Can you take the RD exam online?

Where you take it

CDR says the exam is given year-round at more than 250 Pearson VUE test centers in the US and some other countries. You book a time slot, and availability depends on the center.

Use the test center locator on Pearson VUE’s CDR page to find one near you.

What you can do online

• Register, pay the $250 fee and schedule on Pearson’s site, after your Authorization to Test email arrives.
• Reschedule or cancel at least 48 hours before your appointment.
• Reauthorize to test after a failed attempt, through CDR’s reauthorization site.
• Download the test specifications, study outline, references and practice questions from CDR.
• Try Pearson VUE’s CDR practice test to get used to the screens and the calculator.

Practice for a computer exam

The real exam runs on a computer, and you can’t skip or go back. So practice that way. Answer each question once, then move on.

There’s an on-screen calculator in the exam. Practice your calculations, such as BMI, percent weight loss and food cost, with a basic calculator so the real one feels normal.