What Education Or Certification Is Needed To Become For Getting Dietitian Jobs?
For Dietitian, the next stop along the career path isn't always an obvious one. And how do you get there? As a result of our research here, we have identified three steps to take when moving up the ladder in the field of Nutrition. On the way, we'll also detail related dietitian jobs options, settle the dietitian-versus-nutritionist debate and ask three working professionals about how to excel.
Dietitian jobs are related to experts in the field of food and nutrition and help others achieve their health goals. Their duties include:
•Implement meal plans in health facilities or schools
•Develop and prepare meals based on dietary restrictions
•Work with health care personnel regarding patients’ nutritional needs
•Teach patients and clients about food selection and nutrition principles
•Advocate for nutrition labeling, school nutrition standards and public policy issues
•Conduct research
A dietitian job relies heavily on where they work. For instance, in a nursing home they may counsel senior citizens on food choices based on their health conditions, whereas a nutritionist in a school may develop meal plans for the cafeteria.
The letters at the end of a professional's name matter, at least as a way of measuring their education. And this is the fundamental difference between dietitians and nutritionists. Anyone can refer to themselves as the latter, but the former is reserved for those sporting some acronyms: RD (registered dietitian), RDN (registered dietitian nutritionist) and LDN (state-licensed dietitian nutritionist). The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the governing body of these more formally-recognized professionals, has stated that RDs may call themselves RDNs in the workplace to clarify their areas of expertise. Earning these designations (and others like them) is a matter of education and apprenticeship. More and more, the field is also flush with what are being called "health coaches." They have their own acronyms, too.
In order to become a dietitian, you’ll need to earn a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science, health and wellness or a related field. Most programs also include or require an internship so students get hands-on training with a trained nutritionist.
The requirements for nutritionist certification vary by state, but all 50 states include some type of condition. According to the Center for Nutrition Advocacy, licensing falls under four categories:
•Illegal to perform nutrition counseling without a license or exemption. Registered Dietitians (RDs) are only eligible for licensure.
•Illegal to provide nutrition counseling without a license or exemption, but non-RD paths to licensure are available.
•Legal to perform nutrition counseling, but RDs are recognized by the government and eligible for insurance reimbursement.
•Dietitian counseling is legal for all to perform but insurance reimbursement limitations may exist.
It’s important to understand that while dietitians and nutritionists share many of the same job duties, dietitian job go through more training and typically work in clinical settings. Nutritionists do not go through the RD training and licensing and usually work in holistic health settings.
This post first appeared on Things You Should Know About A Nutrition Recruiter Job, please read the originial post: here
