What Is the Difference Between a Nutritionist & a Dietician?

There are many different types of nutrition professionals and it is sometimes hard to understand what the difference is. Dieticians (also spelled dietitians) and nutritionists have different levels of experience and often have different views of nutrition-related issues.

Registered Dietician

• A registered dietician must have at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition, must have completed a one-year internship through the American Dietetic Association and must pass a test at the end of the internship (see reference 1).

Anyone can be a Nutritionist

• The word "nutritionist" is not a legally protected term, so anyone who likes to teach others about nutrition may call himself or herself a nutritionist. A nutritionist may or may not have certifications, a degree or experience in the field.

Degreed or Certified Nutritionist

• A degreed nutritionist has at least a bachelor's degree in nutrition. A certified nutritionist may or may not have a degree but has taken some type of continuing education, usually online classes and an online test in which certification is obtained via a passing score (see reference 2).

Levels of Experience

• A registered dietician usually has more experience than a nutritionist because their required internship includes working in a clinical setting, in food service and in a community nutrition setting totaling more than 1,200 hours of experience (see reference 3).

Which is Better for Your Needs

• Registered dieticians generally follow the government's food pyramid recommendations for eating and are trained in understanding the nutritional concerns of those with chronic diseases. Certified nutritionists often have more modern approaches to nutrition, emphasizing things like organic foods, vegetarian diets and holistic healing.