The Alaska Department of Health
and Social Services’ Division of Public Health reports that one out of every three Alaskan children are overweight or obese, and two out of three Alaskan adults are overweight or obese. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults, placing them at a higher risk for diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke.
Only 12% of Alaskan adults consumed the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables every day as of 2020. Just 10% of Alaskan high school students eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Consulting with a registered dietitian in Alaska could be highly beneficial for Alaskans of all ages who wish to improve their health and wellness through better nutrition. If you want to become a registered dietitian in Alaska, you must meet certain qualifications.
Regulation of Licensed Registered Dietitians in Alaska
Registered dietitians in Alaska are licensed by the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development’s Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing. Although there is not a separate board that deals with Dietitians and Nutritionists, you can contact the state’s Regulations Specialist if you wish to be informed of proposed regulation changes for registered dietitians. They may be reached at [email protected]. If you have questions about the licensing process for registered dietitians, contact:
Stefanie Davis, Licensing Examiner
(907) 465-2547 or [email protected]
Under the regulations for registered dietitians in Alaska, anyone who wishes to practice as a registered dietitian must first obtain registration through the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Then, you will be eligible to apply for a registered dietitian license in Alaska.
Education and Experience Required of Registered Dietitians in Alaska
As of January 1, 2024, the CDR will require all registered dietitians to have, at minimum, a master’s degree. The program from which you graduate must be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND).
As of June 2022, just one school in Alaska offers an accredited program for registered dietitians. The University of Alaska Anchorage offers what is known as a Future Graduate Program (FG). This program requires students to have a bachelor’s degree and a statement that they have already completed a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) before enrollment. This master’s degree program combines online coursework with supervised experiential learning (which, at this time, is only offered in the state of Alaska). At the conclusion of the program, students will have a Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition and will be eligible to sit for the CDR’s Registration Exam for Dietitians.
Another option at the University of Anchorage, for students who do not yet have a bachelor’s degree, is to complete the school’s Bachelor of Science in Dietetics program. At the end of the program, students will receive a verification statement that will allow them to apply to a dietetic internship anywhere in the U.S, as well as to the university’s Master of Science in Dietetics and Nutrition program.
Commission on Dietetic Registration Examination in Alaska
When you complete your educational program, you will receive information on how to apply for the CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians. Complete the necessary forms, and read the Registration Examination for Dietitians Handbook for Candidates thoroughly.
Pearson VUE, the company that administers the test, will issue you an Authorization to Test, which will remain valid for one year, giving you plenty of time to take the exam. The exam fee is $200 and payable online via credit card.
The only Pearson VUE test center in Alaska at this time is in Anchorage, at 2550 Denali Street, Suite 511, Denali Towers North Building. The testing center requires that you wear a face mask on exam day. You can find free parking at the center, and taxis are available, if required.
The CDR exam will test your knowledge of basic principles of dietetics, providing nutrition care for groups and individuals, managing nutrition and food services and programs, and food service systems. Passing the exam means that you are now an official registered dietitian – but you cannot legally work in Alaska just yet.
Applying for Licensure as an Alaska Registered Dietitian
With your CDR registration in hand, you must now apply to receive a license in order to work as a registered dietitian in the state of Alaska. First, you should complete the Application for Dietitian License (make sure it’s notarized). You must pay a nonrefundable application fee of $100 and a dietitian license fee of $50. This may be paid via check or money order, or via credit card online. The CDR must send the state proof of your registration. Mail your application and fees to:
State of Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development
Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
Dietitians and Nutritionists Program
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
You may telephone (907) 465-2550 or send an email to [email protected] if you have any questions about the licensure process. It will take the Division four to six weeks to process your dietitian licensure application.
Once you are licensed, you will need to renew that license on a biennial basis. No continuing education is required. Complete the Dietitian/Nutritionist License Renewal form and send it, along with the renewal fee of $50, to the address above. On the form, you must account for any changes in your professional fitness, and send documentation if you give any “yes” answers to the questions asked.
Salaries for Registered Dietitians in Alaska
Per the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are 110 dietitians and nutritionists working in Alaska. These health professionals earn a yearly median wage of $75,730 as of May 2021. Those earning in the top 25 percent bring home an average of $78,210, while those in the top 10 percent made an average of $97,680 per year.
Registered dietitians working in the Alaska nonmetropolitan area earn just slightly more than the statewide average, making $76,420 per year. Those working in the Anchorage metropolitan area earned the same as the statewide average of $75,730 annually.