The field of nutrition is becoming increasingly attractive as the public becomes more concerned with the link between food and health. Several years of study and an extensive practicum are required in order to attain the skills, knowledge and credentials to become licensed to practice nutrition therapy and counseling in the United States.
Training to Become a Registered Dietitian (RD)
There are many institutions that offer certificates of achievement for short, intensive courses on nutrition. Some medical practitioners also claim nutritional knowledge, although it is not their area of focus.
However, the only recognized nutrition-specific professionals in the U.S. are Registered Dietitians (RD). RDs must earn the minimum of a bachelor's degree at a regionally accredited college or university and must demonstrate coursework that meets the academic requirements of the Committee on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE), an arm of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). RD candidates must also complete a compulsory internship or practicum, and pass a national exam to become certified to practice nutrition.
Dietetic Internship Programs
Dietetic internship programs are offered by a number of hospitals and universities around the United States. Many of these programs are considerably competitive, requiring candidates to possess dietetic experience prior to the internship. Many give priority to students who complete coursework at the host institution.
For these reasons, prospective interns are wise to inquire about program requirements well in advance of the year during which they hope to complete their internships. It is also important for candidates to know that the dietetic internship is unpaid, and therefore students should be prepared to pay for housing and all living costs while completing their training.
Internship programs run the course of six months to one year, usually rotating interns between various sites to provide a broad range of experience. Sites may include a clinical setting such as a hospital, a food service management role, a site in a community organization and and one elective site. At the various sites, RD candidtes report to "preceptors," or RDs who have been practicing for at least two years and have volunteered to mentor an intern.
Training for Internaitonal Dietetics Professionals
The ADA holds reciprocity agreements with the dietetic associations of a number of nations. Therefore, some international dietetics professionals trained outside the United States need only to pass the U.S. RD exam to practice in the United States.
For individuals from countries without ADA-approved credentials, the extent of required study and training experience that must be acquired in the United States varies. Therefore, international RD candidates should discuss their status with the CADE.
The RD Examination
The examination to qualify prospective dietitians for practice is now given via computer program. Exam takers must complete questions on clinical nutrition, food service management, community nutrition and various other general areas of nutrition knowledge. Preparation for the exam involves studying from the dietetics coursework materials; some candidates opt to take a preparation course similar to that for other standardized tests.
Training for Nutrition Specialties or Higher Degrees in Nutrition
RDs who hold a bachelor's degree can continue their studies by completing certificate programs in nutrition specialty areas, or by earning a master's in a particular area of nutrition. RDs also are required by the ADA to earn a number of continuing education credits over each five-year period that they practice in order to maintain their RD status.
The ADA offers certificates in areas such as adult weight management, pediatric nutrition, nutrition education, diabetes education and nutrition support. Intensive courses and passing a follow-up exam are required to earn credentials in these areas.
Master's degree programs in nutrition often help RDs focus on a specific area of nutrition practice. Some master's degrees offered across the U.S. include clinical nutrition, sports nutrition, community nutrition, and nutrition and exercise physiology. These master's programs often blend academic study with the dietetic internship. This enables those who have earned degrees in diverse fields such as psychology, economics, sociology and nursing to directly enter the practice of nutrition following completion of their master's degrees.
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