3 answers
reese
Student
Antwerp, Ohio
2
Questions
Asked
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What is all the education background that I'll need before pursuing being a nutritionist full time?
I'm a high school student who needs to find information on a career project for school.
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2 answers
Nicole Martino, MS
Nutritionist
1
Answer
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Hi Reese! Your question is pretty broad, but I'll try to help. There are many kinds of nutritionists, and not all of them need clinical experience, a PhD, or a registered dietitian (RD) certification. It's a good idea to pick a specialty and focus on that.
If you're interested in the clinical side, like working in a hospital, you'll definitely need higher education and an RD or similar certification.
For those interested in sports nutrition, working with athletes, it's best to focus on that area. I suggest getting a master's degree and a sports-specific nutrition certification.
You can also explore roles like food scientist or food allergy specialist. These require some experience in the food industry and a strong understanding of food allergies. These roles can lead to working with food regulations and safety, even as a consultant.
Hope this helps!
I'd figure out the specific field you want to focus on and seek out individuals on LinkedIn to ask specific questions to... I have high school and college students reach out to me all the time. Always happy to answer questions!
If you're interested in the clinical side, like working in a hospital, you'll definitely need higher education and an RD or similar certification.
For those interested in sports nutrition, working with athletes, it's best to focus on that area. I suggest getting a master's degree and a sports-specific nutrition certification.
You can also explore roles like food scientist or food allergy specialist. These require some experience in the food industry and a strong understanding of food allergies. These roles can lead to working with food regulations and safety, even as a consultant.
Hope this helps!
Nicole recommends the following next steps:
Andrew S.
Chief Scientific Officer
17
Answers
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Hello Reese,
If you want to be trained properly to provide nutrition advice or recommendations, at a minimum you will need a 4-year college degree along with certification as a registered dietician. In addition you could also go to graduate school and earn a PhD in Nutrition or Nutritional Sciences. It really depends on what you want to do as a Nutritionist. I hope this is helpful for your project.
If you want to be trained properly to provide nutrition advice or recommendations, at a minimum you will need a 4-year college degree along with certification as a registered dietician. In addition you could also go to graduate school and earn a PhD in Nutrition or Nutritional Sciences. It really depends on what you want to do as a Nutritionist. I hope this is helpful for your project.