When seeking guidance for a healthier relationship with food and our bodies, it’s important to find the right professional to help guide you through the journey. There are tons of “experts” in the nutrition space (and on social media), which makes it tricky to know who you want to turn towards and trust. The terms dietitian and nutritionist often get used interchangeably, but they’re actually not the same thing. To make things even more confusing, the full title of a ‘registered dietitian (RD)’ is ‘registered dietitian nutritionist’ (RDN). The education, training, and qualifications of registered dietitians (RDs) vs. nutritionists are completely different. Knowing the differences between a dietitian vs. nutritionist is important for people seeking the right fit and qualified care.
The Wellful: Person-Centered and Evidence-Based
At The Wellful, we’re all about providing person-centered support and guidance. Our approach stems from a place of both compassion and evidence. We want everyone we work with to trust that the information and expertise they receive from us is truly that: expertise. With so much nutrition noise online of “what worked for me will work for you” we take our role seriously in providing easy-to-digest nutrition information you can trust and we support you in learning to trust and feel confident in the choices you make for yourself. Medical nutrition therapy combines the latest evidence-based practice with clinical judgment and individualized care. Our registered dietitian, Brenna, brings her years of qualified experience to every client she interacts with.
Registered Dietitian Vs. Nutritionist: Education and Training Requirements
Education for Dietitians
Let’s start with the educational requirements of a registered dietitian, since they’re rather extensive. To get that “RD” after your name, you’ll need the following:
- A college degree. Prior to 2024, this could be an accredited bachelor’s or master’s degree with specific work in organic chemistry, anatomy and physiology, medical nutrition therapy, community nutrition, food science, and more. The degree must come from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACED). As of 2024, all new registered dietitians will need to hold a master’s degree to sit for the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam.
- Dietetic internship. This includes 1200 hours of supervised practice.
- Must pass the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam. This certifies you as a registered dietitian in the United States.
- License. Certain states require a license to practice nutritional therapy. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) has a map outlining which states require this license.
- Continuing education. RDs must complete ongoing continuing education credits to maintain their credentials.
Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of all that is required of a registered dietitian. Most RDs undergo even more training to ensure that they are fully qualified to treat clients. This list is simply a snapshot to give you an idea of all that goes into the educational requirements of an RD.
Education for Nutritionists
Nutritionists, on the other hand, are less regulated. Technically, a nutritionist could be anyone with an interest in nutrition. Anyone who offers nutrition advice could call themselves a nutritionist. That’s where the waters get pretty muddy as far as registered dietitian vs. nutritionist. People with the title of a nutritionist don’t need any formal training. Some have the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) certification, which is managed by the American Nutrition Association (ANA), a different organization from the CDR, which manages the RD credential.
What are Dietitians Vs. Nutritionists Legally Allowed to Do?
Who can do what?
RDs might…
- Offer qualified medical nutrition therapy.
- Provide individualized dietary recommendations tailored to an individual’s medical conditions.
- Work in medical settings like hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other establishments.
- Work in educational settings like schools and academia.
- Treat eating disorders, diabetes, oncology, and work in other specialties.
Registered dietitians also often pursue additional specialties within their field, some of which include:
- Sports nutrition. Sports nutritionists can get certified as a certified specialist in sports dietetics (CSSD).
- Eating disorders. The certification for this specialty is a certified eating disorder registered dietitian (CEDRD).
- Clinical work, which falls under the certified nutrition support clinician (CNSC) distinction.
- Diabetes care. RDs with this certification are certified diabetes care and education specialists (CDCES).
- Oncology, under the title of a certified specialist in oncology nutrition (CSO).
These distinctions are only available to registered dietitians who have passed their CDR exam. It’s important to note that you can work with a registered dietitian even if you don’t have a diagnosed medical condition. RDs are qualified to work with a wide spectrum of individuals, including those who have never been formally diagnosed with medical issues. As dietitians, we have the knowledge, education, training, and background for more advanced, qualified guidance.
Nutritionists might…
Technically speaking, nutritionists are not “licensed” to treat anything because there is not the same regulatory oversight that we see with a national credential and registration as dietitians. They can work with people interested in bettering their health, their understanding of food and nutrition but cannot offer medical nutrition therapy to “treat” conditions. Since there is not the same regulation over nutritionists as there are dietitians there can be a wide range of education and experience from nutritionists – someone could have a masters or PhD in nutrition and be a nutritionist or declare themselves a ‘nutritionist’ without any particular training.
Should I See a Dietitian or a Nutritionist?
We can’t tell you what the right course of care is for your needs. Everyone comes to nutrition therapy from a different place. Whether it’s better for you to see a dietitian or a nutritionist comes down to your medical history, your requirements, and your goals.
If you’re looking for an expert’s opinion, however, The Wellful can help.
When to Work With a Registered Dietitian:
- You have a medical condition, like an eating disorder, food allergy, or diabetes that needs attention.
- You want evidence-based care.
- You require a higher level of care than a food plan or meal planning advice.
These are just a few instances in which it would be beneficial to seek out nutrition therapy from a dietitian instead of a nutritionist. There are plenty of other scenarios where it would be more than appropriate to work with such a qualified individual. If you’re curious who we work with, just ask!
Nutrition Therapy at The Wellful
Led by registered dietitian Brenna, The Wellful is a virtual private practice dedicated to helping clients build sustainable, positive relationships with food and their bodies – without shame, guilt or fad diets. We’re passionate about helping clients find more peace in their body image, more confidence in their food choices and feel like they are no longer doing mental gymnastics around eating.
We work with individuals from California, New York, Florida, Massachusetts, Utah, and a few other states!. Some of the areas we focus on include:
- Disordered Eating. Whether you’ve been formally diagnosed with an eating disorder or know that your relationship with food and body image could use some work, we’re here to help. Together, we’ll help you reclaim your relationship with food, break free from a lifetime of chronic dieting, and free up valuable brain space.
- Adolescent Nutrition. Tweens and teens going through puberty can expect significant changes as their body grows which can bring up new thoughts, feelings and worries around food. Noticing that your child has expressed a desire to change their body size can bring a new set of challenges for a parent or family. If you’re concerned about your child’s comments or behaviors about food or their body it may be worthwhile to explore working with us – to get support for yourself and your child.
- High School and College Students. Academics, sports, and extracurriculars are demanding enough, but add onto it the pressure of fitting in and looking a certain way, and that’s a recipe for high stress on your relationship with food and your body. Many high school and college students turn to food as a way to hold onto what little they can control in their lives, or feel a desire for perfection around eating, or the social pressures of being a young adult but this can quickly turn into a slippery slope.
- Food Allergies and Intolerances. Nourishing your body when you have food allergies or food intolerances can be challenging. It’s hard to know how to eat in a way that won’t irritate or aggravate your symptoms – and there is true grieving that comes with no longer being able to eat your favorite foods. Whether you have a new Celiac Disease diagnosis and need help navigating eating because of it, or have digestive symptoms that are making you feel restricted around food, we can help simplify the confusion around eating.
We also work with people looking to improve their body image, break free from generational dieting, work on sports nutrition, and more. If you have a concern about food, body, or nutrition and are curious what it would be like to work with a qualified professional, we encourage you to reach out.
To get started, schedule a free 15-minute consultation with me, Brenna, RD. You can also call the practice at 925-725-2751. Trust in the expertise of a dietitian and the support of a community dedicated to your well-being.
