Overview

Nutrition professional in a white coat writing text on a plexiglass screen.

A two-year integrated program at the graduate level that provides didactic and experiential learning in one unified program, leading to the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential.

On This Page

UB's Clinical Nutrition MS program provides all the requirements to prepare you to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Beginning in 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) requires prospective dietitians to have a graduate degree in order to sit for the RDN registration exam. In addition, CDR requires that students complete coursework and supervised practice in a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).

UB’s graduate program will meet CDR’s requirements with a robust education and training program that brings together students from varied backgrounds and combines graduate coursework and experiential learning to develop the next generation of registered dietitian nutritionists.

The program builds on the history and success of UB’s Dietetic Internship, which was the first and only dietetic internship in Western New York. We have trained future registered dietitian nutritionists for excellence, innovation and leadership since 1999. 

Steps to becoming an RDN

  • Academic preparation. Earn any bachelor’s degree and complete prerequisite coursework.
  • Apply to UB. Complete experiential learning and graduate degree accredited by ACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics).
  • National exam. Pass the entry-level registration (credentialing) examination administered through the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
  • State licensure/certification. If applicable, apply for state licensure.

You have a maximum of 40 months to complete the program, which will include:

  • Successful achievement and documentation of a minimum of 1000 supervised experiential learning hours.
  • A minimum “acceptable mastery” rating on final evaluations from all preceptors in all rotations and all competencies.
  • All assignments submitted and deemed acceptable; all evaluation forms submitted.

Eligibility for Registration Exam

Once you have earned your Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition from UB, you will receive a verification statement to sit for the national registration examination for dietitians, administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).