What is a “certified” nutritionist?
This gets confusing because “certified nutritionist” is not a regulated phrase. Certified nutrition counselors, certified nutrition therapists, and certified clinical nutritionists do not have uniform requirements and are not subject to uniform oversight. Accredited degree program studies in nutrition and health sciences are not be required. Supervised clinical rotations in accredited care settings, like university affiliated hospitals or clinics, are not required. Some certificates can be obtained in as little as 100 hours of on-line correspondence. Because inadequate or inappropriate diets can trigger irreversible problems in cognition and growth pattern, as well as wreak havoc for behavior, learning, mood, sleep, and functional abilities in children, anyone working with children on special diets should be trained in child nutrition assessment and monitoring – which certificate programs do not teach.
