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What is a Dietitian / Registered Dietitian?
Registered Dietitians are the food and nutrition experts who can translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living.
Registered Dietitians have degrees in nutrition, public health or a related field from well-respected, accredited colleges and universities, have completed an internship and passed a national examination. Many RD possess advanced degrees and certifications as well.
Registered Dietitians work in a variety of settings throughout the community. They work in hospitals, schools, public health clinics, nursing homes, fitness centers, food management, food industry, universities, research and private practice.
Registered Dietitians use their nutrition expertise to help people make unique, positive lifestyle changes. They are an advocate for improving the nutrition status of all Americans.
A Dietitian is a term used for a professional in the dietetics field who oversees the regulation of diet in the healthy and sick. More specifically, according to the American Dietetics
Association, a Registered Dietitian (RD) is a food and nutrition expert who has met the following criteria to earn the
RD credential:
- Completed a minimum of a bachelor's degree at a US regionally accredited educational institution
- Completed a CADE-accredited supervised practice program at a health care facility, community agency, or foodservice corporation
- Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR)
- Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration
Dietitians prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating and recommending dietary modifications. Dietitians manage food service systems
for schools and hospitals. The title 'dietitian' is legally protected in the USA. It denotes an individual who has specific
professional credentials. In order to maintain a Registered Dietitian status,
professionals must complete at least 75 credit hours in approved continuing education classes every 5 years.
Registered Dietitians can advance to management positions such directors of dietetic departments. Some become self-employed.
Areas of specialization include cardiovascular, diabetic, renal, or pediatric detetics. Many dietitians attain a master's degree to help advancement in the areas of research,
advanced clinical positions, or public health.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Dietitians held about 60,300 jobs in 2008. More than half of these jobs were in hospitals, nursing care
facilities, outpatient care centers, or offices of physicians and other health professionals. The types of employment opportunities and settings for dietitians can include the following:
- Community Dietitians
- Clinical Dietitians
- Foodservice Dietitians
- Pediatric Dietitians
- Gerontological Dietitians
- Research Dietitians
- Administrative Dietitians
- Consultant Dietitians
- Business Dietitians
Of the 48 states and jurisdictions with laws governing dietetics, 35 require licensure, 12 require statutory certification and 1 requires registration.
The American Dietetic Association places the median annual wages for registered dietitians in 2007 at $60,008 in consultation and business; $64,002
in food and nutrition management; $66,061 in education and research; $52,000 in clinical nutrition/ambulatory care; $53,997 in clinical nutrition/long-term
care; $48,006 in community nutrition; and $48,984 in clinical nutrition/acute care. For more on salaries for Registered Dietitians in the USA, please refer
to Dietitian Central's annual salary survey.
Other nutrition related personnel that interact with Dietitians include the following:
- Dietetic Technicians
- Dietary Assistants
- Dietary Clerks
- Dietary Managers
- Dietary Hosts
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