Nutrition and Dietetics Program

No. To become an RDN, five steps are required: 

1. Complete a bachelor's degree and receive a verification statement from an ACEND-accredited program (Didactic Program in Dietetics).  
2. Get matched to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice dietetic internship program (some dietetic internships are combined with a master's degree, which is optional*). For students who do not match to an internship, applying to an Individual Supervised Practice Pathway is an option.  
3. Pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration's dietetic registration exam.  
4. Gain licensure in your state of practice, if applicable.  
5. Maintain continuing education.  

*Effective January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) will require a minimum of a master's degree to be eligible to take the credentialing exam to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). In order to be approved for registration examination eligibility with a bachelor's degree, an individual must meet all eligibility requirements and be submitted into CDR's Registration Eligibility Processing System (REPS) before 12:00 midnight Central Time, December 31, 2023. For more information about this requirement visit CDR's website: https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree.  

CDR requires that individuals complete coursework and supervised practice in program(s) accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).  

Western Carolina University has both an accredited undergraduate program in dietetics and an accredited dietetic internship.   

• Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DPD program at Western Carolina University (step 1) are eligible to apply to an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program (step 2). 
• Graduates who successfully complete the ACEND-accredited DI program, which is completed as part of the MHS-ND program, at Western Carolina University (step 2) are eligible to apply to take the CDR credentialing exam to become an RDN (step 3).

Learn more about educational pathways to become a RDN

Students not entering a dietetic internship but wishing to practice nutrition may choose to take the national exam to become a Nutrition and Dietetic Technician, Registered (NDTR). All students with a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree who have completed a DPD are eligible to take the NDTR exam.

All students who successfully complete the ACEND required courses will receive an ACEND DPD verification of completion statement. This verification statement entitles the student to take the Registration Examination for Nutrition and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (NDTR).  The verification statement qualifies graduates to pursue further training in ACEND-accredited dietetic internships.  Admission to a dietetic internship is very competitive. Having a verification statement does not guarantee acceptance into an internship. Both the NDTR and RDN exams are administered through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) (https://www.cdrnet.org/). 

• Breeding and Associates RD Exam Study Guide
• Foodservice Management: Principles and Practices (13th Edition) by Payne-Palacio and Theis
• Nutrition Therapy & Pathophysiology (4th Edition) by Nelms

Estimated minimum expenses for a full-time undergraduate for the academic year are published each year on the WCU Admissions website.

Housing and meals are included in usual residential student fees. Books at WCU are rented and the fee is included in the registration fees.

Additional costs for the ND program include:

• Selected supplemental texts or workbooks required for specific courses.  It is also recommended to purchase many of the nutrition textbooks for future reference.
• Student membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics is required once accepted into the ND program cohort.  Membership in the Academy affords the student access to the Evidence Analysis Library, a required resource for assignments in many of the required courses.
• Criminal background checks are required upon admission to the ND program.  Additional immunizations and screening may be required at certain service-learning sites; students are responsible for costs incurred for tests at their service-learning sites.
• Dietetics program academic fees

Various financial sources, such as grants, loans, scholarships and student employment are available to qualified undergraduate students. To become eligible, an application for financial assistance can be obtained by contacting WCU Financial Aid Office in Room 218 of the Killian Annex (finaid@email.wcu.edu), 828-227-3181.   Additional information can be found in the current printed catalog.  Financial aid recipients are expected to comply with the guidelines established by each specific granting or loaning agency.  

There are three scholarships available specifically for ND students in the DPD program: the Wilma Cosper Scholarship, the Dr. Barbara Cosper Scholarship, and the Leland and Francile Keith Waters Scholarship. The general scholarship application is required for consideration for these scholarships. Application opens during the Fall semester, and the deadline for submitting the scholarship application online is in early Spring semester. Students also must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by January 1 each year in order to be considered for need-based scholarships.

Yes! There are many opportunities for graduates of our major. Graduates of the B.S. program in Nutrition and Dietetics are eligible to apply for Nutritionist I position in the Health Department of most states. They can also apply to take the registration exam to be a registered dietetic technician (DTR). Talk to your advisor or visit WCU Career Services for information and advice.

The Dietetic Internship is designed to provide clinical experiences established by the Standards of Education of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). Students who successfully complete the internship are eligible to take the national registration exam of the AND and on passing the examination, become registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) and active members of the AND.

To obtain a Dietetic Internship a student must successfully complete an undergraduate degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND), the accrediting body of the AND, or have a baccalaureate degree from any accredited school but have all of the didactic courses completed from an ACEND-accredited program.

If someone has a bachelor’s degree in an area other than nutrition, they do not have to obtain a second degree, but they do have to complete all of the ACEND-required courses. Dietetic internships are very competitive across the country.