What Does it Take to Become a Registered Dietitian?
Registered dietitians are experts who advise the public about the best nutrition practices. To earn a certification in this field, you must fulfill the American Dietetic Association's academic and professional requirements for registered dietitians.
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Undergraduate Education
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Candidates must earn a bachelor's degree from an accredited university or college in the U.S. The degree must be in dietetics, nutrition, biology, food services management or a similar field.
Approval
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The American Dietetic Association's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) must approve any coursework completed by a candidate.
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Supervised Practice
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Students working to become registered dietitians must graduate from a CADE-accredited supervised practice program. Such programs generally take place at medical facilities and last approximately one year.
National Examination
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Upon completing all coursework and the supervised internship program, students must pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration's national assessment.
Additional Qualifications
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Candidates who have supplementary certification in specific areas such as renal nutrition, biochemistry, microbiology, physiology or culinary arts will have an advantage over others.
Continuing Education
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Every five years dietitians are required to participate in a minimum of 75 hours of continuing education classes and seminars. Failure to do so results in a loss of the registered dietitian status.
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References
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