Are all Dietitian’s registered?
With such a great emphasis being placed on the importance of food and nutrition in our society today, it is only natural that consumers may be confused and have questions about our titles and what we do to obtain them. There are three titles that have been queried recently: dietitian, nutritionist and Registered Dietitian. Let’s take a look at some of these questions individually. This is the first part of a three part series.
Can anyone practice as a Dietitian without being registered?
The answer to this question depends on the place you live in, be it in the United States, Canada or elsewhere in the world. In the United States, the terms dietitian and nutritionist are protected terms in 46 states where we have licensure. To obtain licensure you must be a Registered Dietitian already, fill out a form and pay a fee or you must be able to pass an exam similar in scope to what RDs must pass in order to use the term nutritionist or dietitian. There are many other requirements to becoming an RD. But first, how do you find out if your state has licensure and if your Dietitian/Nutritionist is a licensed professional? You can visit the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s page at to determine if your state has licensure. To find out if an individual holds a license in a state with licensure, visit your State’s site and find the Board of Dietetics and Nutrition page. You can then either call or, in many cases, find out online if your chosen professional is licensed in that State.
Technically, only registered dietitians can use the term dietitian, which is a professionally regulated term. A registered dietitian is required to meet specific educational and professional standards and, again, is determined by the state that you reside in as noted above.
What is a registered dietitian? A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and regulatory requirements to use that term. The core curriculum for a dietitian in an academic setting includes classes in food and nutrition sciences, food service systems management, business, economics, computer science, culinary arts, sociology, chemistry, communications, education, biochemistry, anatomy and physiology, microbiology,pharmacology,and psychology. To make the transition from dietitian to RD requires the completion of an internship (900 practice hours) and the successful passing of a national Board exam.
Dietitians work in a variety of settings. You can find dietitians in public health programs such as inWIC, in hospitals, nursing homes, academia, journalism, corporate wellness programs, HMOs, private practice, sports nutrition/fitness centers, research and in food management departments for industries, health care facilities, restaurants and public health regulatory programs.
The salary range for a typical dietitian is approximately $50,000 per year, although this is an average. Fees range from $30.00-150.00 per hour, again depending on the work setting. Private consultants/speakers/writers typically make much more than a hospital dietitian, for example. To practice in many of these settings you must be Registered and/or licensed.
With nearly 65,000 members, the American Dietetic Association is the nation’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA serves the public by promoting optimal nutrition, health and well-being. Most RDs belong to ADA, although it is not a requirement to be an RD. And, you must be a Registered Dietitian to belong to ADA.
To locate a Registered Dietitian near you, contact the American Dietetic Association at 1-800-877-1600, ext. 5000 weekdays between 8 am – 5 pm CST.
About the Author
Kathy Shattler received her Master of Science degree from Michigan State University in E. Lansing Michigan in Human Nutrition. Her twenty-two years of practice includes holding positions as a Lecturer, Chief Clinical Dietitian and Program Manager. Kathy is the Founder of Nutri-Care Consulting and is currently the Nutrition Director of www.CEU4U.COM, an online continuing education management company for Registered Dietitians and Dietetic Technicians.
