How to Become a Dietitian in America
Registered dietitians in America tend to be confused with a person who may call themself a "nutritionist." There is a significant difference in the two. A registered dietitian is required to maintain higher education with a degree in nutrition/dietetics followed by an internship and passing an exam. It is socially accepted for a person who likes nutrition to claim the title of nutritionist without the requisite education.
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Instructions
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Obtain a higher education. There are hundreds of colleges in America that offer nutrition and/or dietetic undergraduate degrees. Find a college with one of these programs and follow application procedures. When admitted, choose food/nutrition/dietetics as a major area of study. It is necessary to have a degree in this area prior to being accepted into a required internship. Typically these programs are four years in length and require a significant amount of chemistry and other science courses. Maintaining a decent GPA is also important to help get into a desired internship.
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Apply for a dietetic internship. This process is not unlike rushing for a sorority or fraternity. There are very specific guidelines to follow. Most people will apply to anywhere from three to 10 internships throughout the country. There is a list of available internships at the American Dietetic Association website. Most internships accept anywhere from three to 30 students at one time. To get accepted for an internship, there is a matching process in which you apply to for internships you are interested in and rank them from most desirable to least desirable. Internship committees will then review all applications and depending on GPA, work experience, and more, will rank which students they want. Students are then matched by computer to an internship. If for some reason a person is not matched on the first try, a list of available internships is generated and students can re-apply to those programs. The majority of internship programs require tuition and last from nine to 24 months. Some programs include some graduate courses while others are combined with a master's degree program. During the internship, students typically take classes in conjunction with rotations to various locations where a dietitian may be needed. Such places include hospitals, WIC programs, diabetes education programs, wellness programs, behavioral disability programs. Some internships are focused more on a clinical pathway while others are more food service oriented. Completion of an undergraduate degree as well as an internship is imperative prior to taking the Registration Exam.
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Take and pass the Registered Dietitian Exam. Most companies will hire a dietitian prior to completion of the exam as long as it is passed within a certain range of time after hire. The test is computerized and timed. It contains information ranging from food service, experimental foods, clinical nutrition, management and wellness. Most students will take a study course prior to the exam. When completed, a person officially becomes a Registered Dietitian, or RD.
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Maintaining RD status is required to obtain a minimum of 75 hours of continuing education every five years to keep registration status. An online log is used to keep track of CE hours. A portfolio is created upon registration, which clarifies areas in which a person would like to continue to learn throughout the five years. When a CE program is completed, it is then entered into the appropriate category. Random audits are done, therefore it is important to keep all material received at the CE program.
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Licensure may be required. Some states require an RD to not only be registered, but to also maintain licensure status. This process varies depending on which state the RD is practicing in. Basically, it is providing proof that an RD did in fact graduate from college, complete an internship, and pass the exam. It usually costs $200-$300 and must be maintained yearly.
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Tips & Warnings
Be prepared to study throughout the undergraduate program and internship; this is not a degree that can be obtained without effort.
If at any point during the program you think this is not the road you want to take, explore a degree in nutrition.
Do not panic if you do not match with an internship program on the first try. This is very common and there are plenty of internships available to reapply to.
After becoming an RD, be prepared for people to ask what that is and compare you to an employee of GNC. Just know that you are much more prepared for a nutritional emergency than a high school student who sells protein powder and claims the title of nutritionist.
