Nutritionist and Dietitian
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“I wish the public understood the difference between registered dietitians and nutritionists. ‘Registered dietitian’ is a protected term, meaning no one can legally claim to be a registered dietitian unless registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.”
Courtney Pelitera, MS, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Top Nutrition Coaching
For those passionate about making a positive difference in public health, there has never been a better time to become a nutritionist. Data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that two in five adults in the United States are considered obese (CDC 2024). Furthermore, two of the four risk factors for chronic disease are poor nutrition and lack of physical movement. In addition to costing $4.1 trillion a year in healthcare costs, these chronic health conditions harm people’s relationships and quality of life.
The good news is that those living with chronic diseases can prevent or manage their conditions through consistent changes in diet and exercise. Enter nutritionists: professionals who help people improve their health, save money, and live longer, healthier, and happier lives through better eating habits.
So, what does it take to become a nutritionist? According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), anyone can call themselves a nutritionist. However, professionals with Registered Dietitian (RD) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credentials have taken extra steps to demonstrate their competence by earning a degree, completing at least 1,000 hours of supervised experience, and passing a rigorous exam.
It is important to note that students pursuing an RD or RDN credential must complete a bachelor of science before December 31, 2023, or a master of science starting January 1, 2024. Most RDNs follow this requirement, according to data from Career One Stop (2024), which shows that 39 percent of nutritionists hold a bachelor’s degree while 35 percent have a master’s degree. This guide features a blend of undergraduate, graduate, and combined internship programs to help future nutritionists pursue a career in nutrition and earn an RDN credential. In addition to degree requirements, RDN candidates must complete an ACEND-accredited 1,000-hour dietetic internship program to be eligible for the RDN credential exam.
Nutritionists do more than help people manage chronic health conditions. People seek nutritional help for various health-related reasons, such as addressing digestive problems, athletic performance, and preparing healthy meals for family members. Nutritionists with master’s or doctoral degrees may specialize in nutritional health and are positioned to earn higher salaries in leadership or supervisory roles.
Read on to learn more about degree programs, the career outlook, and the required certifications to become a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).
Meet the Expert: Courtney Pelitera, MS
Courtney Pelitera is a registered dietitian nutritionist at Top Nutrition Coaching with over 12 years of experience in the health and wellness industry. She holds a a bachelor’s degree in sports and exercise science and a master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics.
Pelitera grew up in an extremely athletic household, with most family members working in the health and fitness industry. She is dedicated to providing clients with the tools to implement learned nutrition strategies in their busy lives. She has seen on a personal level how the power of food can catapult sports performance and is determined to teach others how to use food to feel the difference in their athletic endeavors and daily lives.
MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What is something you wish the public understood about nutritionists?
Pelitera: I wish the public understood the difference between registered dietitians and nutritionists. “Registered dietitian” is a protected term, meaning no one can legally claim to be a registered dietitian unless registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
To do this, dietitians need to complete a master’s degree in a nutrition-related field, complete 1,000 hours of supervised practice through an internship, and pass a registration examination. This makes registered dietitians the true experts in the field of nutrition. Since “nutritionist” is not a protected term, there are no qualifiers to use this term, and essentially, anyone can call themselves a nutritionist!
This information is very important for the public because so much information is obtained through social media today. I often talk to people who are confused by the different information they are consuming. It is essential that people know who is giving them information.
My advice here is to look for posts and follow people with certified credentials. This will make navigating trusted and accurate information on social media much easier.
MedicalTechnologySchools.com: What advice would you give to aspiring nutrition students?
Pelitera: My advice for future registered dietitians is to keep an open mind about jobs and positions that become available as you enter the workforce. The number of jobs that I said “I would never do” that I now love doing is always crazy for me! My own personal example of this is when I said I would never work in a clinical setting. I’m now an advanced clinical nutrition specialist who works specifically with home tube-feeding patients, and I absolutely love it! Take a chance on that role you are not so sure about. Even if you don’t stay in that position, I would bet it will lead you to another one that is the right fit.
Another piece of advice is to keep in contact with all your preceptors from your internship, past employers, and anyone who has been involved in your career along the way. It can be as simple as keeping in contact online. Everyone changes jobs frequently these days, and you never know when an old co-worker or boss might have a great opportunity for you.
On-Campus Nutritionist & Dietitian Programs
A master’s degree is the place to begin a career in nutrition. Some programs, often called “coordinated programs,” combine dietetic coursework and a supervised internship to prepare students for the RD or RDN credential.
