Self Help

One way to ensure that you receive accurate nutrition and diet information is to search out a registered dietitian, or R.D. This person is a professionally trained authority in the role that food and nutrition play in health. R.D.s is a reliable source for information about nutrition and can provide sound advice on eating and health.

To earn an R.D., an individual must have a bachelor’s degree in nutrition or a related field from a regionally accredited college or university. The program of study must be accredited by the Commission on Accreditation and Approval of Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association. Courses include food science, nutrition, biochemistry, anatomy, physiology, biology, organic chemistry, and management. The individual must also complete a dietetic internship or supervised practice experience and pass an extensive examination to become registered.

All R.D.s are required to stay current by completing a minimum of 75 hours of continuing education every 5 years. Only dietitians who have passed the exam and maintain their continuing education are considered registered. Many R.D.s go on to earn additional degrees, such as master’s (M.S. or M.P.H. or M.Ed.) or doctorates (Ph.D. or Sc.D.) in nutrition or a nutrition-related specialty.

Registered dietitians can also hold additional certifications in specialized areas of practice, such as pediatrics (C.S.P.) and diabetes (C.D.E.). These individuals must not only pass an extensive exam in their specialty but also accumulate a specific number of practice hours in their specialty.

Forty states either certify or license dietitians and/or nutritionists who meet specific criteria established by the state agency that regulates health professionals. Certification entitles professionals to use either “dietitian” or “nutritionist,” depending on how the law is written within an individual state. The initials C.D. or C.N. appear after the name of a dietitian who is also state-certified as a dietitian or nutritionist. Licensure protects the title “dietitian” or “nutritionist” and defines how they practice. The initials L.D. appear after the name of a licensed dietitian or nutritionist. In some states, dispensing nutrition advice without a license is against the law.

Dietetic Technician, Registered: The initials D.T.R. stand for dietetic technician, registered. A person who is a D.T.R. is qualified to be part of the nutrition care team, which may include teaching nutrition classes, diet counseling, and nutritional assessment. To become a D.T.R., an individual must earn an associate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university, complete a dietetics practice program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation and Approval of Dietetics Education of the American Dietetic Association, pass a registration exam, and maintain at least 50 hours of continuing professional education every 5 years.