Road to Becoming a Dietitian

Did you know that a dietitian and a nutritionist are not exactly the same? I mean yes, a dietitian is also a nutritionist but a nutritionist is not necessarily a dietitian. Confused? I was too. 

A dietitian has to become registered with a national board and we sit down to take a really long and expensive test that states we can now provide nutrition advice and counseling. A nutritionist, on the other hand, in states such as California and Colorado where there are no laws to become a licensed dietitian to practice as a registered dietitian, can take a 6-week program, get a certificate and call themselves a nutritionist! Wow! They can now go to a gym and give out meal plans. Easy, right?

Then, you have another individual who tells you they are a registered dietitian or licensed dietitian. How are they different from the person who just told you they are a nutritionist? Let me tell you.

A registered dietitian or licensed nutritionist has to go to school for four years and get a bachelor's degree and take special classes science classes that will qualify them to apply to an 8 to12-month internship. Sometimes these internships are paid, but most are not. This dietitian has now spent more money than that other nutritionist. Once they graduate, they have to hope that their volunteer and work experience was enough to land them an interview with an internship. Woohoo, they did an interview! 

But, wait, now they have to select you and you have to select them. Internships work on a rating system where both you have to place the internship as your top 5 choice and they have to place you as their top 5 or top 10. Then a computer system will match you to the internship where you were the highest-rated candidate on their list as they were on yours. Ok, another hurdle down. Now, you get to accept your spot and get ready for orientation and the rest of the journey!

Yey, you finished the internship. Are you a registered dietitian now? NO. You have to take a board exam (yes, like doctors and nurses do) and hope to pass or you will pay every time you have to retake it. 

Now you passed and can call yourself a registered dietitian or registered dietitian nutritionist! Was this the same as becoming a nutritionist? Not at all. 

By 2024, these same individuals that want to apply to an internship will now be expected to have a master's degree too. So, with this, I leave it up to you on who you seek nutrition advice from next time. Remember, we all have our scope of practice. 

If you are a student or are interested in more information on how to become a registered dietitian feel free to reach out to me for one free call at itzelesparza2.rdn@gmail.com. Happy November!