Alyssa Torres, MS, RDN
Dietitians and Nutritionists, there is confusion between these two food and nutrition experts and how they differ. Both these nutrition experts can help improve health through diet and nutrition. So how do they differ? They differ mainly in their education and credential requirements. To put it in simple terms, all Dietitians are regulated to meet certain requirements, whereas not all Nutritionists are.
Education and Credential Requirements
According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “all registered dietitians are nutritionists but not all nutritionists are registered, dietitians.”[mfn]Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Every Registered Dietitian Is a Nutritionist, but Not Every Nutritionist Is a Registered Dietitian. https://www.eatrightpro.org/about-us/what-is-an-rdn-and-dtr/what-is-a-registered-dietitian-nutritionist/every-registered-dietitian-is-a-nutritionist-but-not-every-nutritionist-is-a-registered-dietitian[/mfn]
A nutritionist who has completed all the requirements defined by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (C.D.R.) is the only Nutritionists who can hold the titles, Registered Dietitian (R.D.) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (R.D.N.).[mfn]Commission on Dietetics Registration. Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)* Certification. https://www.cdrnet.org/certifications/registered-dietitian-rd-certification[/mfn] The requirements that have to complete in order to hold these titles include a Bachelor’s of Science in Nutritional Science and Dietetics (the science of diet and nutrition in relation to health and disease) a minimum of 1200 hours of supervised practice and pass the National Registered Dietitian Examination.[mfn]Commission on Dietetics Registration. RD Examination- Eligibility Requirements. https://www.cdrnet.org/rd-eligibility[/mfn] In addition, R.D.s or R.D.Ns are required to complete a minimum of 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years in order to continue holding their title and to stay up to date on current research and dietary guidelines.[mfn]Commission on Dietetics Registration. RD Examination- Eligibility Requirements. https://www.cdrnet.org/rd-eligibility[/mfn] Beginning January 1st, 2024, the minimum education requirement to become a Dietitian will be a Master’s Degree.[mfn]Commission on Dietetics Registration. 2024 Graduate Degree Requirement- Registration Eligibility. https://www.cdrnet.org/graduatedegree[/mfn]
Some Nutritionists may have proper education and credentials, like Certified Nutrition Specialists (CNS) who are credentialed through the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialists (CBNS), Certified Clinical Nutritionists (CCN) who are credentialed through the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board (CNCB), and Holistic Nutritionists who are credentialed by the Holistic Nutrition Credentialing Board (HNCB). [mfn]American Nutrition Association. CNS Pathways Quick Check. https://theana.org/certify/CNScandidate/pathways[/mfn],[mfn]American Nutrition Association. Specialty Certifications. https://theana.org/certify/specialtycertifications[/mfn],[mfn]Clinical Nutrition Certification Board. https://www.cncb.org/[/mfn],[mfn]National Association of Nutrition Professionals. Two Credentials to Choose From. https://nanp.org/two-credentials-to-choose-from/[/mfn] These Nutritionists, among other licensed nutritionists, must meet a minimum education requirement, complete a minimum number of supervised practice, and pass an exam to hold their title. [mfn]American Nutrition Association. CNS Pathways Quick Check. https://theana.org/certify/CNScandidate/pathways[/mfn],[mfn]American Nutrition Association. Specialty Certifications. https://theana.org/certify/specialtycertifications[/mfn],[mfn]Clinical Nutrition Certification Board. https://www.cncb.org/[/mfn],[mfn]National Association of Nutrition Professionals. Two Credentials to Choose From. https://nanp.org/two-credentials-to-choose-from/[/mfn] They may also be required to complete continuing education to keep their credentials.[mfn]American Nutrition Association. CNS Pathways Quick Check. https://theana.org/certify/CNScandidate/pathways[/mfn],[mfn]American Nutrition Association. Specialty Certifications. https://theana.org/certify/specialtycertifications[/mfn],[mfn]Clinical Nutrition Certification Board. https://www.cncb.org/[/mfn],[mfn]National Association of Nutrition Professionals. Two Credentials to Choose From. https://nanp.org/two-credentials-to-choose-from/[/mfn]
However, because the title “Nutritionist” is not regulated in every state, some un-licensed Nutritionists may have the training, education, and experiences, whereas others may have none.[mfn]American Nutrition Association. Advocate- State Regulation of Nutrition Practice. https://theana.org/advocate
[/mfn] This can be worrisome because those who do not have proper knowledge in nutrition may provide misinformation that can cause concerns of safety for their clients’ health and well-being.
Take-Home Message- Know who you are working with!
If you are working with a Registered Dietitian or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, you know that they are qualified to help with creating a diet plan based on current evidence that can work with any medical condition(s) you may have going on and tailor it towards your individual needs. Some may specialize in certain areas like weight management, eating disorders, or gastrointestinal conditions. Others may have experience with dealing with several different medical conditions. If you need a Dietitian to help with a specific condition, ask them about their knowledge and experience with that specific condition. It is also wise to ask if they are currently registered with the Commission on Dietetic Registration.
If you are going to work with a Nutritionist, ask for their education, credentials, and experience to know what they are qualified to do when providing advice to you and how they can help you in your nutrition-related goals.
It is best to know who you are working with, their qualifications, knowledge, and experiences in order to receive the best possible care for your needs.