Some programs offer specialized certification to serve the nutrition needs of a specific population, such as children, adults, patients with particular health needs, or athletes. More detailed information about board certification in these specialization areas is included below.
Some nutrition degree and supervised practice programs and are accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). In addition, other nutrition programs are offered by colleges or universities with regional or national accreditation. Detailed information about nutrition program accreditation is included below.
Here are three examples of ACEND-accredited nutrition programs.
California State University, Northridge
The Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at California State University in Northridge offers a master’s of science in human nutrition. This program aims to enhance both professional skills and personal dietary knowledge for individuals aiming to expand their career prospects in specific nutrition fields while gaining a broad understanding of related disciplines. Participants will acquire expertise in research techniques and advanced practice pertinent to their chosen specialty.
By completing the program, students will elevate their proficiency in food and nutrition topics, preparing them for diverse career paths, including roles as nutritionists, nutrition supervisors, doctoral candidates, researchers, and administrators in various organizations. This 48-credit curriculum is versatile, offering two pathways: human nutrition and dietetic internship. Each pathway ensures a comprehensive education and an extensive knowledge base, typically completed over four semesters.
- Location: Northridge, CA
- Duration: Two years
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
University of Central Arkansas
The Department of Nutrition and Family Sciences offers three bachelor’s degree programs in community nutrition, nutrition science, and dietetics. These programs prepare graduates for supervised practice or other postgraduate programs.
In addition, this school offers two master’s of science (MS) degree options in family and consumer sciences or nutrition, including an ACEND-accredited graduate dietetic internship program. Graduates of these programs are eligible for RDN certification.
- Location: Conway, AR
- Duration: Two to four years (depending on degree program)
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
The Behavioral Health & Nutrition Division of Health Sciences offers a complete array of educational options for clinical and research-oriented careers in nutrition.
In addition to a bachelor’s degree, the University of Delaware provides a combined master’s of science in nutrition and a dietetic internship. Students who want to study nutrition at the highest level can pursue doctoral work in nutrition science to earn a PhD.
- Location: Newark, DE
- Duration: Two to four years (depending on degree program)
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
List of Nutritionist or Dietitian Schools
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | New Jersey | https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu | 42 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Alabama | https://www.uab.edu | 40 |
| Kent State University at Kent | Kent | Ohio | https://www.kent.edu | 32 |
| Florida State University | Tallahassee | Florida | https://www.fsu.edu | 28 |
| Meredith College | Raleigh | North Carolina | https://www.meredith.edu | 28 |
| Grand Valley State University | Allendale | Michigan | https://www.gvsu.edu | 23 |
| University of Akron Main Campus | Akron | Ohio | https://www.uakron.edu | 22 |
| George Mason University | Fairfax | Virginia | https://www.gmu.edu | 21 |
| SUNY College at Plattsburgh | Plattsburgh | New York | https://www.plattsburgh.edu | 21 |
| University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center | Dallas | Texas | https://www.utsouthwestern.edu | 20 |
| Loma Linda University | Loma Linda | California | https://llu.edu | 20 |
| Long Island University | Brookville | New York | https://www.liu.edu | 19 |
| The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston | Galveston | Texas | https://www.utmb.edu | 19 |
| Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Mansfield | Pennsylvania | https://www.mansfield.edu | 12 |
| East Tennessee State University | Johnson City | Tennessee | https://www.etsu.edu/ehome | 10 |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | North Dakota | https://und.edu | 9 |
| Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville | Edwardsville | Illinois | https://www.siue.edu | 8 |
| University of Iowa | Iowa City | Iowa | https://uiowa.edu | 8 |
| Concordia College at Moorhead | Moorhead | Minnesota | https://www.concordiacollege.edu | 7 |
| Life University | Marietta | Georgia | https://www.life.edu | 6 |
| Saint Louis University | Saint Louis | Missouri | https://www.slu.edu | 2 |
| University at Buffalo | Buffalo | New York | https://www.buffalo.edu | 1 |
| University of Miami | Coral Gables | Florida | https://welcome.miami.edu | 1 |
Hybrid & Online Nutrition & Dietitian Programs
To meet the needs of working people, hybrid and online nutrition degree programs are available as an alternative to on-campus programs. Hybrid courses feature a combination of on-campus and online coursework, while fully online programs deliver lectures, coursework, and interactive activities through a learning management system.
