Dietitian and Nutritionist Careers Information
Dietitians and nutritionists help plan personalized, healthful eating plans for patients at hospitals, clinics, schools or private practice. They create specialized eating plans for patients recovering from various diseases and conditions, and they also make plans for at-risk patients or those interested in living healthier lives. This second category of patients comprise an important group for dietitians, who are often seen as specialists in preventative care-lowering the risk of health complications in the future by ensuring good eating habits in the present.
Dietitian and Nutritionist Careers & Degrees
Some nutritionists also work in large organizations, helping to plan and implement food services and cafeterias, while others work for sports teams, food retailers, and other food industry corporations.
Dietitian and Nutritionist Careers Path
The standard educational path for dietitians and nutritionists is a four-year Bachelor’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, or food science. For those particularly interested in a career in research or management, Master’s degrees are also common.
Coursework focuses on anatomy, biology, food science, organizational management, and human physiology, among other related fields.
Many states require a license to practice as a nutrition or dietitian; however, requirements vary by state and there is no one set test or exam. The Commission on Dietetic Registration does offer an exam which graduates of accredited programs may take in order to become Registered Dietitians.
Finally, a supervised internship is the norm for newly licensed and registered dietitians, and usually last any time between six months and two years.
Dietitian and Nutritionist Careers: Compatible Personality Traits
Knowledgeable, keen, caring, patient, friendly, flexible, active, healthy, gourmet, scientific.
Dietitian Interview
Dietitian and Nutritionist Careers: Salary Expectations
The median salary for dietitians is $50,590 a year, according to the Department of Labor. Even given the average employment prospects confronting aspiring nutritionists and dietitians, good advancement possibilities do exist, including management roles, private practice, research, and in the move to lucrative positions in the world of food corporations.
Dietitian and Nutritionist Careers: Job Outlook
The Department of Labor anticipates 9% job growth by 2018 among dietitians and nutritionists. Although recent trends towards more sustainable and healthy food in American kitchens would indicate excellent prospects for nutritionists, the increasing levels of delegation to other professionals means that job growth should be about on pace with the rest of the economy.
The outsourcing of food services at many large organizations to outside corporations will also act to curtail demand for nutritionists and dietitians.
Dietitian/Nutritionist Associations and Resources
Commission on Dietetic Registration
Slightly Off the Footpath
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-11 Edition, Psychologists, on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos077.htm (visited November 1, 2011).
