Have you thought about becoming a Registered Dietitian, but you’re just not completely sure about it yet? In this article we are going to talk about what a dietitian is, what a dietitian does, and the steps you need to take to become a Registered Dietitian. However before we get to the bulk of it, first allow me to introduce myself.
My name is Tony Stephan and I’m a dietitian business coach. I help RDs make more IMPACT and more INCOME through nutrition coaching. However before I became a dietitian business coach, I was an RD nutrition coach. I served thousands of nutrition coaching clients over a time span of 12 years. My successful nutrition coaching business is what led me to where I am today. Now allow me to share with you what you need to know about becoming a Registered Dietitian.
What Is A Registered Dietitian?
Registered Dietitians (also known as Registered Dietitian Nutritionists) are food and nutrition experts who translate the science of nutrition into practical solutions for healthy living. So if you have a passion for nutrition and helping people lead healthier lifestyles, then becoming a dietitian could be the right route for you. In terms of what a dietitian does, that’s where it can get complex. Unlike many other career paths, dietetics actually has multiple different settings that you can work in as a Registered Dietitian. So you’re not “locked in” to do the same thing everyday.
What Do Dietitians Do?
The great thing about being a dietitian is that there are so many different types of settings you can work in. Some of the traditional RD work settings you might hear about are clinical where you work in a hospital-like setting, food service where you may work in a kitchen-like setting, and community where you might work in a health department type of setting. However although these are some of the most popular places RDs work, they are not the only places you’ll see RDs on the job. In the past few years, nontraditional RD jobs have been on the rise and one area where you’ll find a lot of nontraditional RDs is in entrepreneurship.
The awesome thing about becoming an RD is that it’s a career where you could easily transition into entrepreneurship and become your own boss. In our I Believe Mastermind, we have some rockstar RD entrepreneurs who make six figures annually from their own nutrition businesses. So there is a definite need for RD entrepreneurs! So if you have ever thought about becoming your own boss and have a passion for helping others through nutrition, becoming a dietitian entrepreneur could be a great route for you.
What Do You Need To Do To Become A Registered Dietitian?
Here is where it gets interesting. A lot of people may not know the difference between a nutritionist and a Registered Dietitian, but the process to become a dietitian is where the difference comes in. To become a nutritionist, there isn’t really a set process necessary to become a nutritionist. Just about anyone could wake up one morning and decide to put the title “nutritionist” behind their name. However to become a Registered Dietitian, there is a nationally recognized process that one must go through.
It is essentially a five step process with the last step being maintenance of your credentials. Here is an easy step by step guide on how to become an RD.
- Step 1: Obtain a bachelor’s degree and receive a verification statement from an accredited program (A.K.A. basically any university that offers a degree in dietetics or human nutrition)
- Step 2: Complete a supervised accredited internship
- Step 3: Pass the dietetic registration exam
- Step 4: Gain licensure in your state
- Step 5: Maintain CEUS
It’s important to note that starting in 2024, all Registered Dietitians are required to have a masters degree.
If you’ve thought about becoming a dietitian and an entrepreneur one day, you’re in the right place! We are so proud to be a part of the movement of dietitian entrepreneurs who are making more IMPACT and more INCOME! In the Dietitian Nutrition Coaching Certification, we teach our students how to set their dietitian nutrition coaching business up for success so that they can make the IMPACT they desire and the INCOME they deserve.
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