Dietitian

What is a registered dietitian?

A registered dietitian (RD or RDN) is a healthcare professional with an expertise in nutrition. They use their knowledge to help people improve their health with food. They can create meal plans for people based on their needs and teach people about eating healthy.

Dietitians must have specific qualifications. You can recognize a registered dietitian by the letters after their name: RD for registered dietitian or RDN for registered dietitian nutritionist.

In some states, they also need a license, which is shown by the letters “LD” (licensed dietitian) after RD or RDN.

How could a dietitian help me?

If you ever need hospital care, a registered dietitian might be an important part of your healthcare team. Whether you’re recovering from surgery or critical illness, you’ll need specific nutrition to support you. An RD determines your needs and figures out how you need to get nutrients, either by mouth, by tube or through an IV.

You might choose to visit a dietitian on your own to help you develop a nutrition plan. Maybe you have a health condition that requires you to change your eating habits, and you’re not sure where to start. Or you might want professional advice on how best to lose weight or gain weight or enhance your physical performance.

Types of dietitians

Some specific types of dietitians include:

• Clinical dietitians. These RDs work in clinical healthcare settings, like hospitals and nursing homes. They oversee nutrition for people receiving care in their facility.
• Community dietitians. Community dietitians promote general health and wellness through nutrition and food planning. They may work for government and nonprofit agencies or corporate wellness programs.
• Management dietitians. Management dietitians oversee meal planning, menus and food service programs for organizations, like correctional facilities or restaurant chains.
• Consultant dietitians. Consultant RDs work in private practice. They help their clients design eating plans for their specific needs and goals.
• Research dietitians. Some dietitians work as researchers. They study how food affects certain groups of people. Some might specialize in one topic, like food allergies.

What are the different specialties a registered dietitian can have?

A registered dietitian can specialize in certain areas like:

• Geriatric nutrition. They specialize in the nutrition needs of older adults. They create nutrition plans to help prevent and treat some of the common conditions that can affect this population, like osteoporosis.
• Pediatric nutrition. They design nutrition plans to meet children’s general growth and development needs.
• Pediatric critical care nutrition. This type of dietitian works with a team of healthcare providers caring for children in intensive care.
• Obesity and weight management. They offer support for people trying to manage their weight to prevent or treat obesity.
• Sports nutrition. An expert in nutrition for athletes and highly active professionals, like police, military and rescue forces.
• Renal nutrition. A dietitian who creates renal diets for people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney failure.
• Oncology nutrition. A dietitian who specializes in the nutrition needs of people in treatment for or recovering from cancer.
• Eating disorders. A dietitian who focuses on nutritional rehabilitation for people with eating disorders.
• Diabetes nutrition and care. A Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) helps people prevent and manage diabetes.

How do you become a registered dietitian?

You must earn a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from an accredited program. After that, you’ll need to complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice before you can take the national exam to earn your RD or RDN credentials. Some states also require a license to practice in that state.

What is a registered dietetic technician?

Nutrition and dietetics technician, registered (NDTR) is an alternative credential you can earn from the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). NDTRs support registered dietitians. They help evaluate people’s nutrition needs, educate people about food choices and monitor their progress.

What is a certified nutrition specialist?

A certified nutrition specialist (CNS) has an advanced degree (a master’s or doctorate) in nutrition. Like dietitians, CNSs earn their credentials through a combination of coursework, supervised practice and passing a certifying exam.

While a CNS has similar knowledge and skills as a registered dietitian (RD), the CNS title isn’t as widely recognized. Some states allow CNSs to provide medical nutrition therapy, but others don’t.