What is the process to become a Nutritionist?
Enroll in accredited program
Complete required hours of training
Pass certification exam
Find a job as a nutritionist or dietitian
Select an Accredited Program
If you are going to be a nutritionist or a dietitian, you will need to select an accredited program that is accredited by (ACEND) Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics or . To make this choice easier go to this links listed below. For internship information see their guide here.
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Accredited Programs
Nutritionists and dietitians need a bachelor’s degree in either dietetics, foods and nutrition or a related area. If All dietitians may also study food service systems management. A bachelors degree is the minimum level of study for eligibility for the career. In fact, most dietitians and nutritionists have advanced degrees (master’s degrees). Dietitians/nutritionists, in most cases, receive hundreds of hours of supervised training. Commonly done in the form of of an internship. Check with your perspective school to see if programs exist for supervised training while studying in your program.
Complete accredited program and state-required hours
Being eligible for the RDN requires that all dietitian/nutritionists have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and a Dietetic Internship (DI). This will include a minimum 1,200 hours of experience. Both these criteria can be completed in the training program of your choice before your internship. Programs must be accredited by the (ACEND) Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics. To maintain your RDN credential, all dietitians/nutritionists must complete 75 continuing education credits every five years.
Get your RDN Certification
Taking the CDR Exam
The CDR exam is given by Pearson Vue. See all the details of the exam here.
What does a Nutritionist and Dietitian do?
People go to a dietitian and a nutritionist because they are experts food use and overall nutritional health. They will also advise patients on how to reach a health related goal with healthy eating habits and lifestyle. We will get in to the details of the job below.
Assess patient nutritional/health needs
Counsel patients healthy eating habits and nutrition
Educate patients on healthy food choices
Develop meal and nutrition plans
Document patient progress
Evaluate meal plan effects
Stay up on the latest nutritional science research
Finding a job as a Nutritionist
Finding a job as a nutritionist is easier when you earn your (RDN) Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential. The credential will earn your more money get you noticed above those who just have their degrees. Many employers prefer and even require the credential for hiring but in cases where it is not required, candidates will be ahead of the game if they do have it.
Where do Nutritionist and Dietitians Work?
Below we list the percentages of where nutritionists and dietitians work:
Hospitals 30%
Government 14%
Outpatient care 10%
Nursing/residential care 9%
Self-employed 6%
About Nutritionist salary
With the growth for the career higher than the national allied health career average the time could not be better to get in to the career of being a dietitian or nutritionist. Below we cover all the details of the pay and salary.
What is the average salary for a Nutritionist/Dietitian?
The average hourly pay and salary is $28.56 per hour and $59,410 per year.
Nutritionist and Dietitian salary by state
| State | Avg Hourly | Avg. Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $22.45 | $46,700 |
| Alaska | $30.05 | $62,500 |
| Arizona | $23.13 | $48,100 |
| Arkansas | $23.56 | $49,000 |
| California | $34.57 | $71,900 |
| Colorado | $25.96 | $54,000 |
| Connecticut | $30.67 | $63,800 |
| Delaware | $28.13 | $58,500 |
| District of Columbia | $26.68 | $55,500 |
| Florida | $25.96 | $54,000 |
| Georgia | $24.33 | $50,600 |
| Hawaii | $30.87 | $64,200 |
| Idaho | $25.14 | $52,300 |
| Illinois | $24.86 | $51,700 |
| Indiana | $24.62 | $51,200 |
| Iowa | $25.29 | $52,600 |
| Kansas | $26.11 | $54,300 |
| Kentucky | $24.33 | $50,600 |
| Louisiana | $23.46 | $48,800 |
| Maine | $25.96 | $54,000 |
| Maryland | $30.82 | $64,100 |
| Massachusetts | $28.99 | $60,300 |
| Michigan | $25.19 | $52,400 |
| Minnesota | $26.78 | $55,700 |
| Mississippi | $23.75 | $49,400 |
| Missouri | $22.98 | $47,800 |
| Montana | $23.70 | $49,300 |
| Nebraska | $25.58 | $53,200 |
| Nevada | $33.94 | $70,600 |
| New Hampshire | $28.61 | $59,500 |
| New Jersey | $30.24 | $62,900 |
| New Mexico | $24.18 | $50,300 |
| New York | $29.18 | $60,700 |
| North Carolina | $24.23 | $50,400 |
| North Dakota | $24.57 | $51,100 |
| Ohio | $26.06 | $54,200 |
| Oklahoma | $23.46 | $48,800 |
| Oregon | $29.42 | $61,200 |
| Pennsylvania | $22.93 | $47,700 |
| Rhode Island | $29.90 | $62,200 |
| South Carolina | $22.26 | $46,300 |
| South Dakota | $24.95 | $51,900 |
| Tennessee | $24.33 | $50,600 |
| Texas | $26.39 | $54,900 |
| Utah | $21.88 | $45,500 |
| Vermont | $27.79 | $57,800 |
| Virginia | $26.20 | $54,500 |
| Washington | $29.76 | $61,900 |
| West Virginia | $25.05 | $52,100 |
| Wisconsin | $25.53 | $53,100 |
| Wyoming | $26.06 | $54,200 |
Source: www.bls.gov
Nutritionist Salary by employer type
As of May 2017, the average wages for nutritionists and dietitians for where they worked were as listed below:
Outpatient care center $65,650
Hospitals $60,210
Government $57,910
Nursing care facility $57,020
Source: www.bls.gov
What is the job outlook for Nutritionist?
The projected employment of dietitians and nutritionists is predicted to grow 15% over the next decade according to bls.gov’s latest data. This is higher than the national average for allied health careers and is due to many factors. The most important factor is the population of the United States being more interested in their health and nutrition. This is a growing trend that has a direct impact on the demand for dietitians and nutritionists.