How to Become a Nutritionist

The path to becoming a nutritionist depends on education, experience and location. Regarding the latter, many states have formal licensing and certification requirements in order to work in the field. Even in states that do not have specific requirements, employers and clients may give preference in hiring to people with these credentials.

This page is designed to help aspiring nutritionists better understand the key issues and questions that arise during the educational process, including: What’s the difference between an RDN and a CNS credential? Do I need a degree? What types of science classes will I need to take? Find answers to these questions below, as well as the primary steps people take when looking to become a nutritionist.

What Does a Nutritionist Do?

Nutritionist Basics

Nutritionists are experts in food and nutrition. They can promote health using nutrition information and are considered specialists who advise people on what to eat to keep a healthy lifestyle. Nutritionists frequently work closely with individuals who have medical issues, such as diabetics or people undergoing critical treatments.

Nutritionist In-Depth

Nutritionists provide encouragement and motivation, as well as discuss the pros and cons of specific diets and food trends and what impact those have on health. Educating people about healthy eating habits is an important job in today’s society, especially in the United States, where obesity has reached an all-time high of 42%. Nutritionists can work as self-employed entrepreneurs, as well as in hospital settings, schools and a variety of holistic and alternative medicine environments.

Educating people on health is an important job in today’s society, especially in the United States, where obesity has reached an all-time high. Nutritionists can work as self-employed entrepreneurs, as well as in hospital settings, schools and a variety of holistic and alternative medicine environments. Depending on their level of education, nutritionists can be in high demand in food and health-related businesses.

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Types of Nutritionist:

While you can be classified as just a nutritionist, you can also specialize in an aspect of nutrition, including:

• Sports nutrition: Focusing on nutrition for athletes to help them perform their best and nourish their bodies for a high level of activity
• Holistic nutrition: Using natural foods and remedies as a treatment for people seeking help with a particular ailment or condition
• Oncology nutrition: Specializing in nutrition for cancer patients to ensure their bodies are getting the right nutrients during treatment
• Pediatric nutrition: Focusing on proper nutrition for children
• Registered dietitian: These nutrition experts have met requirements set forth by a governing body in the field that qualifies them to provide nutrition and health advice on a more elevated scale than a nutritionist.

Nutritionist Salaries and Job Forecast

Nutritionist Salary Details

According to the BLS, nutritionists earned a median annual wage of $63,090 in 2020. The agency also found that on average, nutritionists earned an hourly rate of $30.33. The states with the highest average salaries for nutritionists in 2020 are as follows:

The map below shows details of the 10th, 50th, and 90th percentile earners for each state.

Career Outlook for Nutritionists

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job opportunities for nutritionists are expected to increase by 21 percent between 2012 and 2022. That growth, the agency reports, is much higher than the average for all occupations. This increase has been attributed to the nationwide concern about rising obesity rates and the illnesses that can be exacerbated by obesity—such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition, as people live longer, there is a need for nutritionists to work with geriatric patients in facilities such as nursing homes. Trends toward eating locally grown, organic and non-genetically modified foods have also opened up opportunities for nutritionists who specialize in those areas.

The BLS projects that job opportunities for nutritionists are expected to increase by 8 percent between 2019 and 2029. That growth, the agency reports, is higher than the average for all occupations. This increase has been attributed to the nationwide concern about rising obesity rates and the illnesses that can be exacerbated by obesity—such as diabetes and heart disease. In addition, as people live longer, there is a need for nutritionists to work with geriatric patients in facilities such as nursing homes. Trends toward eating locally grown, organic, and non-genetically modified foods have also opened up opportunities for nutritionists who specialize in those areas.

Nutritionist: Nutritionists are experts in food and how it relates to your health. They specialize in helping people live a healthy lifestyle and use food to do that.
Median salary: $63,090.

Dietitian: Dietitians have finely tuned skills in nutrition and can advise patients on how to use food for health.
Median salary: $63,090.

Sports nutritionist: Sports nutritionists specialize in helping athletes properly fuel their bodies and tailor diets for active patients.
Median salary: $53,439.

Health educator: Health educators are trained in actually teaching people how to live healthy and use food in proper ways to take care of their bodies.
Median salary: $65,737.

Food scientist: Food scientists study food using microbiology, engineering, and similar skill sets to examine what everything is made of and how it affects bodies and the environment.
Median salary: $62,680.

