Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) at Simmons
Turn your passion for nutrition into a rewarding career
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are in high demand. They are nationally credentialed healthcare professionals who promote health and manage disease with medical nutrition therapy in settings like hospitals, clinics, community programs, and in private practice.
To sit for the RDN registration exam, you’ll need:
- Completion of an ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) — proof that you’ve completed nutrition coursework required by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
- A master’s degree in any field — the advanced education that the Commission on Dietetic Registration now requires for all RDNs.
- Completion of Dietetic Internship (DI) — ACEND-accredited supervised practice experience that prepares you for real-world dietetics.
At Simmons University, you can complete every requirement in one place. After you pass the RDN exam and gain state licensure, you’ll be ready to launch your RDN career!
Not sure which nutrition program you need to become an RDN? It all depends on where you are on your journey.
Choose the option that best describes you to find out next steps:
I would like to get a bachelor’s degree and train to be an RDN.
I have a bachelor’s degree, but it does not include the DPD certificate.
I have a bachelor’s degree and the DPD certification. What next?
I have completed my master’s degree and DPD certificate, but need an internship.
Start by earning a bachelor's degree
If you’re just starting out, Simmons' bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics will fulfill the DPD coursework requirement.
Looking to save time? Our 4+1 programs let you earn both a bachelor’s and master’s in five years. You can pair the BS in Nutrition and Dietetics with our Master’s in Nutrition and Health Promotion.
You’ll graduate with the academic credentials and the Didactic Program in Dietetics certificate you need, plus the option to apply to and enroll in the Dietetic Internship program at Simmons.
After you pass the RDN exam and gain state licensure, you’ll be ready to launch your RDN career!
Expand on a bachelor's degree
To sit for the RDN exam, you don’t need a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or dietetics. You do, however, need to complete three requirements: coursework that fulfills the Didactic Program in Dietetics, a master’s degree, and a Dietetic Internship.
Simmons offers all three. Our ACEND-accredited Didactic Program in Dietetics certificate program provides proof that you’ve completed the required nutrition coursework. It can be completed on its own or alongside Simmons’ Master’s in Nutrition and Health Promotion, followed by the Dietetic Internship.
If you’ve already met some requirements at another institution, we’ll work with you to help you complete the rest.
After you pass the RDN exam and gain state licensure, you’ll be ready to launch your RDN career!
Earn a master's degree and complete a Dietetic Internship
If you already have a bachelor’s degree and a Didactic Program in Dietetics certification, you’ll need just two more steps to sit for the RDN licensure exam. Simmons offers both:
A master’s degree — Simmons’ Master’s in Nutrition and Health Promotion is designed to prepare you for a successful RDN career.
Dietetic Internship (DI) — Our Dietetic Internship provides the supervised practice you need to become an RDN.
We offer internship options at Simmons or through our partner hospitals: Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, Be Well Solution (distance internship), and Wellness Workdays (distance internship).
After you pass the RDN exam and gain state licensure, you’ll be ready to launch your RDN career!
Expand on your master's degree with a DPD and DI
A master’s degree (in any field) is one requirement to qualify for the RDN exam. With that already complete, you’ll just need:
Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) certificate — Proof you’ve finished the required nutrition coursework through our ACEND-accredited program.
Dietetic Internship (DI) — Supervised practice that prepares you to become an RDN, available at Simmons or a partner hospital.
Simmons offers both. The DPD comes first, and then you can apply to the DI.
After you pass the RDN exam and gain state licensure, you’ll be ready to launch your RDN career!
Complete a Dietetic Internship (DI)
You have only requirement left to attain before taking the RDN exam: the Dietetic Internship (DI).
Through our ACEND-accredited DI program, you’ll gain experience across various settings, including clinical nutrition, food service management, and community nutrition.
Following completion of this final requirement, you’ll be eligible to take the RDN registration exam.
After you pass the RDN exam and gain state licensure, you’ll be ready to launch your RDN career!