To many, nutrition is a mystery. Humans need to eat, and the healthiest options are not always the most accessible. Understanding nutrition labels can be difficult—especially for people with specific dietary restrictions or allergies. Enter nutritionists.

Nutritionists assist clients with short-term and long-term health goals by observing dietary habits, creating healthy meal plans and evaluating the effectiveness of certain diets.

Both nutritionists and dietitians aid people in improving their food intake. However, responsibilities, credentials, professional status and experience levels vary significantly between these two professions.

This helpful guide provides information on what nutritionists do, salary and employment data, certification requirements and the various nutrition career paths available.

A nutritionist improves clients’ health by assessing, adjusting and monitoring their dietary intake based on specific conditions or needs. They may work in healthcare facilities, nursing homes, government agencies or independent practice. The scope of practice for nutritionists depends on their state licensure requirements and job titles.

Though some may use the terms “dietitian” and “nutritionist” interchangeably, the two roles have some key differences. Practicing professionally with the title “nutritionist” typically does not require any specific certification, education or experience, depending on the state.

However, dietitians must meet state and national requirements to work as licensed dietitians (LDs) or registered dietitians (RDs). Within their work as LDs and RDs, professionals can specialize to work as registered dietitian-nutritionists (RDNs). Again, state requirements and titles vary, with some jurisdictions referring to them as “licensed dietitian-nutritionists” (LDNs).

Given their level of education and knowledge, all dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists can call themselves dietitians. As medical professionals, RDs and RDNs have undergone more education and experience, signaling their expertise in the field. Nutritionists may not have any formal training or experience and, without licensure, are not seen as health professionals.

If you want to counsel clients on their dietary habits and needs, you can do so as a nutritionist. However, to be recognized as a licensed health professional, you’ll need RDN/LDN or RD/LD credentials, depending on the state.

Wondering how to become a nutritionist? Start by taking stock of your professional goals. For example, do you want to ultimately work as an RDN/LDN to provide dietary advice to clients as a medical professional? If so, you will need to meet more rigorous requirements than professionals with the title of “nutritionist” alone.

The following explains how to become a registered dietitian nutritionist and explores pathways for those who want to work broadly as nutritionists.

To become a nutritionist, you can start by completing an associate degree or a diploma in a major like nutrition, food science or dietetics. This level of education should suffice to work as a nutritionist in most states.

With an associate or a diploma, you can pursue employment as a nutritionist in the broadest sense. However, 16 states forbid professionals from delivering nutritional counseling without formal licensure. The following steps in this list apply to those pursuing a license.

If you aim to work as an RDN/LDN or RD/LD, the requirements are a bit stricter. Start with a bachelor’s degree in nutrition, culinary arts, food service systems management or dietetics from an accredited school.

As of January 1, 2024, the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) RDN exam will require you to possess a relevant master’s degree to qualify—after earning a bachelor’s degree, you’ll need to complete an accredited master’s degree in nutrition or a related field like dietetics.

To work as an RDN, you must complete 1,000 hours of supervised work to qualify for licensure. This real-world experience allows you to engage in practical learning beyond theoretical concepts explored in the classroom. You can seek these hours through internships and other experiential learning opportunities.

After completing a bachelor’s degree, a master’s program and your supervised experience, you qualify to sit for the CDR’s exam for RDN credentials. CDR divides the test into four sections:

This computer-adaptive test varies in length based on your input. Though you may receive up to 145 multiple-choice questions, you must answer a minimum of 125 questions.

State requirements vary, making it critical to research information on the area where you intend to practice. Some jurisdictions require you to pass a test, complete continuing education hours and pay licensing fees. Not all states include an experience requirement to practice professionally.

To keep your RDN credentials, you must pay a yearly registration fee with CDR. RDN requirements also specify that you must complete 75 continuing education hours every five years to renew your license.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that dietitians and nutritionists, including both licensed and non-licensed professionals in the field, earn a median annual salary of $66,450. This figure is nearly $20,000 higher than the national median of $46,310 for all occupations, indicating a decent return on your education investment.

The outlook for these professionals also appears bright. The BLS projects employment for dietitians and nutritionists to grow by 7% from 2022 to 2032, more than double the projected job growth for all occupations in this period.

Registered and licensed nutritionists can specialize their work through certifications in specific fields or with certain patient populations. These credentials require each candidate to have current RD/RDN licensure, complete experience hours, pay a fee and pass an exam.

If you want to help children, babies and adolescents improve their nutrition to address other underlying health issues, this specialization may offer an ideal pathway. To care for kids with more life-threatening conditions, you can also consider specializing in pediatric critical care nutrition.

Athletes often require careful dietary intake to advance within their sport or stay at the top of the field. With a certified specialist in sports dietetics (CSSD) credentials, you can assist athletes in maximizing their results on the field. To qualify for the CSSD exam, you must have 2,000 hours (two years) of relevant professional experience in the past five years, which may include published works in peer-reviewed and scientific publications.

With this specialization, you can work with older adults to improve their nutrition and overall health. Gerontological nutrition dietitians may help patients in home settings or healthcare facilities like hospitals, assisted living and long-term care programs. Like CDR’s other specializations, you must have two years of professional experience to qualify.

Oncology nutritionists assist people who have been diagnosed with or may be at risk for various forms of cancer. They may work in hospice settings, hospitals, oncology clinics and administrative roles in health education and management.

Nutritionists assist clients by assessing their dietary needs and creating meal plans with cost and food preferences in mind. They set goals, evaluate effectiveness over time, monitor progress and educate clients on nutritional needs.

It depends on the nutritionist role you plan to pursue, along with your location. Some states require certification or licensure, which may stipulate that you hold a bachelor’s degree and experience. In states that do not require formal credentials, you can become a nutritionist after completing a diploma or associate degree, which may only take one to two years.

Start by attending a formal education program in food and nutrition, dietetics or food science. Use your location and career goals to guide your program search. Some states require a bachelor’s degree, experience and licensure to practice professionally, while employers in other states may only seek clients with associate degrees.

Nutritionist is a broad role that does not require any specific licensure, degree or certification, unless carrying the title of “registered dietitian nutritionist.” Though there is some overlap in their work, dietitians are credentialed professionals who meet the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ standards.

The difficulty of a nutritionist degree depends on the program and the individual. Nutritionist degrees are no harder than comparable programs, though they typically include science courses, which some students may find difficult.