CPSI ChartLink
E-Learning
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Careers in Healthcare |
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Registered
Dietician |
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Frequently Asked Questions:
Basic Career for high school students
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1. What is the difference between a registered dietitian (RD) or dietetic
technician, registered (DTR) and a nutritionist?
2. What is the difference between a RD and a DTR and what career opportunities
are available for each?
3. What do I need to do to become a RD?
4. What do I need to do to become a DTR?
5. Is the Dietetic Technician (DT) Program a stepping-stone to the
programs to become a RD?
6. How do you know which program is best? Does the Commission on the
Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) or the American Dietetic Association
(ADA) rank programs?
7. If CADE and ADA do not rank programs, what factors should I consider
when deciding on a school?
What is the difference between a registered dietitian (RD) or
dietetic technician, registered (DTR) and a nutritionist?
The “RD” and “DTR” credentials can only be used by dietetics practitioners who are
currently authorized by CADE to use these credentials. These are legally protected
titles. Individuals with these credentials have completed specific academic and
supervised practice requirements, successfully completed a national registration
examination, and maintained requirements for recertification.
All RDs and DTRs study nutrition and applications to food and health. Some RDs or
DTRs call themselves nutritionists. However, the definition and requirements for
the term “nutritionist“ vary. Some states have licensure laws that define the scope
of practice for someone using the designation nutritionist.
What is the difference between a RD and a DTR and what career
opportunities are available for each?
A RD is a food and nutrition expert who has met the minimum academic and professional
requirements to qualify for the credential “RD.” To obtain this credential you must
complete at least a bachelor’s degree at a U.S. regionally accredited college or
university, required coursework and at least 900 hours of supervised practice accredited
by CADE. In addition, you must pass a national RD examination administered by the
Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) and complete continuing professional educational
requirements to maintain registration.
The majority of RDs work in the treatment and prevention of disease (administering
medical nutrition therapy, often part of medical teams), in hospitals, HMOs, private
practice or other health-care facilities. In addition, a large number of RDs work
in community and public health settings and academia and research. A growing number
of RDs work in the food and nutrition industry, in business, journalism, sports
nutrition, and corporate wellness programs.
A DTR is a food and nutrition practitioner who has completed at least a two-year
associate’s degree at a U.S. regionally accredited university or college, required
course work and at least 450 hours of supervised practice accredited by CADE. In
addition, you must pass a national DTR examination administered by CDR and complete
continuing professional educational requirements to maintain registration. The majority
of DTRs work with RDs in a variety of employment settings including health care
(assisting RDs in providing medical nutrition therapy), in hospitals, HMOs, clinics
or other health-care facilities. In addition, a large number of DTRs work in community
and public health settings such as school or day care centers, correctional facilities,
weight management clinics and WIC programs as nutrition counselors.
Check out information on career opportunities, salaries, and job outlook for RDs
and DTRs.
What do I need to do to become a RD?
To become a RD you would need to:
1. Complete high school.
2. Enroll in a university that offers a Coordinated Program (CP) in dietetics granting
a bachelor’s degree. A CP combines classroom and at least 900 hours of supervised
practical experience and is accredited by CADE.
3. CP graduates are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians
to become credentialed as RDs, registered dietitians.
Or:
1. Complete high school.
2. Enroll in a university that offers a Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) granting
a bachelor’s degree. A DPD provides only the classroom courses and is accredited
or approved by CADE.
3. After you receive your bachelor’s degree, you will then need to apply for and
complete a CADE-accredited Dietetic Internship Program (DI). The DI provides at
least 900 hours of supervised practical experience.
4. DI graduates are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietitians
to become credentialed as RDs, registered dietitians.
You can access contact information from the lists of CADE-accredited or approved
CP, DPD, and DI programs. Please refer to the Education Pathways Flowchart entitled
“High school students – pathway to RD.”
What do I need to do to become a DTR?
To become a DTR, you will need to:
1. Complete high school.
2. Enroll in a college that offers a CADE-accredited associate’s degree DT Program.
The DT program combines required dietetics coursework and at least 450 hours of
supervised practical experience accredited by CADE.
3. DT graduates are eligible to take the Registration Examination for Dietetic Technicians
to become credentialed as DTRs, dietitian technicians, registered.
For a list of CADE-accredited DT programs with contact information, go to the DT
Program page. Please refer to the Education Pathways Flowchart entitled “High school
students – pathway to DTR.”
Is the Dietetic Technician (DT) Program a stepping-stone to the
programs to become a RD?
Individuals who complete an associate’s degree in a CADE-accredited DT Program may
be able to transfer academic credits to a bachelor’s degree CP or DPD Program. Some
DT Programs have established articulation agreements that specify the coursework
that will be accepted as transfer credit. For those DT Programs without formal agreements,
it is necessary to confer with the DPD or CP Program Director to determine if the
courses you have completed will be accepted as fulfilling some of the curriculum
requirements for becoming a RD.
Currently, there is one CP program for DTRs who want to become RDs. This CP is affiliated
with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Other DT programs with
articulation agreements can be found in the list of DT Programs.
How do you know which program is best? Does the Commission on
the Accreditation for Dietetics Education (CADE) or the American Dietetic Association
(ADA) rank programs?
Neither CADE nor ADA rate or rank programs. All CADE-accredited or approved programs
meet the Accreditation Standards, which signifies that the programs provide the
knowledge, skills, and/or competencies you need to enter the dietetics profession.
These accredited or approved programs meet the requirements for membership in ADA
and registration by CDR.
If CADE and ADA do not rank programs, what factors should I
consider when deciding on a school?
This decision is a very personal one that should be made based on a variety of factors
that are important to you, such as:
Size of school and program—would you be more comfortable in a small private school
or a large state (public) university? Cost—can you afford a private school or is
a state-supported school a better value for you? Available financial aid—what resources
are available to you? Geographic location—do you prefer a rural or urban setting,
residential or commuter school? Faculty composition and qualifications—have you
visited the Web site or campus and talked with faculty? Degree awarded—are you interested
in a bachelor’s or master’s degree? Success of graduates in obtaining internship
placement and jobs—how well do graduates do after completing the program? Success
of graduates in pursuing career goals—what are your career goals and do they match
the goals of the program? Talk with the program directors at the schools you are
interested in attending, discuss the program, and ask to visit. It is sometimes
helpful to talk with current students and graduates or RDs and DTRs located in the
area near the program to acquire information that may be helpful in making a decision. |
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