible for the CDR exam but has not yet passed it. Since January 1, 2024, CDR requires a graduate degree for anyone establishing exam eligibility for the first time, so most applicants now hold a master's degree when they apply. Our post on the graduate degree requirement covers who is grandfathered.

Each state then adds its own conditions. Ohio wants evidence that you have applied to take the exam. Florida's temporary permit application must be signed by the licensed dietitian who will supervise you. Some states set no extra condition beyond the education requirement.

How do five states handle it?

Ohio: the limited permit

Ohio restricts the practice of dietetics to licensees, so the permit matters there. The State Medical Board "may grant a limited permit to a person who has completed the education and pre-professional requirements" and "presents evidence to the board of having applied to take the examination" (Ohio Rev. Code 4759.06(G)). The board's rule fills in the details (Ohio Admin. Code 4759-4-08):

You must indicate an intent to take the exam within six months of the permit's issuance.
The permit expires six months after issuance and may be renewed once.
After a first failed attempt, you must report the result to the board immediately and may practice only under the direct supervision of an Ohio licensed dietitian, who must document a supervision plan and review your work at least every seven days.
A second failure ends the permit immediately, and no permit is issued to anyone who has already failed the exam twice.

The fee for a limited permit, or for renewing one, is $65 under Ohio Rev. Code 4759.08. Confirm the current amount with the board before you pay. More on the state in Ohio dietitian licensing.

Florida: the temporary permit

Florida's licensure law also reaches practice, not just the title. Under Fla. Stat. 468.511, the board may issue a temporary permit to a graduate who has completed the education requirement. The initial application "shall be signed by the supervising licensee," you practice under that licensed dietitian/nutritionist's supervision and direction, and the permit expires one year after issuance. One extension may be granted for good cause. A separate subsection covers an applicant who has applied for the next scheduled exam: that permit lasts until the exam results arrive. See Florida dietitian licensing.

Georgia: the provisional permit

Georgia's statute, O.C.G.A. 43-11A-10, as quoted on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics' state page, lets the board issue a permit to practice "as a provisionally licensed dietitian under the supervision of a dietitian" to an applicant who has completed "a substantial portion" of the licensing requirements. The permit runs one year and may be renewed at the board's discretion, and a renewal fee may apply. Georgia's board notes that some of its forms must be notarized, so plan for a notary visit. See Georgia dietitian licensing.

Kansas: the temporary license

Kansas is the shortest of the five. A temporary license "shall expire six months from the date of issuance" and may be renewed for one more period of up to six months if you have not become licensed and you pay the renewal fee (Kan. Stat. 65-5907). See Kansas dietitian licensing.

Maine: the temporary dietitian license

Maine's Board of Licensing of Dietetic Practice lists a temporary dietitian license for an applicant who has met every qualification except passing the exam. Its licensing page shows a $125 license fee plus a $21 criminal history records check fee, and a one-year term. The board's FAQ says it may approve one renewal and that temporary licensees do not need continuing education. Maine also offers a temporary dietetic technician license, which is unusual; our post on NDTR licensing in Maine explains why. See Maine dietitian licensing.

What happens if you fail the exam while on a permit?

This is where the states diverge most, and it is worth reading before you schedule the exam.

Ohio keeps you working after one failure, but only under direct supervision, and ends the permit after a second.
Florida's exam-pending permit runs only until you are notified of the results.
Kansas and Maine tie the permit to a fixed term rather than to exam results, with one renewal possible.

CDR's own rules add a timing constraint. Its candidate handbook says a candidate who does not pass may retest after 45 calendar days and must reauthorize with CDR and pay the current exam fee again. The exam fee for dietitians is $250, according to the handbook. Put together, a six-month Ohio permit leaves room for two attempts, but not much slack.

When should you apply for the permit?

As soon as you are eligible, because the permit only helps while you are waiting. CDR says that once a candidate is approved for exam eligibility, Pearson VUE sends an Authorization to Test email within 48 hours, and the authorization expires after the test is taken or after one year. In Ohio, the permit application needs proof that you have applied for the exam, so the CDR eligibility step comes first. In Florida, the supervising dietitian has to sign, so line up your supervisor before you file.

Line up three things at once:

Your verification statement from your program director, which starts CDR eligibility.
A named supervisor who holds a license in the state where you will work.
Any background check the state requires. Maine's temporary license carries a criminal history records check fee, and Florida requires fingerprint-based screening for dietitian/nutritionist applicants under Fla. Stat. 468.509 and 456.0135.

Does every state offer a permit?

No. Some states have no provisional route, and in a few it does not matter because the state does not restrict practice. Texas is the clearest example: the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation says you must pass the CDR exam and the Texas jurisprudence exam before applying for a Texas license, but it also says "individuals are not required to hold a Texas dietitian license to practice dietetics in Texas." The Texas license protects the "licensed dietitian" title and "LD" initials. Our post on title protection versus licensure explains the difference.

The compact will not help a new graduate either. The Dietitian Licensure Compact is not issuing privileges yet, and CDR describes eligibility in terms of registered dietitians holding an active home-state license, which a new graduate does not have. See who qualifies for the compact.

What changes once you pass?

The permit does not convert itself. You still apply for the full license, and in most states that application is simpler once you hold the RD, because the state accepts CDR registration in place of separate proof of education, supervised practice and the exam. Ohio's statute waives those three requirements for an applicant with "current registration as a registered dietitian" (Ohio Rev. Code 4759.06(B)). Pay your first CDR registration maintenance fee promptly: CDR says practitioners "cannot be verified" until it is received, and a state board may ask for proof of active registration. Our post on your first dietitian license walks through that step.

Can we prepare the permit application for you?

Yes. Our Provisional Permit for New Graduates service is $349 per state. We confirm whether the state offers a permit and what it requires, build the application packet, list what your supervisor must sign, track your CDR eligibility dates, and then help with the full license once you pass. You review and sign the application, pay the board, and submit it yourself. State, CDR exam and background check fees are separate. If you are not sure which state you will end up in, start with the Dietitian Licensing Readiness Review ($149) or the state license index.