Does counseling people about healthy eating excites you? If yes, then a career as a Registered Dietitian might suit you well. Becoming a professional / registered dietitian is more than just loving avocados and toast, it is about educating and helping people to choose healthy eating.
But how do we make it fun?
Not to worry, we have got you covered. This blog is a step-by-step guide to becoming a Registered Dietitian (RD). So, what are you waiting for? Keep scrolling through to find your answer.
Step 1 – What Exactly Does an RD Do?
Before we discover how, let us explore what exactly does an RD do? A Registered Dietitian (RD) is a licensed nutrition expert typically helping patients to overcome chronic diseases like Diabetes, PCOD/PCOS, heart-related illness, others. A Registered Dietitian is trained to work in clinics, hospitals, fitness centers, schools, helping people design meal plans suitable for this fast-paced world.
A RD is responsible for designing meal plans, medical and nutritional therapy, promoting health initiatives, working with sports persons and athletes to optimize performance and even research nutritional products.
Step 2 – Earn an Accredited UG or PG Degree
Now that you know about the role, it is time to earn a degree in your specialized field. This is your first official step towards your dream career. Whichever degree you are pursuing, make sure the program is accredited by ACEND (Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics). It is a mandate for individuals pursuing degrees in health and wellness programs.
A degree in nutrition and dietetics, food, clinical nutrition and public health nutrition might be some fields of interest for a career in health and wellness. UG Degrees like B.Sc in Nutrition and Dietetics at AAFT School of Health and Wellness focuses on offering knowledge in areas like child nutrition, maternity health, public health and wellness. During the program, you will also learn about creating personalized meal plans and diet charts to help you understand the niche of the health and wellness industry.
Step 3 – Complete Your Internship
Another requirement to earn the designation is to complete the ACEND-accredited internship. During the internship, students are required to complete at least 1200 hours of practice under a licensed dietitian. The internship can be 8 to 24 months long depending whether you work part-time or full-time.
You can choose a variety of internships based on your interests and goals. Below mentioned are some internship categories that students can perform.
Dietetic Internships (DIs)
This is a post-bacc internship typically lasting around 6 to 12 months. DIs are structured in various hospitals, community clinics and healthcare centers. During this internship, students learn about dietetics, clinical nutrition, community nutrition, counselling and food service management.
Individualized Supervised Practice Pathways (ISPPs)
This internship is for graduates who are willing to pursue supervised practice to become a Registered Dietitian. Based on the student’s academic performance and professional expertise, students are offered to sit for a registration exam.
Coordinare Programs (CPs)
CPs are combined with supervised practice along with regular dietetics coursework for 2 to 3 years. Basically, CPs streamline the process by merging classroom learning with practical exposure, allowing students to gain real-world information and skills simultaneously.
Step 4 – Pass the RD Exam
After you have completed your internship, you will be eligible to pass the Registered Dietitian Nutrition Exam (RDN). This exam has been administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR). The exam focuses on 4 major areas including
Principles of Dietetics
This section accounts for 21% of the exam. The questions are related to food and nutrition, education and research applications.
Clinical Application
This section covers almost 45% of the total exam and focuses on questions related to screening, assessment, diagnosis, monitoring and planning.
Management of Food and Nutrition Programs and Service
This section of the exam evaluates the management functions and knowledge of the candidate. It makes up 21% of the exam.
Food Service Systems
Here’s the last and final segment of the exam. This section covers almost 13% of the exam where students are asked questions about menu development, sanitation, food preparation, production, facility planning and food safety.
Here’s what you should know! Data has it that the pass-rate for first-timers taking the RDN exam is around 70-75%.
Step 5 – Earn Your License
Before you start practicing in your desired field, you need to obtain a license or certification. The CDR can provide you with necessary information as to which states require additional licence for RD. In some possible cases, you will be getting a license based on your degree, internship and exam result. However, it is important to check your state licence requirements for a hassle-free registration process.
Step 6 – Continue Learning
Congratulations on becoming a Registered Dietitian. However, learning does not stop here. After obtaining the license, it is now mandatory to complete your education by maintaining specific credit points every 5 years to maintain your RD credential.
Workshops, Webinars, Research, Conferences, Special Certificate Programs are some very good options to maintain your RD credential.
Conclusion
That is it! Here is your step-by-step guide to become a successful Registered Dietitian. Becoming a RD is a journey but is also incredibly rewarding. Being a Registered Dietitian, you will have the power to change the lifestyle of many people by choosing healthy.
So, if you are ready, crack open the books, sharpen your skills and start your journey to becoming an RD.
