Category C: Non-RD/RDN Equivalency

• Category C applicants would submit their application in parts over time, working directly with our staff.
  • Category C Application;
  • Category C Academic Chart;
  • Category C Supervised Practice Chart;
  • Official Transcripts;
  • Government-issued photo ID;
  • If foreign educated, the transcripts must be translated to English and evaluated by a Board-approved service.

All licenses issued in a calendar year are issued through March 31st of the following year, regardless of date of issuance. Annual renewal is $95 and renewal applications must be submitted online between January 1st – March 31st of each year.

If determined that this category would be applicable, the Board would first complete a review of the Category C academic chart and transcripts to determine what additional classes, if any, are necessary.  If the Board approves the education component, the application will then be required to complete a 1000-hour internship that meets the knowledge requirements of an ACEND-accredited program. The applicant will be responsible for setting up the internship and finding preceptors. Note, appropriate documentation will be given to the applicant to complete, once adequate vetting has been done.

Upon satisfactory completion of the internship, the person would be eligible to sit for the exam. The Board administers the Registered Dietitian exam for these purposes.

Note: Passing the RDN exam taken through this Board for Category C, will NOT result in the applicant being a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist (RDN).

The applicant shall submit proof of completion for the following educational, supervised practice experience and examination requirements:

• The applicant has received a baccalaureate degree, master’s, or doctoral degree or validated foreign equivalent with a major in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, community nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition education, nutrition, nutrition science, clinical nutrition, applied clinical nutrition, nutrition counseling, nutrition and functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and integrative health or an equivalent course of study, from a college or university accredited at the time of graduation from the appropriate regional accrediting agency recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation and the United States Department of Education and that, as approved by the Board, meets the competency requirements of an ACEND accredited didactic program in dietetics that shall, at a minimum, include the following courses:
  • Fifteen semester hours of clinical or life sciences. These hours must include human anatomy and physiology or the equivalent, microbiology or the equivalent, organic chemistry, and biochemistry.
  • Three semester hours of behavioral sciences, such as psychology, sociology, cultural anthropology, counseling, or educational psychology.
  • Twenty-four semester hours of food and nutrition. At least three semester hours must have been received in each of the following categories:
    • Diet therapy, medical dietetics, clinical nutrition, or the equivalent.
    • Nutrition through life cycle, applied human nutrition, advanced human nutrition, or the equivalent.
    • Foods, food science, food composition and menu planning, food service management, or the equivalent.

The applicant has completed a Board-approved internship or documented, supervised practice experience that meets the competency requirements of an ACEND accredited, supervised practice experience and is not less than 1000 hours under the supervision of a Certified Nutrition Specialist, a Diplomate of the American Clinical Board of Nutrition, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, a licensed dietitian/nutritionist, a licensed nutritionist, a State-licensed health care practitioner whose licensed scope of practice includes dietetics or nutrition, or an individual with a doctoral degree conferred by a United States regionally accredited college or university with a major course of study in human nutrition, foods and nutrition, dietetics, food systems management, community nutrition, public health nutrition, nutrition education, nutrition, nutrition science, clinical nutrition, applied clinical nutrition, nutrition counseling, nutrition and functional medicine, nutritional biochemistry, nutrition and integrative health, or an equivalent course of study, with a reasonable threshold of academic credits in nutrition and nutrition sciences as described in sub-subdivision a. of this subdivision. Supervisors who obtained their doctoral degree outside of the United States and its territories must have their degrees validated by the Board as equivalent to the doctoral degree conferred by a United States regionally accredited college or university.

Specific degree & coursework requirements are noted in N.C.G.S. § 90-357.5(a)(1)(c):

• The applicant has successfully completed the registration examination for dietitian nutritionists administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.