Registered Dietitian

Field of Study — Public Health & Nutrition

Registered dietitians teach and counsel individuals and groups about nutrition and its impact on health and well-being. They work in a variety of settings: hospitals and clinics, food service management, public health, business, education, research and private practice. Areas of specialty include education, pediatrics, business and sports nutrition.

Depending on their work setting, registered dietitians:

• plan and supervise meal preparation and service in hospitals, schools, restaurants, or other public and private institutions.
• use nutrition, biochemistry and physiology principles to make recommendations regarding patients’ nutritional management.
• provide counsel about diet modifications that can correct or prevent health problems.
• analyze food for its nutritional content and study the way the body uses nutrients.
• select, train and direct food service staff.
• provide community-based programs designed to prevent chronic diseases.
• direct purchasing and prepare reports and budgets.

Educational Requirements

Students interested in becoming dietitians should prepare by taking challenging high school classes in science, English, math and business.

To become a registered dietitian, students must earn a bachelor’s degree, complete an academic program approved by the American Dietetic Association and complete an accredited supervised practice program, such as a pre-professional practice program or dietetic internship. Registered dietitians also must pass an examination and complete continuing education requirements. Students may begin at a local community college and transfer to a four year program after obtaining an Associate in Science degree.

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Educational Institutions

Virginia Colleges and Universities

Bridgewater College

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Professional Associations

• American Dietetic Association
  Attn: Membership Recruitment
  216 W. Jackson Blvd.
  Suite 800
  Chicago, IL 60606-6995
  (312) 899-0040
  1-800-877-1600, ext. 4844
  http://www.eatright.org
• The American Society for Clinical Nutrition
  9650 Rockville Pike
  Bethesda, MD 20814-3998
  (301) 530-7110
  http://www.faseb.org/ascn
• Virginia Dietetic Association
  P.O. Box 439
  Centreville, VA 20122-0439
  (703) 815-8293
  http://www.eatright-va.org

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