Ask the dietitian: who's who among nutrition experts?

Who is a dietitian?
According to The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition in Dietetics:

• Someone who earned a bachelor's degree with from an accredited university

• Completed an accredited, supervised practice program at a healthcare facility, community agency or foodservice corporation that is typically around 1000 hours of supervised practice.
• Passed a national examination administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
• Can use the letters R.D. after their names.
• Completed continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration.
  
  
  

Who is a nutritionist?
A certified nutritionist is someone who has obtained a master’s degree or PhD in nutrition or a related field and has also gone through a certification process to be a “certified clinical nutritionist”. However, the term “nutritionist” is not a protected title and there is no regulation on who is able to identify him or herself as a nutritionist. It can be confusing because a dietitian is also a licensed nutritionist, but a nutritionist may not also be a licensed dietitian.

It is worthy to note that dietitians are considered the nutrition experts in the US, but there are other health professionals that can offer accurate nutrition information. No matter whom you choose it is always important to understand their background, credentials and if they are a reputable source of information. Make sure you are working with someone you can trust.
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Always feel free to reach out to learn more.
Sincerely,
Kelsey Nicholson RD, LD
[email protected]

Sources:
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. "What are the qualifications of a registered dietitian?" http://www.eatright.org/.

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