Dietician And Nutritionist

Dieticians as well as nutritionists advice people on how to select and prepare good nutritious diets. Both are educated people in their field though there are considerable differences between them in their qualifications, accreditation, functions and earning.

Normally, to be a dietician a person has to follow a degree which takes about four years covering management of foods, nutritious aspects of them, and many other parts relevant to dietary procedures. In America, many educational institutions conduct six months courses on the subject which later link with internship training and evaluations test qualifying the followers for registered dieticians of American Dietetic Association (ADA). Without these qualifications, a person will not be able to register with the American Dietetic Association.

In America, dieticians and nutritionists have to obtain statutory certification, or registration. This legal procedure make them accountable for their conduct and advice in the field. In America, 46 states accredit dieticians. After the initial registrations, they have to follow compulsory three months further education after every five years to keep their registration active.

In the United Kingdom, unlike dietitian, nutritionist is not a protected term although there are many degree courses on the subject. A person can declare himself/herself as a nutritionist without relevant qualification. The Nutrition Society of the UK recommends a person as a nutritionist if he/she is qualified for the post according to its requirements. They put nutritionists on three categories i.e. Associate Nutritionist, Associate Public Health Nutritionist and Registered Nutritionist or Registered Public Health Nutritionist.

To be granted approval for the first two categories, the applicant should be an undergraduate while the latter position needs three years practical experience. They also have to protect the code of ethics and high standard of the profession. There are dietitians and nutritionists who have post-graduate degrees, master's degrees and even doctorates.

Dieticians and nutritionists work in many fields. There are dieticians in hotel sectors, military institutions, administrative sectors, hospitals etc., and their main duty is to improve dietary procedures of relevant organization by providing nutritious food menus according to health guidelines. They also manage these sections controlling expenditures and assuring high standard of diets.

A considerable number of dieticians work on various scientific researches on foods as well. Many work in universities, farms, medical centers and educational institutions. They give lectures on nutrition to medical students as well as other students. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics last year, a dietician has earned around $46,000 to $60,000 per month.

Discuss It!

John said:

"A dietician has earned around $46,000 to $60,000 per month"? How about per "year"?