States that are experiencing the most growth in nutritionist jobs include (BLS):

Select a state below for more information about employment and job growth for nutritionists.

How to Become a Nutritionist

How long do you have to go to school to be a nutritionist?

This can vary based on the state you live in and what the requirements are for certification. It can range from a short program of a few months to a four-year bachelor’s program.

Can I be a nutritionist without a degree?

You can. Technically you can be a nutritionist without pursuing a degree, but most employers looking for a nutritionist require a certain amount of coursework, and board certifications. If you want to become a registered dietitian, you will need to get a bachelor’s degree in a related field, like nutrition or food science.

What major do you need to be a nutritionist?

Popular majors for people who go into nutrition include food science, nutrition, chemistry, biology, dietetics, or biochemistry. However you don’t have to get a degree at all to pursue a degree in nutrition. It will be of great help in your career, though, since most degree programs offer more credentials.

Nutrition School Accreditation Requirements for Licensing

Attending an accredited school or university will not only train you to become a nutritionist but help you attain licensing once you’ve completed your coursework. Look for programs that are certified with the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, as those are the programs recognized as appropriate for this field.

How to Become a Nutritionist

Academic Paths in Nutrition

All students have their own goals and desires, based on the direction they want their career to go. Whether they pursue an associate degree to get started more quickly, or devote the time to a doctoral degree to advance to the top of the field, students must feel confident that their educational needs are being met and that their schooling has been worth the time and financial investment. The following are examples of how different degree levels can meet students’ various goals.

In order to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), candidates must obtain an advanced degree, complete 1,000 hours of fieldwork, and pass an exam.

Associate Degrees

The Associate of Science degree in nutrition gives students a basic overview of the discipline, as well as hands-on training that prepares them to work in the field. Although students cannot become licensed nutritionists by earning this degree alone, they can obtain employment as dietetic technicians, working under the supervision of a registered nutritionist or dietitian. In addition, this degree lays the foundation for students who eventually decide to continue their education with an eye toward becoming licensed.

Students in this program complete a well-rounded curriculum, including general studies courses in topics such as mathematics, writing and public speaking. Core nutrition courses in this program include weight management theory, herbal sciences, community nutrition, sports nutrition, sustainable food systems and cultural foods.

These degrees typically take two years to complete, and depending on the program, students may be able to receive on-the-job training through an internship. Following are examples of courses offered at this level:

Bachelor’s Degrees

Bachelor of Science degrees in nutrition, which commonly take four years to complete, are required for those who want to become registered dietitians. In addition to taking general education courses, students will study nutrition at a more in-depth level than they would in an associate degree program. Students in this program gain a solid foundation of nutrition theory, along with a hands-on look at how it works in practice when dealing with patients. This program also provides an understanding of how to educate a community about the importance of good eating habits, as well as the ever-changing relationship between nutrition and societal factors such as culture and socioeconomic status.

The following is an example of courses that bachelor’s degree students may take during their tenure in this program.

Master’s Degrees

After graduating from a baccalaureate program, some students may want to broaden their knowledge and advance their skills by enrolling in a Master of Science nutrition degree program, which generally takes about two years of full-time study to complete. These programs are designed for practicing nutritionists and, unlike many bachelor’s degree programs, allow students to focus on a specialty area. In many cases, there is also a heavy emphasis on understanding nutrition research.

Following are examples of coursework offered in nutrition master’s degree programs:

Doctoral Degrees

Nutritionist degree programs at the doctoral level are more focused on research, training students to contribute to the field by conceiving and conducting original nutrition studies. They also emphasize teaching, particularly at the postsecondary level. A doctoral degree can be ideal for professionals who want to become experts and advance in their careers, taking on managerial roles in either the public or private sector. After five to seven years of intensive study, depending on the program, students can expect to gain the following skills by the time they complete a doctorate in nutrition:

Scholarly research skills

Students learn an array of qualitative and quantitative research methods that are necessary to conduct studies on a variety of clinical nutrition topics. By the time they graduate, they will be able to design studies and carry out evidence-based research, as well as present their findings to the scientific community. In addition, these programs give students an understanding of research ethics, an issue that is especially important when dealing with human subjects.

Assessment skills

In order to provide care to patients, nutritionists must be able to make dietary assessments. Doctoral degree programs provide in-depth knowledge of how to assess a patient’s existing dietary behaviors and habits, as well as identify current and future needs.

