What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?
A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a food and nutrition expert who has met the following criteria to earn the RDN credential:
Completed the minimum of a Bachelor's Degree
Registered Dietitians must complete a minimum of a Bachelor's degree at a US regionally accredited university or college, and course work accredited or approved by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dietitians study a variety of subjects, ranging from food and nutrition sciences, food service systems management, business, economics, computer science, culinary arts, sociology, and communication, to science courses such as biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, anatomy, and chemistry.
Complete a 1200-hour ACEND-Accredited dieteteic internship
Registered Dietitians must complete a 1200-hour supervised, accredited internship at a health-care facility, community agency, or food service corporation or combined with undergraduate or graduate studies.
Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetics Registration (CDR)
Completed continuing professional education requirements to maintain registration
RDs or RDNs work in a wide variety of settings, including health care, business and industry, community/public health, education, research, government agencies, and private practice. Many work environments, particularly medical and healthcare settings, require that an individual be credentialed as an RD or RDN.
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This is because nutritionist is not a legally protected term in the US. Anyone can claim to be a nutritionist, even if they have zero training!