Dietitians/Nutritionists

Specialties: Sports Nutritionists.

What do Dietitians/Nutritionist's do?

• Dietitians and Nutritionists plan nutritious meals to help people maintain or recover good health.
• Work includes planning menus and diets for therapeutic treatment, supervising the production of food, and managing personnel and food purchases.
• They may work as management, in research, in the community, as a consultant or in private practice, or in education.
• Management Dietitians and Nutritionists administer food systems and plan and supervise meals in hospitals, schools and other institutions.
• Therapeutic Dietitians and Nutritionists deal with persons with special diet needs.
• Dietitian or Clinical Educators are responsible for the nutrition education of Nurses, Dentists, and other health personnel.
• Research or Business Dietitians and Nutritionists conduct, evaluate, and interpret research to improve the food and pharmaceutical products. They write articles for trade press.
• Community Dietitians and Nutritionists, also called Public Health Nutritionists, work with community groups and other organizations.
• Consultant Dietitians and Nutritionists advise and assist and make recommendations to personnel of both public and private hospitals, health facilities, child-care centers, and schools.

Salary and Employment Outlook:

EDD Labor Market Information

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Career Info Net

Typical Employers:

Hospitals, convalescent and nursing homes, schools, colleges and universities, and the food industry. Some work for restaurants, in catering, for medical supply firms, while others are employed by private companies, newspapers, magazines and advertising firms. In government they may work in public health agencies, the Peace Corps, federal government, and the military.

Preparation:

Employers require a college degree for Dietitians and Nutritionists. Most require ADA registration which requires completion of an internship following graduation. It is possible to work in some environments with ADA registration. While in school your emphasis should be on science courses-Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Physiology. You can also get experience in the military. You may need additional training and experience when you enter the civilian work world.

Educational Program(s):

Dietetics

Web Resources:

ONet Online

Occupational Outlook Handbook

Career Info Net

CollegeBoard.com

Career Center