It's the end of the year. I seem to get nostalgic and reminisce about the past 365 days this time of year. We moved fairly recently, so I'm starting to feel settled in a new city and job. My husband and I traveled. I baked and cooked with family and friends. I tried new recipes and shared my favorite ones. I feel blessed to share my recipes and life as a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) with you.
I am thankful that you stopped by the blog; we have some new readers. In case you missed anything, here are the top 15 posts from 2015 selected by you, the reader. So you can reflect on 2015, and maybe even think about what you hope for 2016. No pressure :). Enjoy!
For more recipes, encouragement, and tips for healthy eating, follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
It was about this time of year during my senior year of high school that we were challenged to look at 2 or more careers to prepare for college the following year. Thanks to Mrs. Malone, my amazing AP English teacher, I found dietetics as a career. I grew up loving science and learning, so I was preparing to become a science teacher. After looking at the job opportunities for teachers and dietitians, I decided to pursue a career in dietetics with the hopes of pursuing teaching on the collegiate level later in my career.
Today, we will review how you can become a Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). Notice, that I did not say "nutritionist." Nutritionists are not the same as a Registered Dietitian. I repeat, dietitians and nutritionists are NOT the same.
Technically, everyone is a nutritionist - meaning you do not have to have any schooling to use this title. This would be like someone being able to say that they were a "doctor" without pursuing medical school and their MD. I don't know about you, but I don't want to be seen by a "doctor" who hasn't completed medical school.
Registered Dietitians complete undergraduate education, a dietetic internship, and all who want to sit for the RD exam in 2024 will have to earn their Master's degree. If you want more information about becoming a RD, check out this series where I walk you through each step of the process and give tips on how to succeed in every step.
Becoming a Registered Dietitian: Undergraduate
Becoming a Registered Dietitian: Dietetic Internship
Becoming a Registered Dietitian: Pass the RD Exam
Registered Dietitians have the credentials RD or RDN after passing the national RD Exam. The RD and RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) are the same credentials. The "N" in RDN was added to help regulate the use of the title "nutritionist" and protect consumers. If you want to find a RD in your area, you can use the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics website to find RDs and verify credentials. Be an educated consumer. Make sure you know what credentials your healthcare practitioners have. Be safe and healthy!
For more tips about healthy eating and information about becoming a RD, follow RDtipoftheday on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.
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I had the pleasure of meeting with an undergraduate nutrition student, aka a RD to be. I love teaching and mentoring! I wish I could sit down with each of you to hear about your journey and help you navigate life as a RD. This was a great opportunity for me to remember what it was like to be a student pursuing an unknown career.
Do you remember what it's like to be a student? I remember putting a lot of work and effort into studying and preparing to be a RD. I also wondered if my career choice would be a good fit for me. So, here are some of the questions she asked me about being a RD. I thought you might have some of the same questions too.
What kind of Dietetic Internship should I pursue?
There are many different types of dietetic internships. My advice is to determine the top 3-5 areas of dietetics that you are interested in pursuing. Then, find an internship that has those areas. There are internships that focus on clinical (hospital) practice, pediatrics, geriatrics, or food service. All dietetic internships will have a small component of each sub-specialty of nutrition. You need all the experience and knowledge to prepare and pass the RD exam.
Here is even more information about applying for your dietetic internship and how to be a successful dietetic intern.
Should I obtain my Masters Degree?
Yes. I am a strong proponent for obtaining your Masters Degree. Also, a Masters Degree will be required to be eligible to take the RD exam in 2024.
You can pursue different degrees that are applicable to your practice as a RD. You may choose to pursue of Masters of Science (MS) if you practice as a clinical RD or professor. You can earn a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) if you plan to open your own practice. You can earn a Masters of Arts in Counseling (MA) if you plan to do a lot of counseling with your patients. You can also earn a Masters of Public Health (MPH) if you plan to work in weight management or like the policies that can improve the public's health.
What does a typical day look like as a RD?
I will answer this question in a separate post because I have worked in a variety of areas as a RD. I am an outpatient (think doctor's office) RD, an adjunct professor, a consultant (think freelance) RD, and I have been a clinical (hospital) RD. My days looked a little different with each of my roles as a RD.
Other RDtips:
- Pursue volunteer experiences.
- You get to learn more about being a RD. Find out what fits you best and what areas are not a good fit.
- Pursue what you enjoy!
- Never stop learning.
- RDs and other health care professionals are required to complete Continuing Education Units (CPUs) to maintain your state and national license and credentialing. I think continual learning is impressive to those in a nutrition-related profession. Nutritional science is a relatively new science, when compared to astronomy, geology, and traditional medicine. It is vital to keep up with new information about nutrition and how it relates to your practice. So, never stop learning.
Do you want to be a RD? Stay tuned as I give you a look at the variety of areas you can work in as a RD. If you have questions, comment below or ask on Instagram or Twitter. You can also follow me on on Pinterest,
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