How Hard Is the RD Exam? Pass Rates, Questions, and Score for 2026

The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) publishes pass rates for the Registration Examination for Dietitians, the exam behind the Registered Dietitian (RD) credential, and they show a split worth understanding. Of 3,411 examinees in CDR’s 2025 summary, 2,863 passed within one year of their first attempt, a rate of 83.93%. Counting only the first attempt, the picture is tougher: for January to June 2026, CDR’s first attempt summary shows 932 of 1,379 examinees passing, or 67.6%. As of October 2026, those are the two most recent figures we could verify at cdrnet.org. The exam gives you 125 to 145 questions in 3 hours, which is about 75 to 86 seconds per question by our own arithmetic (180 minutes divided by 145 and by 125 questions). The passing scaled score is 25 on a scale of 1 to 50. If you do not pass, CDR’s handbook sets a 45 calendar day wait and the current $250 exam fee for a retest. Put another way, about 1 in 3 first attempts in January to June 2026 did not pass.

Reading the Pass Rates Correctly

The two headline numbers measure different things, so do not compare them as if they were the same statistic. The 2025 figure counts everyone who passed within a year of first sitting, which includes people who failed once and passed on a retake. The 2026 figure counts only first attempts, and it covers a half year rather than a full year. Neither is a prediction for you, so treat the gap as direction, not a measurement. For the exam blueprint, see our guide to what is on the RD exam.

CDR’s 2025 pathway table, with the share who passed within one year of the first attempt, shows how much the route into the exam matters:

Registration pathway (2025)	Examinees	Passed	Percent passed
Coordinated Program	530	454	85.66%
Dietetic Internship	2,016	1,678	83.23%
FG Coordinated Graduate	725	651	89.79%
Foreign Equivalency	23	20	86.96%
Individualized Supervised Practice Program	76	53	69.74%
Reciprocity	41	7	17.07%
All pathways	3,411	2,863	83.93%

Per CDR’s RD exam pass/fail statistics page, 2025 summary by registration pathway, as of October 2026. The Foreign Equivalency and Reciprocity rows are very small groups.

Program level data shows the same spread. In CDR’s 2025 first time results across 403 programs, 76 programs (19%) had a 100% pass rate, 34% of programs fell in the 80% to 100% band, and 9% fell in the 0% to 19% band.

What Makes the Exam Hard: The Hard Numbers

It is computer adaptive. CDR states that the adaptive format compares your performance with the passing standard, and that if your form is slightly more difficult, fewer correct answers are needed to reach a 25. That is why CDR does not publish a percent correct target, and why the 125 to 145 question range varies from person to person.

You cannot go back. Every question requires an answer before you advance, and you cannot review or change earlier responses. If you answer fewer than 125 questions within the 3 hours, the exam shuts down and is scored as a failure. With 180 minutes and a 125 question minimum, pacing at no more than about 86 seconds per question keeps you on track, our calculation from CDR’s published limits.

Pretest questions are invisible. 25 of the 125 to 145 items are unscored, and CDR says they cannot be distinguished from scored ones, so every question deserves full effort.

Breadth leaves no safe domain. Through December 31, 2026, four domains are weighted 45%, 21%, 21%, and 13%. From January 1, 2027, CDR’s new outline weights four different domains at 40%, 23%, 22%, and 15%. See what is on the RD exam for both breakdowns.

The questions test application. CDR says items test comprehension or application, where application means using knowledge to solve a problem, make a decision, or choose a course of action. That is harder than recall, and it is what practice questions should mimic.

RD Exam Difficulty Anchors

Factor	Number	What it means
Pass rate within one year (2025)	83.93%	2,863 of 3,411 examinees, including retakes
First attempt pass rate (Jan to Jun 2026)	67.6%	932 of 1,379 first attempt examinees
Time per question	About 75 to 86 seconds	180 minutes across 145 to 125 questions; our calculation
Passing standard	25 on a 1 to 50 scale	Number correct varies by exam form
Review of answers	Not allowed	Each answer is final once you move on

If You Do Not Pass

As of October 2026, CDR’s handbook says you can retest after 45 calendar days, with the appointment on or after day 46. You must reauthorize with CDR and pay the current exam fee, which is $250, unless you bought the optional test bundle: $350 total for the first attempt plus a discounted retake voucher. A candidate who must pass sooner to keep a job may request a one time waiver of the wait with a letter from an employer.

Attempt limits are changing. CDR’s exam overview page states that its board approved a lifetime limit of eight attempts in May 2026, and that the policy applies only to individuals who establish exam eligibility on or after January 1, 2027. CDR’s 2026 handbook, which predates that page, still says there is no limit once eligibility is established. We did not find CDR guidance on how attempts are counted, so confirm with CDR before planning around the limit. To reach the exam you also need a graduate degree and an ACEND accredited program with supervised practice, per CDR’s eligibility page.

The best way to lower your own risk is to practice application level questions against the current weights. Start practicing now with a full RD practice test, or try a free RD practice test to find your weakest domain first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RD exam pass rate?

CDR’s 2025 summary shows 83.93% of examinees (2,863 of 3,411) passed within one year of their first attempt. For first attempts alone, January to June 2026 data shows 67.6% (932 of 1,379). Figures are as of October 2026.

How many questions are on the RD exam?

Between 125 and 145 questions in 3 hours, as of October 2026. The minimum is 100 scored plus 25 unscored pretest questions, and the maximum is 120 scored plus 25 pretest questions.

What score do you need to pass the RD exam?

A scaled score of 25 on a scale of 1 to 50. The number of correct answers needed varies by exam form, so there is no fixed percent correct.

How long do you wait to retake the RD exam?

45 calendar days, as of October 2026, with the retest appointment on or after day 46. A new lifetime limit of eight attempts applies to people who establish eligibility on or after January 1, 2027, per CDR’s exam overview page.

Sources

• CDR, RD exam pass/fail statistics
• CDR, First Exam Attempt Summary by Registration Eligibility Pathway, January to June 2026
• CDR, 2026 RD Exam Candidate Handbook
• CDR, Registration Examination for Dietitians overview
• CDR, RDN eligibility requirements

Med Preps is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Registered Dietitian, RD, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, and RDN are registered marks of CDR. All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.