Is there a difference?
I am often asked, “what is the difference between a dietitian and a nutritionist?” Simply put, every dietitian is a nutritionist, however not every nutritionist is a dietitian. This is because there are no formal requirements to become a nutritionist, so anyone can hold the title. In contrast, it takes about seven years to become a dietitian.
First, one must obtain a bachelor’s degree in nutrition that requires a copious amount of science classes similar to pre-med such as biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, microbiology in addition to the required nutrition classes. This didactic curriculum is required in order to be eligible to match to a dietetic internship or rotational program similar to a medical residency after graduation. The dietetic internship consists of a minimum of 1,200 hours of supervised practice with rotations in the various areas of dietetics such as clinical, community, and food systems management.
After graduating from the dietetic internship, one is now eligible to sit for the exam to earn the RD credential. However, the educational requirements do not stop there! RDs are required to complete 75 hours of continuing education every five years in order to maintain their credential. Since 2024, a master’s degree is required to become an RD.
Many dietitians also hold specialty certifications within a specific practice area. These certifications typically require several years of practice before sitting for the board exam as well as additional continuing education to maintain the credential. I hold a speciality certification as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), formerly known as a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE).
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recently expanded the RD credential optionally to “Registered Dietitian Nutritionist” or RDN, to demonstrate that every dietitian is also a nutritionist. The bottom line is to look for the RD or RDN credential when vetting your source of nutrition information.
