- 1). Earn at least a bachelor's degree from a regionally-accredited college or university. Subjects you will study include biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, anatomy, food science, psychology, nutrition, diet therapy, food service management and computer sciences. Among the California schools for prospective RDs are University of California, Davis; University of California, Berkeley; and California State University, Los Angeles
- 2). Complete a dietetic internship for a minimum of 900 hours. An internship provides practical experience in clinical dietetics, community nutrition, food service management and many other areas in the dietetics field. In California, a supervised internship is required to receive certification from the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association, CDR.
- 3). Pass the Registration Examination for Dietitians. Some of the topics the exam covers are food science and nutrient composition of foods; nutrition and supporting sciences; nutrition care screening, diagnosis, intervention and monitoring; menu planning, food safety and sanitation; and human resources and management. If you pass, you will receive your Registered Dietitian credential from the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association.
- 4). Take 75 units of continuing professional education every five years. This is a commission requirement to maintain your RD credential.
- 5). Seek a position. Several industries employ RDs, including general medical and surgical hospitals, outpatient care centers, private physician offices and nursing care facilities. The median wage in 2009 for RDs in California was $62,048 annually, $29.83 hourly. On the higher end of the spectrum, some RDs earned about $80,000 or more, according to the Occupational Employment Statistics Survey of 2009.
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