Registered dietitian vs nutritionist

They are not.

A registered dietitian is considered a food and nutrition expert based on the education and testing required, the ethics regulations that come with the title, and the inclusive studies of varying populations and how nutrition is affected or can play a role.

A nutritionist may be someone who advises people on their food and nutrition choices, but can be self-proclaimed without education or credentials.

Every registered dietitian is a nutritionist, but not every nutritionist is a registered dietitian.

To become a registered dietitian (dietitian, RD, or RDN for short), you need to:

• Obtain a bachelor’s degree
• Complete a master’s program (beginning 2024)
• Get accepted to and complete a dietetic internship after graduation (1,200 hours supervised practice in the field)
• Pass a national registration exam
• Get licensed depending on state
• And maintain credentials with continuing education

On the other hand, anyone can call themselves a “nutritionist” because there is no real credential that goes with it. In fact, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics added “Nutritionist” to the end of “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist” (changing it from RD to RDN) to help clear up confusion for consumers.

So what about nutrition certificates?

If you Google “nutrition certificates,” dozens of options come up. Here’s my take on these:

If you are interested in learning more about nutrition for yourself, or want to see if nutrition as a career is right for you, a certificate is a great place to start. Higher education is not always an option for everyone, and these certificate programs offer more affordable options. Higher education also has its own limitations.

However, if you get a certificate and intend to market yourself as someone people can hire for nutrition advice, make sure you are doing it ethically. Be aware that some people have underlying health issues they themselves may not know anything about, and your nutrition recommendations can have a big impact on that in a positive OR negative way. Don’t give specific recommendations if you can’t consider their health history with it. Stay in your lane with basic recommendations, and be humble enough to refer out as needed.

Final note: Being a registered dietitian is not the end all be all when it comes to knowing how to help someone. I have had to do a lot of my own education and research to help people in real life situations outside of hospital settings or acute disease states. RDs also have to work with other professionals to understand the full picture (physicians, endocrinologists, OBGYNs, etc).

However, all the years of school and experience in different settings necessary for becoming a dietitian have given me knowledge that I have been able to build on so much faster and easier than if I had not gotten my degree.

Becoming an RD is a big commitment, but one that is worth it. I may not always be an “online coach,” but I’ll always be a dietitian. And that will continue to open doors for me if and when the social media door closes.

The following is a list of places dietitians can work:

• Private Practice
• Wellness centers
• Gyms
• Hospitals (inpatient and outpatient)
• Clinical Nutrition Managers
• Sports teams (high school to professional)
• Food Service (running kitchens in different establishments; chefs)
• Schools

to name a few!