Maintaining our RDN credential requires completing continuing education units (CEUs), but those costs can add up quickly. Fortunately, there are numerous high-quality, free CEU opportunities available that can help you meet your professional requirements without breaking the bank.

I’ve compiled this comprehensive list of free CEU resources that I’ve personally found helpful. Whether you’re looking for webinars, podcasts, self-study modules, or journal quizzes, these opportunities cover a wide range of nutrition topics to keep your knowledge current and your wallet happy.

Today’s Dietitian Free CE

Website: ce.todaysdietitian.com/FreeCE

Today’s Dietitian offers an excellent collection of free continuing education opportunities through their Second Century Education platform. Their offerings include:

Recorded Webinars covering topics such as:

• Added sugars and dietary guidelines
• Dairy and cardiovascular health
• Food ingredients and additives
• Mānuka honey for nutrition professionals
• Protein optimization on GLP-1s
• Women’s wellness

Self-Study Courses on subjects like:

• Culturally inclusive counseling with a focus on Hispanic communities
• Blue foods and culinary medicine approaches
• Carbohydrates and GLP-1 journeys

Most courses award 1.0 CPEU, though some offer up to 1.5 CPEUs. These activities are provided in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s CPEU Prior Approval Program, with funding from various industry sponsors.

Sound Bites Podcast Free CEUs

Website: soundbitesrd.com/sound-bites-podcast-free-ceus

The Sound Bites Podcast has provided over 50,000 free CEU activities to nutrition professionals – not a typo! Host Melissa Joy Dobbins offers both completely free CEUs and some activities for a nominal $5 fee.

How it works:

1. Listen to the relevant podcast episode.
2. Complete the quiz and critical thinking tool.
3. Receive your CEU certificate.

Recent free offerings include:

• New Dietary Guidelines: The Good, The Bad & The Upside Down (1.0 CEU)
• Hidden Hunger: Closing the Gap for Healthy Growth in Children (1.0 CEU, counts towards health equity)
• GLP-1 and Then What?: Turning Weight Loss into Lifelong Wellness (1.0 CEU)
• Type 2 Diabetes Risk Reduction & Management (1.0 CEU, counts towards health equity)
• Support Gut Health & Holistic Wellbeing (1.0 CEU)

The podcast covers performance indicators across various specialties, and some episodes include ethics CEUs. Note that some older episodes have expired, so check the expiration dates before starting.

Needed Experts Podcast

Website: neededexperts.com

The Needed Experts Podcast offers free continuing education credits through practitioner-led discussions on women’s health topics, including fertility, prenatal nutrition, postpartum health, and perimenopause. These evidence-based conversations are designed to deepen clinical expertise and fit seamlessly into your busy schedule.

How it works:

1. Listen to podcast episodes on relevant topics.
2. Complete the accompanying quiz and critical thinking tool.
3. Instantly receive your CE/CPEU certificate upon successful completion.

This resource is ideal for healthcare professionals such as registered dietitians, dietetic technicians, registered nurses, and naturopathic doctors. Visit their website to explore the library of episodes and start earning credits today.

Orgain Healthcare Professional Education Series

Website: healthcare.orgain.com/webinar

Orgain sponsors a robust professional education series featuring subject matter experts on topics chosen by healthcare professionals. All webinars offer 1.0 CPEU for RDNs and NDTRs.

Current offerings include:

• Collagen Peptides in Clinical Practice
• Naturopathic Oncology: Evaluating & Treating the Oncology Terrain
• Nutrition, Wounds, and the Standard of Care
• Diet and Lifestyle Influences through the Menopause Transition
• Optimizing Brain Health through Nutrition
• Gluten Myths Busted: Separating Fact from Fiction
• Plant-Based Nutrition for Diabetes

You can register for upcoming live webinars or access on-demand recordings 24/7. Simply complete a short form to access the content, and your CPEU certificate will be available for download at the completion of each webinar.

International Food Information Council (IFIC) Continuing Education

Website: ific.org/resources/continuing-education

IFIC offers a variety of free CPE-eligible webinars and self-study modules designed for dietitians and health professionals. Topics include food safety, nutrition trends, dietary guidelines, and more. Each session is led by experts and provides practical insights to enhance your professional knowledge.

Current offerings include:

• Protein Trends & Truths: What Science Says & What Consumers Hear (1.0 CPEU)
• From Classification to Context: Ultra-Processed Foods, Nutrient Density & Real-World Food Choices (1.5 CPEUs)
• Caffeine at Work: Consumer Insights, Science & Practical Strategies for Productivity (1.0 CPEU)
• Navigating the Carb Cautious Era: Insights, Evidence & Practical Guidance (1.0 CPEU)

Visit their website to explore upcoming webinars and access on-demand recordings.

