Get information about COVID-19 vaccinations, testing and visiting standards. Learn More.

Patient & Family Education Materials

Start over with a New Search

Health Care Providers: Registered Dietitians (RDs)

Article Translations: (Spanish)

What Is a Registered Dietitian (RD)?

A registered dietitian (dye-uh-TIH-shin) is a medical professional who works with patients and families to create specific diets, teach about nutrition, and talk about healthy lifestyle choices.

Why Would Someone Need One?

Registered dietitians (RDs) offer support to people with a variety of conditions, such as:

They can help patients with:

What Is Their Training?

Registered dietitians have training that includes:

  • 4 years of undergraduate education at a college or university
  • an internship with at least 1,200 hours of supervised practice

They also will be:

  • nationally certified as a registered dietitian
  • licensed in the state where they practice

Good to Know

Some RDs are called registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs) because they focus on the nutrition aspects of their training.

Back To Top

Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.

© 1995-2024 KidsHealth ® All rights reserved. Images provided by iStock, Getty Images, Corbis, Veer, Science Photo Library, Science Source Images, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com