A Dietitian's View

1.National credentialing by a recognized and trusted health professional organization.
2.A guarantee of at least a bachelor’s degree in a nutrition related field.
3.Successful performance in an internship.
4.Passing a national credentialing exam.
5.A requirement of at least 75 hours of continuing education every five years in order to stay current and maintain the credential.
6.Advice and recommendations that are based on sound, evidence-based science.
7.All of the above.

If any or all of the above are important to you, then your choice is clear: see a registered dietitian. Only registered dietitians – not nutritionists – meet ALL of the above criteria. Many registered dietitians, easily recognized by the initials “RD” after their name, have considerably more advanced education. Indeed, nowadays most RDs have a Master’s degree in a nutrition-related field and some have doctoral degrees. Don’t be surprised to see someone with “MS, RD” or “PhD, RD” following their name.

Nutritionists, on the other hand, have no nationally recognized credentialing body like the Commission on Dietetic Registration, which credentials registered dietitians. Some states require dietitians and nutritionists to be licensed or certified in the state before they can identify themselves as dietitians or nutritionist, but many states have no such requirements.

It’s shocking that in some states, anyone can hang out a shingle, call himself or herself a “nutritionist” and start dispensing nutrition advice. What’s even more ironic is that you may need a license to cut hair, but not to counsel someone about managing their diabetes.

They’re not in the kitchen anymore

Many people used to think of a “dietitian” as someone who wore a hair net and stayed in the hospital kitchen stirring the big soup kettle. Those days are long gone. They are now very respected members of the health care team playing a vital role in the treatment and prevention of our most life-threatening diseases.