Here are three nutrition programs offered by regionally-accredited universities, two of which hold programmatic accreditation by ACEND.
Arizona State University (ASU)
This fully online 120-credit degree program is designed for students seeking careers in food production, service management, and health and wellness. Students can begin their studies on different dates and take 40 classes, spending 7.5 weeks in each class. This degree program is not a pathway toward earning an RD or RDN. ASU features a bachelor of science (BS) in dietetics for those wishing to pursue an RDN career pathway.
- Location: Phoenix, AZ
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
Texas Women’s University (TWU)
The Nutrition and Food Sciences department offers a 130-credit bachelor of science in nutrition (dietetics). This hybrid program provides some online course options in addition to courses at TWU’s Denton campus. With small class sizes, courses are taught by knowledgeable and supportive faculty and designed to prepare students for supervised internships and graduate degrees to complete their RDN career pathways.
- Location: Denton, TX
- Duration: Four years
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
University of North Carolina (UNC)
The Gillings School of Global Public Health offers a master’s of public health with a concentration in nutrition. This program became one of the first programs in the country to be an ACEND-accredited “Future Education Model” course of study, offered both on-campus and online.
This two-year program is designed for students to complete a master’s degree, 1,000 hours of supervised experiential learning, and become eligible to sit for the CDR exam to become registered dietitians (RD). The mission of this program is to prepare future leaders in nutrition and dietetics through didactic coursework and community clinical experiences.
- Location: Chapel Hill, NC
- Duration: Three years
- Accreditation: Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND)
| School | City | State | Website | GRADS ('21) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Western States | Portland | Oregon | https://www.uws.edu | 148 |
| Logan University | Chesterfield | Missouri | https://www.logan.edu | 132 |
| Northeast College of Health Sciences | Seneca Falls | New York | https://www.northeastcollege.edu | 66 |
| National University of Natural Medicine | Portland | Oregon | https://nunm.edu | 50 |
| Parker University | Dallas | Texas | https://www.parker.edu | 50 |
| Rutgers University-New Brunswick | New Brunswick | New Jersey | https://newbrunswick.rutgers.edu | 42 |
| University of Alabama at Birmingham | Birmingham | Alabama | https://www.uab.edu | 40 |
| Marywood University | Scranton | Pennsylvania | https://www.marywood.edu | 35 |
| Stony Brook University | Stony Brook | New York | https://www.stonybrook.edu | 27 |
| University of Memphis | Memphis | Tennessee | https://www.memphis.edu | 26 |
| University of Wisconsin-Madison | Madison | Wisconsin | https://www.wisc.edu | 24 |
| SUNY Oneonta | Oneonta | New York | https://suny.oneonta.edu | 17 |
| Keiser University-Ft Lauderdale | Fort Lauderdale | Florida | https://www.keiseruniversity.edu | 15 |
| Mansfield University of Pennsylvania | Mansfield | Pennsylvania | https://www.mansfield.edu | 12 |
| Adelphi University | Garden City | New York | https://www.adelphi.edu | 10 |
| University of North Dakota | Grand Forks | North Dakota | https://und.edu | 9 |
| University of North Florida | Jacksonville | Florida | https://www.unf.edu | 5 |
| Immaculata University | Immaculata | Pennsylvania | https://www.immaculata.edu | 3 |
| Northwestern Health Sciences University | Bloomington | Minnesota | https://www.nwhealth.edu | 3 |
| Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science | North Chicago | Illinois | https://www.rosalindfranklin.edu | 1 |
Core & Elective Nutrition Courses
So what types of courses can be expected in a nutrition degree program? As with most degrees, there are core or general education courses and elective courses, which include a variety of specialized offerings that support core course knowledge in the final years of a program.
Here are some common core and elective courses in nutrition degree programs:
Core Courses in Nutrition Degree Programs
- Anatomy
- Anthropology
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Microbiology
- Pharmacology
- Physiology
- Psychology
- Statistics
Elective Courses in Nutrition Degree Programs
- Behavioral theories
- Communication skills
- Environmental health
- Ethics and best practices
- Food science
- Introduction to healthcare systems
- Public healthcare delivery
- Research and evidence-based methodologies
It’s important to note the internship portion of a degree program is separate from the core and elective courses requires a minimum of 1,000 practice hours.
Nutritionist Program Accreditation
The importance of accreditation cannot be overstated.
