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Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam)
The Registration Examination for Dietitians (RD Exam) is the entry-level computer adaptive certification examination of the Commission on Dietetic Registration; passing it, after meeting CDR's academic and supervised-practice eligibility criteria, grants the Registered Dietitian (RD)/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. It is delivered year-round at Pearson VUE Professional Test Centers.
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QuestionsVariable-length computer adaptive exam: minimum 125 questions (100 scored + 25 pretest), maximum 145 questions (120 scored + 25 pretest); at least 125 questions must be answered for the exam to be scored
Testing time3 hours to complete the examination (3.5-hour appointment: 3 hours exam, 20-minute introductory tutorial, 10-minute post-exam survey)
ScoringComputer adaptive scoring; passing requires a minimum scaled score of 25 on a 1–50 scale (number of correct answers needed varies by exam difficulty)
Exam feeUSD 250 examination fee, paid by credit card at exam appointment registration (separate from Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics membership dues and CDR registration maintenance fees); an optional USD 350 RD test bundle covers the initial attempt plus a discounted retake voucher
Prep options
Study resources for RD Exam
Independent prep
Courses and study resources
Exam overview
What to know before choosing your prep
- Who runs it
- CDR
- Category
- Nutrition & Dietetics
- Current version
- 2022–2026 RD Test Specifications (effective January 1, 2022, based on the 2020 practice analysis); 2027–2031 RD Test Specifications published and upcoming
- Where it applies
- United States — national
- Exam languages
- English
- Score scale
- 1–50
- Testing provider
- Pearson VUE
- Format
- Computer-based, variable-length computer adaptive test (CAT), multiple choice, administered by appointment at Pearson VUE Professional Test Centers
- Availability
- Year-round by appointment at over 250 Pearson VUE Professional Test Centers nationwide; eligibility approval grants a one-year Authorization to Test window
- Results
- Result displayed on the computer screen after the exam and a printed score report provided at the test center (duplicates available via the Pearson scheduling portal); credential maintenance information is emailed within a week of passing
- Remote testing
- Not available
Exam structure
Variable-length, all-multiple-choice computer adaptive exam with questions drawn from four domains: Principles of Dietetics (21%), Nutrition Care for Individuals and Groups (45%), Management of Food and Nutrition Programs and Services (21%), and Foodservice Systems (13%); domain questions are intermingled and not presented in content order
Eligibility
Meet CDR's academic and supervised-practice criteria for examination eligibility, verified through the Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS), and sign the Code of Ethics agreement when establishing eligibility
Retake policy
Retesting allowed 46 days after an unsuccessful attempt (a one-time 45-day waiver is available with an employer letter); reauthorization (reps.cdrnet.org/reauth) and a new examination fee are required; for eligibility established on or after January 1, 2027, CDR imposes a lifetime limit of eight attempts