Nutrition science is a growing field within the allied health industry
Nutrition science is meal-planning writ large and serious. It can involve scheduling lunch for hundreds or thousands of school children or devising a diet that helps a patient add years to her or his life.
Get Matched With Nutrition Science Degree Programs Now
Dietitians and nutritionists, the two primary occupations of nutrition science, are health care professionals who work with individuals, groups and institutions to promote healthy lifestyles through intelligent food choices.
Dietitian and Nutritionist Work Environment
About one-third of dietitians and nutritionists degree holders work in hospitals. Others are employed in schools, nursing care and outpatient care facilities, and physicians’ offices. Some are self-employed, working with individual clients or contracting for work with healthcare facilities.
Becoming a dietitian or nutritionist starts with earning a bachelor’s degree. Choices of majors for those traveling this career path are dietetics, foods and nutrition, food service systems management or a related area. Programs include courses in nutrition, physiology, chemistry and biology.
Just as important to the education of dietitians and nutritionists are the several hundred hours of supervised training that most receive. This training typically is done during an internship following graduation from college. However, in some programs this training is included as part of the coursework.
Differences Between Dietitians and Nutritionists
Although dietitians and nutritionists perform similar duties, there are important professional differences that should be considered.
According to a Tip Sheet on the Web site of the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center, “the title nutritionist does not represent a nationally recognized professional credential.”
Explore Dietetic Technician Jobs and Education Requirements
Some states require no relevant licensing requirements, the term nutritionist is not regulated, meaning even persons lacking education and training in the field can represent themselves as nutritionists.
Licensing Requirements for Nutritionists and Dietitians
Some states do require a license to practice as a nutritionist. Some of these states require that nutritionists also be registered dietitians.
Most states require licensure or certification for dietitians. Requirements include having a bachelor’s degree in food, nutrition or a related area, supervised practice and passing an exam.
The qualifications required to become a Registered Dietitian are parallel to the qualifications necessary to become a licensed dietitian in all states that require a license, so earning that credential is a quick way to become licensed.
Many employers prefer or even require the Registered Dietitian credential that is administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the credentialing agency for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
There are several specialties within the dietitian occupation, including:
Clinical Dietitians. Clinical dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy. They work in institutions such as hospitals and long-term care facilities. They create individualized and group nutritional programs based on the health needs of patients or residents. Clinical dietitians may specialize further. For example, some may work solely with patients with kidney diseases.
Management Dietitians. Management dietitians plan meal programs, working in food service settings such as cafeterias, hospitals and food corporations. They may be responsible for buying food and for performing other business-related tasks. Management dietitians may supervise kitchen staff or other dietitians.
Let Us Match You with Accredited Allied Health Schools and Degree Programs Now
Community Dietitians. Community dietitians are educators who provide information to the public on topics related to food and nutrition. They often work with specific groups, such as pregnant women. They work in settings such as public health clinics, government and non-profit agencies and health maintenance organizations (HMO), among others.
Increased awareness of preventative health care, particularly with regard to diet and nutrition, has bolstered the demand for dietitians and nutritionists. The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a growth in the field of 20% between 2010 and 2020, ahead of the average for all professions surveyed.
In May 2010, the average median salary for dietitians and nutritionists was $53,250.
