How to Become a Nutritionist Fast
Nutritionists, also known as dietitians, help people determine the best food and dietary supplements to consume in order to have a healthy body, based upon the client's genetic structure and body type. Starting on the right track and mapping out your steps for obtaining this career can help you to accomplish your goal of becoming a nutritionist in about two years.
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Instructions
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Take high school courses in biology, chemistry, health, communications and mathematics to prepare your transcript so you will be more likely to get into an accredited higher education program.
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Major in nutritional science, dietetics, food service systems management or a related field of study while in college. You must complete an accredited (by the American Dietetic Association) two-year associate program or four-year bachelor's program, depending on what you want to do in the field later, in order to become a nutritionist or dietitian.
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Get a nutritionist license, certification or registration, depending on what state you work in and the laws governing dietetics and nutrition. Thirty-five states require licenses, 12 require certification and 1 requires registration in this field.
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Obtain registration, required in some states, by participating in a supervised internship program with the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. This is how you obtain status as a registered dietitian. While this is not a requirement in most states, it will enable you to advance in the field more rapidly. There is a 6- to 12-month program available (as opposed to the 4- to 5-year program), in which participants must complete 900 hours of supervised practice experience and pass an exam to obtain registration.
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Tips & Warnings
In order to receive registration more quickly, participate in the supervised internship program on a part-time basis (which takes two years) while in college to obtain your degree.
In order to maintain your Dietetic Registration status, you must keep up with continuing education requirements, which includes 75 credit hours in accredited continuing education courses every 5 years.
