Because of the close link between diet and nutrition and the overall physical being of an individual, Dietitians are increasingly seeing a high demand for employment opportunities. Employment opportunities are available in many different settings like schools, hospitals, clinics, penitentiary, food manufacturers and other facilities that require careful dietary planning.
If you find that this is the career path for you, here are the things you have to keep in mind, from job responsibilities to training requirements, for how to become a Dietitian.
- Job Description: Many consider the job of a dietitian and nutritionist to be the same, but they vary slightly. Dietitians are primarily involved in the designing of a nutritional dietary plan, analyzing food and educating clients on the proper diet and nutrition. While some dietitians work strictly from an office with very little time spent talking with clients, others spend the majority of their day educating clients about proper nutrition. Other dietitians will be very involved with not only planning meals for clients, but spending part of their work day in the food preparation area, which can be very hot and challenging work. This field encompasses a large range of job duties
- Education: To be a dietitian, you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, foods and nutrition, food science, nutritional science, food management or food service management from an accredited university. You can attend an online school if you like—many of these traning programs are accredited and they’re convenient for those with busy schedules. The course program should be approved by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) and the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). This replaces the CADE program.
There are two programs that are offered in universities today: a didactic program, which includes classroom instruction and a one-year internship; and a coordinated program, which involves classroom courses and a 900-hour supervised practice. Food service system management, culinary arts, business, biochemistry, bacteriology and microbiology are the usual subjects in a Dietitian course program. Plan on spending at least four years in obtaining a bachelor’s degree. - Registration: Taking the Registration Examination is necessary to be a Registered Dietitian (RD) and is a must for the vast majority of dietitian careers. To qualify for the examination, you need to obtain a bachelor’s degree from an accredited university, complete six to 12 hours of ACEND-accredited practice program, and pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam. To maintain registration, you must take and complete 75 credits of continuing education every five years.
- Certifications: There are several different areas in which dietitians can become certified. These include pediatrics, gerontology, sports nutrition, and oncology. Getting certified requires becoming a registered dietitian, completing 2,000 hours in the field in which specialization is desired in the last five years and then passing the certification examination.
- Pursue further education: You can choose to complete a master’s degree, especially if you have plans to assume managerial positions within the realm of Dietitian careers. A master’s degree is also required if you want to be involved in research and be part of academia in the course of your Dietitian jobs. This will involve an additional two years of education beyond the bachelor’s degree.
- Salary: The range of salary for full-time dietitians is $38,000 to $98,000 with the median salary being $57,000. This wide range has to do with location of the job and additional certifications and education. Those who work on the coasts tend to make more money as well as those who work in large facilities. Salaries are also higher for those with managerial postitons.
- Job Prospects: The job market for dietitians is expected to increase about 9% in the next ten years or about the same as the general job market. This number can change rapidly as health initiatives change with legislation.
In addition to working in facilities and academia, some dietitians start their own practices. They may work for several different clients doing nutritional assessments and dietary planning. They may also take on several small facilities that could not afford the salary for a full-time dietitian. There are several different career possibilities once a dietitian degree is obtained and the registration exam is passed. It is possible to specialize in one select group or stay generalized and work with the entire spectrum of clients. The choice is yours when you are a dietitian.