Dietary Guidelines for Americans CPE Self-Study Modules

Website: dietaryguidelines.gov/current-dietary-guidelines/cpe-opportunities

The USDA offers free CEUs for reading the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. Each chapter is offered as a separate self-study activity with credits provided by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.

Available modules:

• Introduction and Chapter 1: Nutrition and Health Across the Lifespan (2.75 CPEUs)
• Chapter 2: Infants and Toddlers (1.25 CPEUs)
• Chapter 3: Children and Adolescents (1.25 CPEUs)
• Chapter 4: Adults (1.0 CPEU)
• Chapter 5: Women Who Are Pregnant or Lactating (1.25 CPEUs)
• Chapter 6: Older Adults (1.0 CPEU)

To receive your certificate:

1. Read the relevant chapter(s) from the Dietary Guidelines.
2. Email DietaryGuidelines@usda.gov with “Dietary Guidelines Self-Study CPE Activity” in the subject line.
3. Include the module title(s), your full name, and CDR registration number.
4. Complete the post-assessment via the link they send.
5. Download your CPE certificate.

These activities expire on April 22, 2027, and use suggested performance indicators 4.1.2, 6.2.3, 8.1.1, 8.1.5, and 9.4.2.

American Diabetes Association Professional Education

Website: professionaleducation.diabetes.org

The ADA offers free continuing education activities for diabetes care professionals. While you need to create a free account to access resources, an ADA Professional Membership is not required.

Their platform provides complimentary webinars, self-study modules, and educational materials focused on diabetes management, nutrition therapy, and patient care. Topics span the latest in diabetes research, clinical treatments, and evidence-based practice guidelines.

Soy Connection Continuing Education

Website: soyconnection.com/continuing-education/education-credits

The Soy Connection offers free continuing education credits on soy nutrition and health benefits. Their courses cover research on soy’s role in various health conditions and practical applications for incorporating soy into patient recommendations.

National Pork Board Continuing Education

Website: pork.org/porkandpartners/continuing-education

The National Pork Board provides free CEUs covering lean pork nutrition, protein quality, and practical counseling strategies. Their courses include evidence-based information on incorporating lean pork into healthy dietary patterns.

FODZYME CEU Webinars (IBS-Focused)

Website: FODZYME provider education portal

FODZYME offers free CEU webinars specifically focused on IBS management and digestive health. These courses provide practical strategies for helping patients manage food intolerances and improve their quality of life.

PepsiCo Health & Nutrition Sciences Educational Resources

Website: PepsiCo Health & Nutrition Sciences Educational Resources
PepsiCo Health & Nutrition Sciences provides a variety of free educational resources for healthcare professionals. These resources cover a wide range of topics, including nutrition science, patient-centered counseling, and innovative solutions for promoting healthier lifestyles. Their tools and materials are designed to support evidence-based practices in healthcare and nutrition education.

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Journal Quizzes

Website: jandonline.org

If you’re a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, you can earn free CEUs by taking quizzes on articles published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. This is an excellent way to stay current with the latest research while earning credits at no additional cost beyond your membership dues.

Join the RD Free CEUs Facebook Group

Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/rdfreeceus

This active Facebook community regularly shares newly available free CEU opportunities. Members post about webinars, courses, and other educational activities as they become available, making it easier to stay informed about the latest options.

Tips for Maximizing Your Free CEU Opportunities

• Plan ahead: Many free webinars are offered live with limited on-demand availability. Mark your calendar for upcoming sessions that interest you.
• Check expiration dates: Free on-demand courses often have expiration dates. Don’t miss out by waiting too long to complete them.
• Diversify your topics: Use free CEUs to explore areas outside your primary specialty. This broadens your knowledge base and can open new career opportunities.
• Track your credits: Keep organized records of completed courses, certificates, and expiration dates to make recertification easier.
• Watch for ethics CEUs: Some free opportunities count toward the ethics requirement, which can be harder to fulfill. Look for courses that specifically note they provide ethics credits.

Have More Free CEU Resources to Share?

This list represents the free CEU opportunities I’ve discovered and verified, but I know there are likely more resources available. If you know of additional free CEU opportunities that would benefit fellow dietitians, please comment below, and I’ll update this post. Together, we can help each other maintain our credentials while managing our professional development budgets.

Thank you for being part of a community that values both excellence in practice and supporting one another’s success!