Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Registered Dietitian

Should You Become a Dietitian? Dietitians (and nutritionists) help plan and implement balanced, nutritional meal programs and promote healthy eating habits. The dietitian is educated and trained on how to prevent and minimize health issues caused or exacerbated by dietary deficiencies or malnutrition. There are a few different types of dietitians - some work in a clinical setting (hospitals, nursing homes, etc.), others work in a community setting, some work in schools, and some work as consultants, contracting their time and expertise out to facilities in need of dietary planning.Educational Requirements for Dietitians: The minimum requirement to become a dietitian is a bachelor's degree,(four years of college). Some dietitians have master's degrees, which some higher-level or management positions may require. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are about 279 bachelor's programs for dietitians in the U.S., and about 18 master's programs that are recognized by the American Dietetic Association's Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education. Undergraduate programs include majors in dietetics, foods and nutrition, food service systems management, among others. Licensure and Certification for Dietitians: Some states (35 of them) require licensure to practice as a dietitian. Additionally, the status of "Registered Dietitian" can be achieved by completing a supervised internship and a certification exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. This certification is not required to practice, but may be preferred by some employers as an additional quality control.Job Outlook for Dietitians: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job growth for dietitians is projected at about nine percent, from 2008-2018, an average pace for all occupations.
Most dietitians work in hospitals, nursing homes, long term care facilities, or medical offices. Other dietitians work in public health or government institutions (correctional facilities, universities, etc.) Additionally, some dietitians work in special food services, which are corporations that provide dietetic and nutritional planning and services to facilities and universities.Salary For Dietitians: Median earnings for dietitians, according to the BLS data for 2008, the most recent numbers available, was $50,590. The middle 50% earned from $41,060 and $61,790.Registered DietitianSource: www.about.com

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