Education for Nutritionists

What is a Nutritionist?

Nutritionists provide individually tailored meal plans and nutritional advice to a wide range of clients. While providing these meal plans, they promote both healthy eating and living. Nutritionists work with clients of all backgrounds. While some may be employed by local schools to help reinforce eating habits in the youth population, others may find themselves working in disease or condition specific health centers helping their patients to alter poor eating habits so that they may live healthier and happier lives.

Those interested in nutrition and healthy eating must take a few fundamental steps to become a nutritionist. As with many other professions, the aspiring nutritionist must first attend a university to receive an undergraduate degree. This degree should somehow relate to food, nutrition, dietetics or food management. This is only the first step, however. After obtaining an undergraduate degree in one of these fields, you must pass a state licensing exam. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 35 states currently require that nutritionists pass a licensing exam. In these 35 states, only those who have passed this exam are free to work as nutritionists.

Similar to many professions in the fitness industry, nutritionists are provided with a wealth of options for continuing education. For those truly passionate about healthy eating and nutrition, this is a dream come true. Many of the personal trainer certifying organizations, such as the American Council on Exercise and the National Academy of Sports Medicine, maintain a quality list of continuing education opportunities relating to nutrition and diet. In addition, there are a number of internship openings around the country for the nutritionist looking to further increase her knowledge of the subject.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists the 2006 median yearly income for the nutritionist at $46,980. This has the potential to become much greater with the many advancement opportunities available to nutritionists. The BLS shows that the highest annual earnings come from nutritionist jobs in the education, research and food industries.

As with many careers in the fitness and nutrition industry, the road to becoming a nutritionist is far from easy. You will be expected to endure loads of rigorous science-based coursework at the undergraduate level. Following that, you are still required to sit for a comprehensive licensing exam before you may officially label yourself a nutritionist. Nutritionists should possess a true passion for helping people achieve a healthier lifestyle.