Clinical decision-making skills

Nutritionists must make informed decisions about the treatment their patients should receive. This may involve several factors, including not only their patients’ physical health but also their mental attitudes. They use their understanding of nutrients, physiology and disease to craft an appropriate diet and implement an overall nutrition plan, as well as make adjustments as a patient’s condition changes.

Communication skills

It’s important for nutritionists to hone their verbal and written communication skills, since they may find themselves in roles where they are called on to educate the public about the importance of good nutrition. This entails taking complicated concepts and making them understandable and relevant to the general public, using a combination of scientific information and persuasion to convince a community of the importance of eating right.

Components of a Successful Career as a Nutritionist

Nutritionist Skills

In addition to an understanding of nutritional concepts, nutritionists must possess the analytical and problem-solving skills to apply what they learned in school to individual patients and their specific needs.

Nutritionists should also:

• Actively acquire new skills and keep current ones fresh, such as by researching dietary trends and potential hazards.
• Have detailed knowledge of food production issues, such as how pesticides can affect physical and mental health, as well as genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and organic foods.
• Have a deep understanding of nutrient and chemical absorption and how this affects physical and mental health. As with other healthcare practitioners, nutritionists need to have good communication skills—both listening and speaking—in order to understand their patients’ problems and make recommendations.

Nutritionist Credentials

The requirements to become a nutritionist vary from state to state. However, in most locations, nutritionists must complete a bachelor’s degree, perform a certain amount of supervised, hands-on training, and pass a licensing examination. Although not required, many employers favor job candidates who have earned a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential.

Some nutritionists also opt to earn a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential, which allows them to demonstrate advanced knowledge of the field. In addition, there are a number of voluntary certifications that nutritionists can earn, which are awarded by organizations like The American Council on Exercise, the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board, the American Association of Nutrition Consultants, and the American Fitness Professionals & Associates.

Internship & Practicum Requirements

Many nutrition programs will also require that you complete an internship before you finish the course. These internships, just like internships in any major, will give you real-life, hands-on experience in the field. You actually may have multiple internships in different specialties, which is a great way to figure out exactly what type of nutrition you want to focus on.

Nutritionist Tools and Technology

Academic knowledge and hands-on training provide the foundation for a successful nutritionist career, while various tools and technologies allow these professionals to perform their job duties in the most effective ways. Some of the tools that nutritionists use in their practice include:

• hydrostatic weighing machines
• glucometers
• bioelectric impedance machines and calorimeters

Such machines provide detailed and precise information about the body’s condition and responses.

In addition, nutritionists also use scientific and medical software, such as:

• Axxya Systems Nutritionist Pro
• BioEx Systems Nutrition Maker Plus
• Compu-Cal Nutrition Assistant
• Lifestyles Technologies DietMaster Pro.

These programs are designed to help nutritionists process client data to come up with a comprehensive and appropriate nutritional plan.

Related Wellness Careers

The following are some career options for those who want to help patients achieve positive health outcomes and live a healthy lifestyle.

Salaries for Related Careers

There are many rewarding careers in the health care industry, and individuals with an interest in how food and diet affects diseases or general health may also want to consider occupations related to nutrition careers. The following are some examples of these jobs.

Starting Your Career as a Nutritionist

After you’ve completed your coursework in nutrition (and perhaps earned a degree or two), you should get licensed. Having a license to practice nutrition (or as a dietitian) will show potential employers that you’ve studied all aspects of nutrition and have a demonstrated knowledge of how to work with clients. Your nutrition license will put you one step closer to becoming a registered dietitian (which will most likely require some fieldwork first before certification).

Once you have your license and specialty figured out, it’s time to start looking for jobs in the area you’ve chosen.

What to Expect in the Job Environment

Nutrition jobs can vary widely based on what you choose to do. If you’re a sports nutritionist, you might work with a local school or with a professional sports team — both very different jobs. You might work in a doctor’s office and have a standard 9-to-5 job, or you might start your own nutrition business and make house calls. If you specialize in an aspect of nutrition that’s a little more rigorous — like oncology or even pediatrics — your day might be more structured and more stressful because you’re dealing with serious health conditions.

However, if you become a nutrition coach that focuses on helping people lose weight or a sports nutritionist who focuses on athletes’ performance, your job might be a little more fun than stressful. With any job, though, you’ll naturally encounter stress and pressure because you want to succeed, but nutrition can be extremely rewarding as you help people learn how to live healthy lives.

Related Careers at a Glance

Become Team

Contributing Writer

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