First, students applying to degree programs invest substantial time and financial resources into earning degrees, and accreditation ensures the highest standards of educational quality are met. Second, accreditation benefits not only students but also employers and future patients of nutritionists—all who can rest assured that an individual has met high standards of academic rigor.
Moreover, students who apply for federal aid in the United States must attend educational institutions with programmatic or regional accreditation.
Programmatic Accreditation
The Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) is part of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). These organizations provide programmatic accreditation for approximately 600 nutrition and dietetics programs in the United States.
According to the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR), the credentialing agency for the ADN, those wanting to take the RDN exam must complete at least a regionally accredited master’s degree from an institution accredited by the US Department of Education. RDN candidates must complete an ACEND-accredited supervised practice internship program to qualify for the RDN exam.
Regional Accreditation
While some nutrition and dietetics may hold programmatic accreditation from one of the organizations above, alternatively, other programs may be offered through colleges with regional or national accreditation from one of the organizations approved by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Nutritionist Career Outlook
Along with other healthcare careers, nutritionists are experiencing rapid career growth. According to the BLS, dietitians and nutritionist careers are growing at 7 percent, which is as fast as the rate for all occupations at 4 percent (BLS 2024). Between 2023 and 2033, the BLS predicts that 6,000 new dietitian and nutritionist positions will be created, adding to the 81,300 jobs in 2023.
How much do nutritionists earn? The answer depends on several factors, such as the level of experience, the type of employer, and the cost of living in a specific area. The BLS Occupational Employment and Wages Report (May 2023) lists the average annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists at $71,280. Wage percentile estimates are as follows:
- 10th percentile: $44,910
- 25th percentile: $58,290
- 50th percentile: $69,680 (median)
- 75th percentile: $81,860
- 90th percentile: $98,830
By comparison, PayScale.com (Dec. 2024), a self-reported aggregator of salary data, lists the average annual salary for dieticians and nutritionists at $60,786 with 1,020 individuals reporting their salary data.
As for work environments, the BLS shows that most nutritionists work full-time and are mainly employed in hospitals, government health agencies, or healthcare facilities. Below is a complete list of work environment locations where nutritionists work:
- General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: 19,580 employed
- Outpatient Care Centers: 6,790
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 6,770
- Special Food Services: 6,630
- Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): 5,470
The location where work is performed is another factor that affects salary data. The states with the highest average annual salaries for dieticians and nutritionists are as follows (BLS May 2023):
- California: $84,560
- New Jersey: $82,330
- Oregon: $82,280
- New York: $80,510
- Alaska: $80,100
It is worth noting that the five states listed above also have a high cost of living index score as measured by the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center (MERIC 2024). Therefore, job seekers are encouraged to research the cost of living in a particular area and factor it into their salary negotiations.
Nutritionist Licensing & Certification
Although not every state requires a license for nutritionists, 47 states have statutory provisions for professionals using the title of nutritionist or dietician. Since the qualifications to become a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) are often similar to state-level required credentials, nutritionists seeking employment are encouraged to pursue this credential.
The RD and RDN credentials are nationally recognized and administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, the agency focused on accreditation for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND).
To become an RDN, applicants must complete a master’s degree in nutrition and a supervised dietetic internship of 1,000 hours. Some ACEND-accredited degree programs offer supervised experiences that fulfill the internship requirement. In addition, some programs combine a master’s degree and a dietetic internship program.
To maintain an RDN credential, dietitians must pay an annual maintenance fee of $70 per year or $350 every five years. In addition, RDNs are required to earn 75 continuing education credits every five years.
The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) offers the following credentials for nutritionists and dietitians:
- RD: Registered Dietitian
- RDN: Registered Dietitian Nutritionist
The Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) also offers certification in specialized areas of nutrition. Nutritionists can earn board certifications to work with specific populations in areas such as:
- Gerontological Nutrition (CSG)
- Obesity and Weight Management (CSOWM)
- Oncology Nutrition (CSO)
- Pediatric Nutrition (CSP)
- Pediatric Critical Care Nutrition (CSPCC)
- Renal Nutrition (CSR)
- Sports Dietetics (CSSD)
Lastly, nutritionists with master’s or doctoral degrees and 1,000 hours of supervised experience can apply to the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) exam offered by the American Nutrition Association to demonstrate their advanced knowledge. The Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists administers this exam and provides three pathways for nutritionists with advanced or medical degrees to seek this advanced certification.
