Verified October 9, 2026 against the practice act, board rules and sources cited below. The board decides every application. All states
What dietitians miss in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania's dietitian-nutritionist license is issued by the State Board of Nursing, not a dietetics board.
- The license protects the LDN title; the statute does not bar unlicensed nutrition practice.
- Child abuse recognition training is required for the first license (3 hours) and every renewal (2 of the 30 hours).
Does Pennsylvania license dietitians?
Pennsylvania licenses dietitian-nutritionists through the State Board of Nursing. The law makes it unlawful to hold oneself out as a licensed dietitian-nutritionist or use the letters L.D.N. without a license; it does not bar unlicensed nutrition practice. Applicants need a degree, 900 supervised hours and the CDR or CNS exam.
- License
- Licensed Dietitian-Nutritionist (LDN)
- Only the title is protected
Citation: 63 P.S. 211 to 225.5 (Professional Nursing Law); 49 Pa. Code 21.701 to 21.725
Is Pennsylvania in the Dietitian Compact?
Pennsylvania is not a Dietitian Compact member.
- Not a compact member
Can a dietitian licensed elsewhere get a Pennsylvania credential by endorsement?
The board may license without examination a graduate of an equivalent dietetics-nutrition program who is registered or licensed by examination in another state, territory or Canada.
- Endorsement or registration-based route
- CDR registration not required
Citation: 63 P.S. 217
Does Pennsylvania have a jurisprudence exam?
The approved exams are the CDR registration exam and the CNS exam. There is no state exam, but initial applicants complete 3 hours of approved child abuse recognition and reporting training.
- No state jurisprudence exam
Telehealth dietitians and Pennsylvania
No telehealth registration exists. The Academy lists Pennsylvania's telemedicine chapter as requiring licensure.
Does Pennsylvania credential non-RD nutritionists?
There is no separate nutritionist license, but the LDN is open to CNS holders: the board accepts the Certified Nutrition Specialist exam as well as the CDR exam.
- Nutritionist credential
How often does a Pennsylvania dietitian credential renew?
Licenses renew every two years for the period October 1 to September 30. Renewal takes 30 approved CPE credits in the two preceding calendar years, at least 2 of them in child abuse recognition and reporting. The application fee is $95 and biennial renewal is $71.
- Renews every 2 years
- 30 CE hours per cycle
Licensing in Pennsylvania?
For a license, we prepare every supporting document and a question-by-question guide, request your verifications, and track it to a decision; you complete, sign and submit the application. License by endorsement is $599 per state.
Sources
- compact (Pennsylvania not listed)
- compact ("No Active Legislation")
- credential (Section 3.1 title restriction, Section 15.4), credential.summary (Section 6(b)), notes
- board (State Board of Nursing), credential.title
- renewal.summary (fees)
- credential.summary, exams.summary (3 hours child abuse training), notes
- cdrRequired, nutritionist, exams (CDR or CNS exam)
- renewal (October 1 to September 30, 30 hours)
- renewal (CPE rules)
- endorsement (63 P.S. 217)
- telehealth (licensure)