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How to become a Nutritionist?

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Talent.com talent.com
Answered March 03 2021
Career Expert at Talent.com
In the US, the term "Nutritionist" is not as regulated as "dietician." All dietitians are Nutritionists, but not all Nutritionists are dieticians.  

There are many ways to become a Nutritionist, depending on your personal goals. If you want to work in a hospital setting, you will need to go through formal advanced training. But you can also get nutrition training for other reasons. For example, many people who work in nutrition-adjacent fields, such as personal trainers or chefs, may want to gain a more in-depth knowledge of nutrition for their professional development.  

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, most Nutritionists obtain a bachelor's degree in dietetics, food and nutrition, clinical nutrition, or public health nutrition. To become a dietician, they need to work 1,200 supervised hours in the field and then take the Commission on Dietetic Registration exam. Many dieticians also complete Master's degrees, which are not mandatory in the field but give you a leg up in terms of research and overall specialization.  

Suppose you are just looking to call yourself a Nutritionist as opposed to a dietician. In that case, you can complete a bachelor's degree, an associate's degree at community college, or take an online course. This term is less regulated, so there is more flexibility in getting the relevant knowledge. The important thing to consider is your lifestyle and your career goals in nutrition.  

Important Things to Know Before Becoming a Nutritionist
  • There are plenty of places you can work
 Nutritionists work in various settings, like hospitals, schools, food companies, elder care homes, etc. Because there is such a wide range of work environments, you should consider which setting you want to work in and look into the degrees or licenses needed to work there.

  • Be prepared to work with clients with a wide variety of goals
Often, people think Nutritionists only help clients lose weight, which can undoubtedly be a part of their job. However, Nutritionists may work with children or the elderly who need to gain weight. They may work with a client that needs help with allergies or digestive issues. Or they may work with athletes who need sustained energy to keep up with their training regimen. In short, you need to focus on what the client needs and work with them to achieve their goals. 

  • You will need to help clients untangle fad diets
Many people think they know a lot about nutrition because they have followed many fad diets and read about nutrition in magazines or social media. There are a lot of myths about food and nutrition on social media and in mainstream media. Your job is to adopt a scientific, evidence-based approach that will help your clients. 

 
 
Easteregg!