Education Needed to Become a Registered Dietician

The routes are plenty, but becoming a registered dietician can lead to a rewarding career choice. RDs advise individuals in many areas, including meal planning to community education. While a majority of dieticians work in hospitals, they are also found in government, nursing homes and school settings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the median salary for a dietician in 2006 at $47,000. Also, for individuals who seek work in the medical field, dietetics is a viable option.

  1. Strong points

    • Prospective students should make a list of academic strengths. If an interest in biology, chemistry or nutrition makes the list, becoming a dietician might be an acceptable career path. In addition, a desire to help people meet their goals is a plus. One student said her interest in pursuing a dietetics degree stems from her high school food, science and nutrition class. Individuals also site their love of cooking and the ability to count calories as catalysts.

    Program that fits

    • Consult the American Dietetic Association website and peruse the "Career and Students" link to acquire information on dietetic programs accredited or approved by the Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. Assess the options that lead to becoming a RD for the chosen school. At least 50 schools offer Coordinated Programs in Dietetics (combined bachelor's and master's degrees, and internship), while 200 follow the Didactic Programs in Dietetics (bachelor's degree only), and 250 schools offer a Didactic Internship (internship with a master's degree option).

    Program features

    • Apply to a university with a CADE-approved program and be accepted. Then, visit with the program's academic adviser to receive additional explanation of the program and establish an undergraduate degree plan. Prerequisite coursework usually includes nutrition, biology, chemistry, statistics, and family and social science. While some schools require a minor, students who envision a future in community or government dietetics use their electives in a foreign language, particularly Spanish, and public speaking.

    Education span

    • Once a bachelor's degree is earned, DPD students must apply and be accepted into a post-baccalaureate internship at a university. The internship includes 900 clock hours of supervised practice in a dietetic setting. When choosing a school for the internship, explore whether the program is part or full time. Universities set whether the program is part or full time or a combination of both. The DI is a precursor to students sitting for licensure in their state.

    Licensure

    • After finishing the internship, candidates will receive a DI Verification Statement. The document will allow students to be eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians to become licensed RDs. The computer-based test contains five sections: food and nutrition (15 percent of the exam); clinical and community nutrition (40 percent); education and research (7 percent); food and nutrition systems (18 percent); and management (20 percent). The RED also certifies dieticians in five other areas.