Nutritionists have an exhaustive understanding of the different classes of food. And most importantly, they understand how the food we eat interacts with our body and what sort of effect they produce - negatively or otherwise.
Consequently, they can use this knowledge to formulate clear and effective plans that maximize food intake to provide the most favorable results. Obtaining such an extensive level of expertise takes time and proper education and training.
But what exactly is considered proper education and training for a dietician? We take a detailed look below.
Educational Path as a Nutritionist
Educational programs for a nutritionist are geared towards providing aspiring individuals the foundation they need to help clients needing their particular skill sets. There are several peculiarities worth noting when it comes to nutritionist education programs.
First, unlike most other healthcare fields, there isn’t any rigid national standard for nutritionist programs. For this reason, educational requirements to practice vary from state to state. For instance, whereas some states require a master’s degree for licensure, others allow nutritionists to practice without any formal degree.
The lack of a clear, rigid national standard makes the path to becoming a practicing nutritionist challenging. But really, it doesn’t have to be.
Regardless of the state you find yourself in, it is always advisable to begin your path toward a career as a nutritionist by obtaining a bachelor’s degree. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree not only gives you a clear direction to begin the journey but also gives you the foundational knowledge needed in the field while making you more appealing and versatile to prospective clients and employers.
Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition
A bachelor’s degree in nutrition prepares an aspiring nutritionist for a career in the field. Topics in biology, cellular nutrition, and dietetics prepare the individual and give them a foundation for everything they’ll need to know to improve people’s lives through proper diets.
A bachelor’s program in nutrition may also include additional classes in geriatric health or sports nutrition. These are particularly important for those who plan on working in specialized settings.
Once an individual obtains a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, they may go on to work in a hospital, a physician’s office, an athletic facility, a private corporation, or a skilled nursing facility.
Prerequisites, Curriculum & Duration
A high school diploma is often a prerequisite to obtaining a bachelor’s degree. That, or a strong GPA. It is also quite common for schools to require a high SAT or ACT score.
The curriculum tends to vary based on the school and program in question. Still, as mentioned earlier, classes are often related to cellular biology, dietetics, pediatric nutrition, cellular nutrition, geriatric nutrition, medical nutrition, sports nutrition, and weight management.
Programs usually take four years to complete and may include hours of clinical work or fieldwork for licensing purposes.
Earning a Master’s Degree in Nutrition
A master’s degree in nutrition helps students take an extra step in their careers by teaching them about leadership, research, and other advanced roles. In short, it builds on the fundamental knowledge acquired during a bachelor’s program and becomes specialized but robust knowledge in nutrition-related fields.
Another critical aspect of most master’s programs in nutrition is that they also teach students important things they’ll have to know to start and manage their nutrition practice.
Lastly, certain states require a master’s degree in nutrition for licensing purposes.
Prerequisites, Curriculum & Duration
Thanks to their highly competitive nature, master’s programs often have some strict requirements. For instance, most programs require no less than a 3.0 GPA from a Nutrition-related bachelor’s degree program.
Curriculum tends to vary based on areas of specialization, although topics in advanced biology, biostatistics, holistic nutrition, health research, nutritional science, community nutrition, and disease pathology are usually present.
It takes two to three years to complete a master’s program in nutrition. Those who successfully earn their master’s tend to have an easier time finding jobs and taking on leadership and management roles.
Nutritionist Certificate & Associate Programs
Not all nutritionists have to go through formal education in a college or university. For some, all that is needed is completing a certificate program wherein they will learn the fundamentals of food and health and how to apply what they’ve learned to help people in the real world.
Unlike bachelor’s programs, which take about four years before completion, certificate programs in nutrition tend to last up to 24 months, with some taking only six months.
It should be noted, of course, that certain states demand certification and formal education for licensure. But in states without such requirements, candidates can simply complete these certificate/associate programs and start practicing.
Naturally, job opportunities and potential income may not be as abundant as they would have been with a bachelor’s or master’s degree. For this reason, nutritionists should take the extra step of attaining formal education even if they live in states with no laws concerning minimum educational requirements.
Online Nutritionist Degree
Those who don’t have the time to attend physical classes and would like to attain their degrees online will be happy to learn that there are online programs where they can do so quite conveniently.
Moreover, they usually allow candidates to study independently with full-time or part-time options. Interested candidates should have in mind, however, that most of these programs require fieldwork or internship; as such, there is still a bit of work to be done offline.
Choosing a School
Lastly, candidates should always enroll only in accredited schools and programs. A program getting accredited not only shows that it is reputable and has met national quality standards but also ensures that all your credits will be transferred to another school if you wish.
Also, accredited programs allow students to apply for financial aid and make it easier to use for licensure or certification.
