As of 2011, nutrition careers have grown and are still growing. Having a career in the field of nutrition can mean a multitude of things, including having a private practice, overseeing school lunch programs or even developing marketing campaigns for products. The field of nutrition is flexible and some jobs require only a bachelor's degree, while other career paths require a Ph.D.
Types of Work
A career in nutrition could mean becoming a dietitian or a nutritionist. In these positions you help people learn healthy eating habits, develop nutrition programs and/or supervise the preparation of meals by individuals and organizations. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, clinical dietitians work in hospitals or other health care facilities and develop nutrition plans to help patients remain healthy or improve their health. Community dietitians work on a larger scale to keep the public healthy and teach groups, organizations or the general public how to eat healthy. Management dietitians oversee the work of other dietitians and food service workers in places such as cafeterias, schools and hospitals. Consultant dietitians work either on their own or with organizations to provide advice to people who have health concerns related to their diet.
Earning
The earnings in the field of nutrition are affected by years of experience and level of education, similar to many other careers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for an individual in the field of nutrition was around $50,590 in 2008. Jobs in the field of special food services earned less at around $45,000 annually and nutritionists working in companies or as consultants earned around $64,000 a year. At the highest salary point, nutritionists can expect to earn as much as $73, 410 annually.
Registered Dietitian
A degree in nutrition does not make you a registered dietitian. Although it is not a necessary certification, being a registered dietitian can be beneficial to your career. According to the American Dietetic Association or ADA, to become a registered dietitian you first have to complete at least a bachelor's degree from a school that has been accredited or approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. Then, you have to complete a practice program, usually lasting between six and 12 months. These programs often occur at hospitals or other nutrition-centered organizations. Once you have the necessary amount of education and have completed the practice program, you have to pass an exam. You will then become a registered dietitian. The exam is administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and information on the exam can be found at www.cdrnet.org.
Career Growth
While some jobs in nutrition are being given to less qualified individuals such as nutrition technicians and health education teachers, the field of nutrition has seen and is expected to see more growth. According to the ADA, a number of factors contribute to the increase in demand for people in the field of nutrition. Among these are the increasing importance of disease prevention, the increase in public interest in the field of nutrition and the aging population. Also, you can continue to specialize your nutrition career as the field grows.
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