If you’re wondering how to become a registered dietitian, my journey started with a major career change. I left my PR career at 30 to go back to school for nutrition. Today, I help women identify the root causes behind their digestive symptoms — you can even take my root cause quiz here.
Did you know I had a successful PR career before going back to school for nutrition? At age 30, I left everything to pursue a new path. I spent eight years working my way up the corporate ladder. During that time, I held six roles — from Intern to Account Manager at a global PR agency. I loved the people and clients I worked with, but at the end of the day, something just didn’t feel right.
I supported brands I loved, including KIND Healthy Snacks, Driscoll’s Berries, ASICS, and Seventh Generation. However, something still felt missing. What I really wanted was to share evidence-based nutrition advice and support companies doing good in a food industry often driven by trends and big food marketing.
So, in the fall of 2015, I applied to NYU’s Clinical Nutrition program, a 4 year, full-time program to earn my Masters in Clinical Nutrition and become a Registered Dietitian. And I’ve never looked back.
FAQ: Starting a Career in Nutrition
I get asked about this career change almost every day. People ask what sparked my interest in nutrition, what the program is like, and why I chose to become an RD.
Instead of answering the same questions one-by-one, I put everything in one place. Bookmark this post and share it with a friend who’s considering nutrition as a first (or second) career.
So here goes. Let me know in the comments, via email or DM if you have any other questions or if I missed anything, and I’ll keep adding answers!
Why I Decided to Change Careers
I was working in PR for eight years and felt unfulfilled for about the last 2 of them. I liked the people I worked with, which made the decision even harder. In my PR role, I represented many food brands. That meant I worked closely with Registered Dietitians and food bloggers. Eventually, something clicked. I wanted to do what they were doing — not the PR side. That realization scared me. But I knew I needed to change paths. I wanted a lifestyle where I could be self-employed, build multiple income streams, work with brands I love, and help people along the way.
Was I Scared to Make the Change?
Yes! I was 30 years old, leaving a cushy 6-figure job, and going back to school where I wouldn’t have any income! And I was racing against time and the pressure to have kids, which I’ve decided to wait on until I’m done with school. But, I realized, the time passes anyway, so you might as well be working toward something that lights you up. Plus, I started to feel misaligned in my values. While in theory I was helping people discover healthy food products, I want to directly help people make better decisions to live healthier lives.
The time passes anyway, so you might as well be working toward something that lights you up!
How I Started the Transition
I told my boss right from the beginning and she fully supported my decision to go back to school. She even wrote my recommendation letter to get into the program, and another one two years later for the Dietetic Internship! Thanks, Jill 🙂
I initially planned to work full time and start the program part-time, taking Intro to Nutrition & Health at NYU to make sure it was really what I wanted to do. I LOVED it and quickly realized nutrition was definitely my jam. So, I decided to leave work and become a full-time graduate student. The program takes about 4 years full-time, or 6 years part-time. When I decided to leave, my company was supportive and I actually still work with them, now on the influencer side!
Working While Studying Nutrition
I didn’t work for the first two years in school. I am fortunate that I had savings and support from my family so that I could focus on school full-time while also getting Nutrition Squeezed off the ground. At first, NS was just a fun passion project, and I only recently started earning money the past few months to help replenish my savings.
If money is a concern, many students work part-time while earning their degree. There are also paid opportunities in the NYU Nutrition Department, such as working as a TA (which I also did for 2 semesters). It’s definitely doable to work and pursue school full-time!
Online Degrees vs Traditional Nutrition Programs
This is a loaded question. Everyone will have a different opinion, so this is simply my perspective. In addition to my Master’s from NYU, I also decided to enroll in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition to round out my education with a holistic component that I wasn’t getting from my Clinical Nutrition degree. That being said, I never planned to hang my hat on being a health coach. I personally don’t think online programs like IIN teach enough of the science and evidence-based nutrition foundation that would enable me to confidently counsel patients and make educated nutrition recommendations. However, I loved learning about the more holistic and integrative components to health, and will always incorporate them in my wellness philosophy.
So, this is where you need to think about what it is you want to actually DO in the field of nutrition. Do you want to work in a hospital delivering medical nutrition therapy or do you just want to have a bit more nutrition knowledge for your own personal interest? If you want to help others, share nutrition advice, or build a health practice, I strongly recommend the RD route. You will never regret having more training and credibility. You’ll never wish you were LESS qualified, and the media landscape is unfortunately saturated with “experts” giving out health and nutrition advice without the formal training or certification to support it.
Health Coach vs Nutritionist vs Registered Dietitian
This is a question I get ALL the time, and unfortunately there is a lot of confusion around this important distinction. All registered dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are registered dietitians. Health coaches are a different certification even though they often call themselves nutritionists, which it turns out isn’t incorrect, since nutritionist is not a regulated term (more on that below).
Registered Dietitian Requirements
To become a registered dietitian, you must complete an accredited program, finish a 1200-hour supervised internship, and pass the national registration exam. Starting in 2024, all registered dietitians will also be required to have a Masters degree. Registered dietitians are licensed health professional that can assess, diagnose and treat dietary and nutritional problems.
