Dietitian Job Description Information

Dietitian job description includes planning food and nutrition programs and supervising the preparation and serving of meals. They help to prevent and treat illnesses by promoting healthy eating habits and recommending dietary modifications, such as the use of less salt for those with high blood pressure or the reduction of fat and sugar intake for those who are overweight.

The Dietitian job description also manages food service systems for institutions such as hospitals and schools, promote sound eating habits through education, and conduct research. Major areas of practice include clinical, community, management, and consultant dietetics.

Increased public interest in nutrition has led to job opportunities in food manufacturing, advertising, and marketing. In these areas, dietitians analyze foods, prepare literature for distribution, or report on issues such as the nutritional content of recipes, dietary fiber, or vitamin supplements.

Working Conditions

Most full-time dietitians and nutritionists work a regular 40-hour week, although some work weekends. About 1 in 4 worked part time in 2004. Dietitians and nutritionists usually work in clean, well-lighted, and well-ventilated areas. However, some dietitians work in warm, congested kitchens. Many dietitians and nutritionists are on their feet for much of the workday.

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Dietitian Salary Information

A career as a dietitian is both a solid and demanding one. As long as people struggle with weight and medical conditions occur in which adjustments to people's dietary intake are required, the need for qualified dietitians will never go away and the salary is often commensurate with the level of demand. There are a number of things that may affect a dietitian's salary, but with the proper training and qualifications, even dietitians on the lower end of the pay scale can expect to earn a good living.

 

Qualifications

• Becoming a dietitian requires at least a four-year (bachelor's) degree and there are quite a few specializations that require education beyond a bachelor's degree. Someone hopeful of success in a career as a dietitian will not only have to be well versed in matters of food, nutrition and sciences, but also be well educated in communication skills and psychology.

Factors that Affect Salary

• Deciding upon a specialization or focusing on a career as a dietitian/nutritionist could have an impact on your salary level. The more education and training that you acquire, the more money you'll likely make. A bachelor's degree will get you a steady income, but a master's degree and specialized training will give you many more options for positions with greater income potential.

Career Options

• Even choosing to enter the workforce as a dietitian without a particular specialization will give you a few options to choose from in terms of your career path. Clinical dietitians can work in hospitals, nursing homes and other medical institutions making certain that patients receive everything they need to promote recovery or maintain health. Consultant dietitians can work with high caliber athletes or professional sports teams helping people achieve higher performance levels.

Expected Salary

• The size of the company that you choose to work for and your education and experience will have an effect on the size of your paycheck. Entry level dietitians in smaller companies, with no definable area of specialty could earn from $25,000 to $35,000 per year and the salaries tend to increase as the size of the company and amount of responsibility increase. Management dietitians responsible for correlating the dietary needs of very large groups of people or private consultants working with professional athletes could easily earn $60,000 to $75,000 per year or more.

Considerations

• There are laws that govern the field of dietetics, many states require that dietitians be licensed before practicing, but some companies may still try to use employees that don't have all of the necessary education or training required to perform the duties of a dietitian in an effort to save money. If a company expects you to perform the work of a dietitian before you've become licensed or completed your education, it's very likely that you won't receive a competitive salary or that you'll have as many opportunities for advancement as you would with a company who is following proper protocol when it comes to dietetics.

Read more: Dietician Salaries | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/about_5437162_dietician-salaries.html#ixzz1geRHbZKk

How to Become a Dietitian

An accredited two or four-year online or campus-based degree in nutrition or related nutritional science field is recommended to become a Nutritionist. The Department of Labor states that 46 states have some kind of law regarding the standards for nutritionists. Of these 46 states, 30 require licensure, 15 require certification, and 1 requires registration with the state upon graduation from an accredited program.

While attaining your education it is recommended that in some programs they might require a designated number of hours in a health care setting, somewhat similar to an apprenticeship or internship during or after classes are being taken.

A common undergraduate or graduate degree in nutrition at some of the many nutritionist schools would traditionally include courses in nutrition, institution management, biology, chemistry, and physiology. Additional courses of study could include business, mathematics, psychology, sociology, or economics.

Most likely Nutritionist will find a job in the health care industry due to the shortage in workers. Nutritionist can assume to make a fairly good wage at their job along with the satisfaction of knowing that you are helping people to live a more healthy life.

 

What degrees are necessary to become a Dietitian?

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 281 bachelor’s degree programs and 22 master’s degree programs approved by the American Dietetic Association’s Commission on Accreditation for Dietetics Education in 2007. Many of these can be located through this website.

Moreover, a degree in one of the following, or a related degree, would be a necessary first step to taking and passing the Registered Dietitian (RD) or Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTR) examinations authorized by the Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR).

The following button will show a list of degrees offered from campus universities available on this site that would prepare an individual for a career as a Dietitian:

What Are The Licensing & Certification Requirements On How To Become A Nutritionist?The position of ‘Nutritionist’ is not a specifically registered or certified title, as opposed to the term ‘Dietitian’ or ‘Registered Dietitian’, approved only by the American Dietetic Association’s Commission for Dietetic Registration (CDR). The term ‘Nutritionist’ is not limited to individuals who have attained only the specific qualifications specified by the CDR, but is instead given to a variety of nutrition professionals with a vast number of different skills and approaches to health.

Although many states do require nutritionists to attain a level of certification, the level of training and guidelines toward practice vary. Although the term ‘Nutritionist’ allows for a looser definition of the practice, those who are serious about providing excellent care and nutrition to their patients and clients often hold themselves to a higher standard than any particular certification or registration body could provide.

 

A background in science is not necessary, although a healthy appetite for learning is a definite plus. High school students or those considering a degree in nutrition may want to learn about biology, chemistry, mathematics, health, and communications to better prepare themselves for university course study.

• 1. Find a degree in nutritional sciences offered on a campus in your area or online from our list of accredited colleges.
• 2. Research schools and degree programs for an understanding of prerequisites and admissions requirements.
• 3. Satisfy undergraduate or graduate requirements in all related fields.
• 4. Start your career as a Nutritionist or Dietitian in a hospital, established practice, clinic, community center, research facility or join a partnership.

Article Source: How to Become a Dietician