RD Exam Pass Rate: What CDR's Latest Numbers Say (2026)

By Editorial Team · November 1, 2026

Photo: U.S. Department of Agriculture, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain).

About two in three candidates pass the RD exam on their first attempt: 65.4% in January to June 2025, the most recent first-attempt figures we could find from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Most of the rest pass soon after. 83.9% of 2025 candidates passed within a year of their first attempt. To pass, you need a scaled score of 25 on a scale of 1 to 50.

So failing the first time is common, and it usually isn't the end of the road. Below are CDR's numbers by period and by pathway, what the passing score actually means, and what happens if you need a second try. If you want to check where you stand now, start with our free RD practice quizzes.

RD exam pass rates by period

CDR publishes first-attempt results every six months. Here are the last three periods for graduates of ACEND programs (coordinated programs, dietetic internships and graduate programs combined):

Sources: CDR first-attempt summaries for Jan–Jun 2025, Jul–Dec 2024 and Jan–Jun 2024. As of October 2026, we couldn't find a newer first-attempt table on CDR's site.

The rate has edged up over those three periods, but it stays in the low to mid 60s.

The picture looks much better a year out. CDR also tracks how many people pass within one year of their first attempt, retakes included:

• 2025: 2,863 of 3,411 examinees passed, or 83.9% (CDR, data as of January 2026)
• 2024: 4,197 of 4,860 passed, or 86.4% (CDR)

Pass rates by pathway

First-attempt results differ a little depending on how you became eligible:

*CDR's two 2024 tables show the exact same graduate-program row, so treat the 2024 graduate-program figures with caution.

Dietetic internship graduates are by far the largest group, and their first-attempt rate has been the lowest of the three in each period, though the gap narrowed in 2025. Within one year the pathways look closer: in 2025, coordinated program candidates reached 85.7% and dietetic internship candidates 83.2%. The one weak group is reciprocity candidates, at 17.1%, but only 41 people took that route.

What score do you need to pass?

You need a scaled score of 25 on CDR's 1 to 50 scale. There's no fixed percentage of correct answers, because every candidate gets a different set of questions. If your form is slightly harder, you need fewer correct answers to reach 25; if it's slightly easier, you need more. CDR explains this in the RD Candidate Handbook.

A few rules from the handbook that catch people out:

• The exam has 125 to 145 questions: 100 to 120 scored, plus 25 unscored pretest questions you can't tell apart from the rest.
• You must answer at least 125 questions in the 3 hours. If you don't, the exam is scored as a fail.
• You can't go back to earlier questions or change answers.

That last point changes how you practice. Get used to committing to an answer and moving on, rather than flagging questions to revisit.

How hard is the RD exam?

Hard enough that about a third of first-time candidates don't pass, and fair enough that most of them get there within a year. The difficulty is less about obscure facts and more about breadth and application: CDR describes the questions as testing comprehension and application, not recall.

The content weighting tells you where to spend your time. Under the test specifications in effect through December 31, 2026:

Nearly half the exam is nutrition care. If your practice scores are weak there, that's the first thing to fix. If you're testing in 2027 or later, check CDR's study page for updated specifications before you plan.

If you don't pass the first time

• Wait time: you can retest 46 days after an unsuccessful attempt. CDR calls this the 45-day wait.
• Reauthorization: it isn't automatic. You have to reauthorize to test again.
• Retake cost: the exam fee is $250. If you bought the $350 test bundle at registration, your retake uses its discounted voucher, so two attempts cost $350 instead of $500.
• Employment waiver: if you must pass before the 45 days are up to keep your job, CDR allows a one-time waiver with a letter from your employer.

If you're nervous about the first attempt, the bundle is cheap insurance: $100 more up front saves $150 if you need a second try. If you pass the first time, the extra $100 is spent.

Frequently asked questions

What is the RD exam first-time pass rate?

65.4% for ACEND program graduates in January to June 2025, the most recent first-attempt figure we could find on CDR's site. It was 64.5% in the second half of 2024 and 62.2% in the first half.

What is a passing score on the RD exam?

A scaled score of 25 on a scale of 1 to 50. The number of correct answers needed varies slightly between exam forms, so there's no fixed percentage.

How many people pass the RD exam within a year?

83.9% of 2025 candidates passed within one year of their first attempt, according to CDR. In 2024 it was 86.4%.

How long do you have to wait to retake the RD exam?

46 days after an unsuccessful attempt. A one-time waiver is available only if your employer confirms you need to pass sooner to keep your job.

How much does it cost to retake the RD exam?

A full retake costs the standard $250 exam fee. With the $350 test bundle bought at registration, the retake is covered by a discounted voucher.

The fastest way to find your weak domains is to practice under exam conditions. Try the free RD practice quizzes and see which areas need the most work before test day.

Official source: eligibility, fees, and the current content outline are set by Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). Confirm the details there before you register.