Registered Dietitian

To be a successful Registered Dietitian you should…

• be interested in the relationship between nutrition and health
• be interested in food, health promotion, disease prevention, and health care
• have the ability to communicate well with a wide variety of people
• have the ability to work as a team member
• have good organizational skills
• pay attention to detail

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What will my job be like?

Registered dietitians are experts on how food and nutrition apply to health. They assess the nutritional needs of sick and healthy people while developing and implementing nutritional programs for them. They supervise dietary personnel, manage budgets, and educate people about good nutrition.

RDs may specialize in any of the following:

• Clinical Therapeutic Dietetics
• Education
• Management
• Research
• Sports Nutrition

Where could I work?

Many RDs are self-employed, working as consultants to facilities such as hospitals and nursing homes, and seeing individual clients. Most dietitians work a regular 40-hour week, although some work weekends.

Other workplace settings:

What is the average annual salary?

$66,800

What is the future of this career?

Employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 15 percent from 2016 to 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations. The role of food in preventing and treating diseases, such as diabetes, is now well known. More dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for patients with various medical conditions and to advise people who want to improve their overall health.

What type of education and/or training do I need?

The first component of education a dietitian must complete is a program of study approved by The American Dietetic Association. These programs of study are at the undergraduate level. The second component of education is an approved supervised practice component in an internship.

Where can I get the education and/or training?

• Gateway Community College, New Haven
• University of Bridgeport – Nutrition Institute, Bridgeport
• University of Connecticut – Nutritional Sciences, Storrs
• University of St. Joseph, West Hartford

Do I need a license or certification for this career?

Licensure is required in the state of Connecticut. Prerequisites: Current certification as a Registered Dietitian by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) or have taken CDR’s Registration Examination for Dietitians and hold an acceptable master’s or doctoral degree primarily focused on human nutrition or dietetics.

Where can I get more information?

Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, IL   60606
800-877-1600

www.eatright.org