Idaho’s state law says that it is
illegal to use the title of registered dietitian nutritionist, licensed dietitian, dietitian, or registered dietitian if you do not meet the qualifications for those credentials and have subsequently had a license issued to you. This seems pretty self-explanatory and straightforward, right? In Idaho, you must fulfill the requirements of the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) of the American Dietetic Association (ADA) before you can be issued a dietitian license, enabling you to practice in Idaho. Let’s explore these requirements more fully.
Educational and Experiential Requirements for Dietitian Licensure in Idaho
In the Idaho Statutes, Title 54, Chapter 35, Section 54-3506, it is stated that you must fulfill certain experiential and educational qualifications before you will be issued a dietitian license in Idaho. They are:
- You must complete at least a BS (bachelor’s degree) from a program accredited by ACEND, the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics
- You must finish a supervised practice program accredited by ACEND
- You must pass the CDR Registration Examination for Dietitians
As you can see, the statute above mimics the CDR’s demands exactly. The CDR mandates that every prospective registered dietitian completes an educational program accredited by ACEND, one that either includes a dietetic internship or is followed by a dietetic internship. As of July 2022, there are two schools in Idaho offering programs to meet these requirements:
- University of Idaho in Moscow – Master of Science (MS) in Dietetics Graduate program, includes supervised practice
- Idaho State University in Pocatello- Bachelor of Science (BS) in Dietetics – Didactic Program, which must be followed by a Dietetic Internship
- Idaho State University in Pocatello- also offers a DI (Dietetic Internship), which can be combined with a Master of Science (MS) in Nutrition
As of Jan. 1, 2024, the CDR is requiring all registered dietitians to have a minimum of a master’s degree to receive credentials. Many schools, therefore, are phasing out their bachelor’s in dietetics programs or phasing them into graduate programs. Keep that in mind when you are looking at programs to take.
Registered Examination for Dietitians in Idaho
At the end of your education and experience, the Registration Examination for Dietitians Handbook for Candidates will be distributed to you, and you will be told how to apply for the examination by someone from your educational program. It will be administered at a Pearson VUE exam center. In Idaho, the only test center is located in Boise, but there are ones in nearby Montana (Helena, Billings) and Utah (Ogden, Bountiful, Salt Lake City, Draper) as well as in Washington state (Spokane, Yakima) and Portland, Oregon. It costs $200 to take the exam.
You will be told the score of your exam immediately after completing the test. The CDR will mail your registration card to you a couple of weeks after taking the examination.
Getting Your License as a Dietitian in Idaho
Idaho’s Dietetic Licensure Board is under the governance of the Idaho Board of Medicine. After you have qualified for your CDR registration, you may apply for licensure as a dietitian in Idaho. Complete the Application for Initial Licensure, and mail it, along with supplemental documentation and a $100 application fee (money order, personal check or credit card transmittal form, written out to the Idaho State Board of Medicine) to:
Idaho State Board of Medicine
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0063
For items that must be sent directly from the schools that you attended and other organizations like the CDR to the Board of Medicine, have them faxed to (208) 334-3536 or emailed to BOM-Licensing@dopl.idaho.gov.
Application processing time depends upon the application being completed and all of the proper documentation submitted. If you have questions, contact Claudia Lawson of the Dietetic Licensing Staff at claudia.lawson@bom.idaho.gov. You may also use this link to check your submitted application’s status at any time.
Your dietitian license is renewable each year before July 1. In addition to a renewal form, you must submit the current fee for renewal and proof that you are currently registered as a registered dietitian with the CDR. Your license may also be renewed online.
Idaho Dietitian Salaries
As of May 2021, per the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there are 410 nutritionists and licensed, registered dietitians working in Idaho. The annual median wage of these dietetic professionals is $59,540.
Dietitians working various areas of Idaho make wages that are higher or lower than the state average. For example, the 40 dietitians working in Coeur d’Alene make an annual median wage of $60,570. The 170 dietitians working in Boise City earn an annual median wage of $60,110.
Registered, Licensed Dietitian Jobs in Idaho
A good way to see what dietitians earn in any given state is to take a look at job openings and salary quotations. These jobs for licensed and registered dietitians were posted in Idaho in July 2022:
- Registered Dietitian, Public Health Service, State of Idaho – Caldwell, ID
- Salary: $26.33 to $32.91 per hour
- Requires Idaho licensure and RD certification
- Diabetes Education Instructor, St. Mary’s/Clearwater Valley Hospital and Clinics- Orofino, ID
- Salary: $50,300 to $63,700 per year
- Requires Idaho licensure and RD certification
- Requires bachelor’s degree
- Requires three years of experience in diabetes education
- Dietitian, Nutrition Services, Bingham Memorial Hospital – Blackfoot, ID
- Salary: $56,800 to $72,000 per year
- Requires Idaho licensure and RD certification
- Requires bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition or dietetics
- Two years of clinical experience preferred
- Clinical Dietitian, St. Luke’s Health System – Mountain Home, ID
- Salary: $61,000 to $77,200 per year
- Requires Idaho licensure and RD certification
- Requires bachelor’s degree
- Experience in dietetics or diabetes education preferred
- Registered Dietitian, Favorite Healthcare Staffing – Orofino, ID
- Salary: $43 per hour
- Requires Idaho licensure and RD certification
- Requires one year of registered dietitian experience in a hospital
- Requires current BLS certification