How is a registered dietitian different from a nutritionist?
The “RD” credential is a legally protected title that can only be used by practitioners who are authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration of the American Dietetic Association. Individuals with the RD credential have fulfilled specific requirements, including having earned a minimum 4-year college degree focused on nutrition – many have their master’s degree in nutrition. A dietitian has also completed a rigorous dietetic internship, which gives 900 supervised hours of experience and passed a comprehensive registration examination. A registered dietitian is required to have ongoing continuing education to keep abreast of the latest research in the field, with a minimum of 75 CEUs per 5-year duration.
