Different Types of Nutritionists You Want To Know About


There is a huge difference between a certified nutrition specialist and a certified nutrition consultant. Let's see the meaning behind the given credentials.

Registered Dietitian

 

A registered dietician (RD) has, at least, a bachelors' degree in nutrition and has a command over all divisions of food and nutrition plus medical nutrition therapy. Through an accredited program, dietitians have to spend at least 1200 hours in internship.

 

Approximately, 50% of RDs work in hospitals, clinics, doctors' offices, and extended-care facilities or nursing homes. Credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

 

Certified Nutrition Specialist

 

To be a nutrition specialist, a master's degree or a doctorate in nutrition or a doctorate in clinical health care from a regionally accredited university along with supervised experience of at least 1000 hours is a must.

 

A dietitian must pass a four-hour board exam on medical nutrition therapy. They can work in clinics, private practice, or community settings.

 

Certified Clinical Nutritionist

 

A bachelor's degree along with a 900-hour long internship and 56 hours of online, post-graduate study in clinical nutrition or a master's degree in human nutrition is required to be a certified clinical nutritionist.

 

Their approach on diet is more of an individual basis rather than standard recommendations and they can work in a clinic or may indulge in private practice.

 

Holistic Nutritionist

 

A degree from an approved holistic nutrition program along with 500 hours of professional experience is required. The government food pyramid guidelines or those promoted by health associations are generally not followed by the practitioners of this field.

 

They are not supposed to practice medical nutrition therapy or diagnose disease.

 

Certified Health Coach

 

A yearlong online course on over 100 dietary theories from the paleo diet to raw foods is offered by the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, one of the biggest schools for the certification of health coaches.

 

The motive of a health coach is to help their clients make long-term changes in their health via good advice, motivation, and support.

 

Certified Nutritionist

 

A six-course distance learning along with passing a proctored exam is mandatory to be a certified nutritionist. American Health Science University offers a certificate course in nutrition.

 

Certified Nutrition Consultant

 

A high school diploma and a series of 11 test series must be finished within a maximum span of five years. Credentialed by the American Association of Nutrition Consultants, a group that opposes licensure and registration.

 

Written by – Yatin

 

Edited by – Keerthana Lakshmi