Nutrition and diet are foundational elements that contribute towards leading a healthy way of life in the present society. There is growing concern among individuals on the role of good nutrition in the risk factors of chronic diseases and general well-being. Therefore, the need for qualified nutritionists is increasing on a global scale. If you have a keen interest in food science and wish to help other people lead a healthier lifestyle, then being a certified nutritionist is the right career for you!
In this blog, we’ll take you through the process of how to become a certified nutritionist, what educational requirements are needed, and the career opportunities available in this interesting profession. Additionally, we will look at the various dietician courses and nutritionist certifications to guide you on what you would want to pursue.
1. Understand the Role of a Nutritionist
Before pursuing this profession, one must comprehend the activities involved in being a dietitian. A licensed nutritionist is capable of assisting people with regard to healthy eating patterns and the management of meals according to their needs for instance due to their age or due to being on a diet for weight loss, prevention of an illness or general health improvement. In most cases, nutritionists find themselves in a hospital, school, gym, athletic institution or even practice on their own.
Professional nutritionists must possess in-depth knowledge of food science and biology, as these fields are directly related to the impacts of nutrients on a person. They also have to be very good at talking to people as they have to walk their clients through the customized meal plans.
2. Complete Your 12th Grade with Science Background
Completing your high school education (12th grade) which has a science component, especially biology and chemistry is the first process of achieving the goal of being a certified nutritionist. This is because it would be hard for a nutritionist to attempt to work without considering how the heck the human body uses nutrients and what it does to them.
This is because most of the universities and colleges with dietetics and other nutrition-related programs tend to ask for science qualifications. It is also prudent to do some health, home science, or similar subjects as they are relevant to nutrition and are very helpful.
3. Pursue a Bachelor’s Degree in Nutrition or a Related Field
So you’ve finished your secondary education, what’s next? The next logical step would be to further one’s education. To become a licensed or registered nutritionist, one will generally have to complete at least a degree program in nutrition, dietetics, or any other program related to food science. Subsequently, many of the institutions present have particular courses of dietician training that introduce the basic concepts of nutrition such as:
- The structure of the human body and very important functions.
- The chemistry of food.
- Food nutritional chemistry.
- Assessing dietary and nutrition management
- Nutritional health of the population
- Nutrition and diet in the clinical setting
In the United States and the pictures accredited postgrad programs such programs have been granted by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics AND or the Association for Nutrition AfN. In the same manner, in the country of India degrees like BSc in Nutrition and Dietetics or BSc in Food and Nutrition are quite preferred.
4. Gain Practical Experience Through Internships
Apart from the theory or study, practical exposure is equally important for acquiring skills. This is why most nutrition programs offer an internship or some form of supervised practice. This is called an internship when a student is placed in a hospital or other medical organization and begins to work with nutritionists, dietitians, or other medical personnel.
You will learn how to assess patients’ nutrition needs, compose diets, and assess their outcomes during these sorts of work experiences. Practical training is not only useful in improving your capability but also in providing the opportunity of networking which will be helpful in your profession.
5. Choose a Specialization (Optional)
Although this is not a requirement, it is advisable to select one area of focus within nutrition to improve your chances for jobs. Some of the areas that you may think of specialization include the following:
- Sports nutrition: Helping athletes make dietary choices to enhance their training and speed of recovery.
- Clinical nutrition: Using food as medicine for disease management in patients suffering from diabetes, cardiology, oncology, and other disease conditions.
- Pediatric nutrition: Addressing nutritional issues of babies, toddlers, and youths.
- Public health nutrition: Focused on health-related actions through the creation of policies and programs directed towards a particular group.
Focusing on one aspect of nutrition practice can distinguish you from the rest as well as help you narrow down the section of nutrition practice that you are most passionate about.
6. Complete Certification Requirements
Step three in your nutrition career arrives soon after you complete your four-year degree and acquire some professional experience, that is obtaining certification. This is so, as it helps to approbate your expertise which enables you to work as a nutritionist. In some shi, as usual, different people may use different structures.
In the U.S., the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) is one of the most recognized certifications in practice issued by the Board for Certification of Nutrition Specialists (BCNS). This requires passing the Board exam following the attainment of a master’s degree and 1,000 hours of practice supervision. The joys of motherhood may also include working as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist accredited by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (A.N.D).
In the United Kingdom, the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN) has enlarged Registered Nutritionist (RNutr) certification whose benchmark is a bachelor’s degree in nutrition and work experience.
In India, this can be achieved by different institutes like the Indian Dietetic Association (IDA) that provides Registered Dietician (RD) certificate after the national exam. Nutritionists and dieticians are alike in many ways, however, dieticians tend to get more clinical training and may even work in hospitals, while nutritionists tend to deal with more of the wellbeing and public health aspects.
7. Consider Advanced Education
If you wish to pursue your career even further, it is highly recommended that you to obtain a master’s or a PhD degree in nutrition that will prepare you for more niche roles, conduct studies and earn greater paychecks. This is because advanced degrees give advanced knowledge on certain subjects like food science, molecular nutrition, and public health among others.
Most of the already certified nutritionists with advanced degrees work in educating others, conducting scientific explorations, or working for healthcare facilities or state entities in managerial positions.
8. Stay Updated with Continuing Education
There are always newer researches and trends in the field of nutrition which makes it dynamic. For this reason, for you to refresh yourself as well as your certificate, you have to engage yourself in some activities under continuing education. Like in many other fields, most certification boards stipulate that nutritionists are supposed to perform a certain number of continuing education units (CEUs) annually for him or her to retain the certification.
It may entail attending workshops and seminars or enrolling in online courses to ensure that one is up to date with the new changes in the area such as new dietary guidelines, food safety practices, and new nutrition techniques which are on the rise.
9. Build Your Career as a Certified Nutritionist
Now that you’ve got your certification, it’s time to begin constructing your career. As a certified nutritionist, you can find employment in various environments, including hospitals, schools, fitness centres, companies offering wellness services, and healthcare systems. You may also consider setting up your consultancy on nutrition or pursuing a career in research and teaching.
As reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of dietitians and nutritionists is expected to increase by 11% during the 2020-2030 decade, higher than average for all occupations. This growth is indicative of the widening understanding of the importance of nutrition in health promotion and disease prevention.
Conclusion
To obtain the title of a nutritionist, one has to undergo a certain level of education, practice the theory, and be certified. Whether one goes for a course to train as a dietician in ordinary classes or specializes in one of the nutrition branches, there are processes involved that are long and passionate about helping other people to live healthy lives.
After all, as Hippocrates famously put it, ‘food is medicine’ and should not be taken merely at face value and only regarded as the means of tempeh feeding oneself. In an instance, where it is possible to actually change people’s lives through what they eat, nutrition is a fulfilling vocation.
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