Registered dietitians are licensed health professionals who assess, diagnose, and treat dietary and nutrition-related problems.
What Is a Nutritionist?
Many states do not regulate the term “nutritionist” (including California, New York and Colorado), and so anyone that has studied nutrition (formally in school or read a book on nutrition), or anyone that’s lost weight/cured their IBS/loves nutrition, can use the term nutritionist and perform nutrition counseling. This can be an issue because the general population considers nutritionists to be experts in the field of nutrition. Dr. David Katz wrote one of the best articles about this topic in 2013, and I’m sad to say, but it’s only gotten worse with the popularity of Instagram and social media in the last 5 years.
NOTE: there is a difference between a nutritionist and a Certified or Licensed Nutritionist, who must adhere to specific education and examination requirements administered by the state agency where their license is held. If you’d rather not go the RD route, you can pursue one of these certifications or licenses which will require a certain number of practice hours and an exam.
What Is a Health Coach?
Meanwhile, a health coach is someone who has completed a health coaching certification program (like the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, which I just completed in September!). A health coach guides or “coaches” their clients to make their own decisions and changes that will positively benefit their health. Health coaches tend to focus more on a holistic approach to wellness, beyond just food and nutrients. That’s because health coaches are NOT supposed to provide nutrition advice, recommend that clients exclude major food groups (e.g. keto diet, gluten-free diet, dairy free diet), and are not supposed to recommend extreme detox programs.
How do I know which program or degree is right for me?
Again, my biggest piece of advice when considering a first or second career in nutrition, is:
What you want to DO with your education plays a big part in deciding which program or degree you should pursue.
Registered Dietitians can work in hospitals. They may work in inpatient or outpatient settings. They can also accept insurance. Most major media outlets still consider RDs the gold standard for nutrition expertise. Many health coaches on the other hand, have gone on to start successful food and wellness blogs, write books, and also play an important role in helping consumers develop healthier habits. Decide what YOU want to do and go from there!
What do you want to do with you degree and RD certification?
I’ve always known I want to be self employed and what I love about nutrition and the Registered Dietitian career route, is that the sky’s your limit when it comes to actual “work.” Everyone eats — three meals a day plus snacks. That means there are endless opportunities to use your expertise. Unfortunately, the current food system and rising obesity rates have increased the demand for nutrition education and healthy lifestyle support.
After graduating and passing the RD exam, my goal is to move back home to Colorado. There, I plan to establish a private practice where I can work with clients 1:1 a few days a week. The remainder of my time I hope to fill with recipe development, supporting brands that I genuinely love, educating consumers through various media platforms, and volunteering in a community nutrition setting.
How to Become a Registered Dietitian: Step-by-Step
Ok, I want to be an RD! Where do I start and what’s the process like?
That’s great! First, check out this 5-Step checklist on the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ website. Then, start researching programs in your area or areas to which you’re willing to move. Once you find programs you want to apply to, start gathering the application requirements. These usually include transcripts, recommendation letters, your resume, and a personal statement.
Depending on your background, you may need another degree called a Didactic Program in Dietetics. In other cases, you may only need additional science, nutrition, or foodservice classes. Yes, you have to take chemistry, organic chemistry and nutritional biochemistry. Yes, they are hard. But these are the foundational classes that distinguish an RD from any other nutrition professional!
The general path to become an RD usually includes below, but not necessarily in this order:
- Complete the Didactic Program in Dietetics (~1-2 years)
- Apply to a Dietetic Internship
- Complete the 1200 hour (~9 months) Dietetic Internship
- Study for and take the RD exam
- Finish your Master’s classes (~1 year)
My Personal Path to Becoming an RD
When I realized I wanted to become an RD, I applied to NYU’s Master’s program because I knew I wanted to stay in New York and it’s a great program. Plus, they don’t require the GRE to apply 🙂 I applied in September 2015, got accepted on Thanksgiving, and started classes in January 2016!
My undergraduate degree was in Psychology so I was starting from square one, and it took me 2.5 years to complete the DPD, Master’s classes, and apply to the Dietetic Internship (which I’ll be starting at NYU in January 2016!). I also decided I wanted to do all my schooling before the Dietetic Internship, so I completed step 5 before step 3. There’s not right or wrong way, just do what works best for you!
Another important factor is volunteer experience. Competitive Dietetic Internships usually require about 150 hours of volunteer work. This can be in a clinical, community, or research setting. You will also need three recommendation letters for the Dietetic Internship application. At least one should come from a volunteer or work supervisor. I recommend you start volunteering as soon as possible so you can log your hours and secure a recommendation letter!
What are your thoughts on the NYU Clinical Nutrition Master’s Program?
To be fully transparent, NYU’s program was the only Master’s program I applied to for the above reasons. Plus, some of the most inspiring and talented RD’s in the field came from NYU (Keri Gans, Sammi Haber Brondo of @VeggiesandChocolate, and Tanya Zuckerbrot). It’s a great school and it’s highly regarded in the dietetics field.
In terms of the actual program and NYU’s Dietetic Internship (which I’m starting in January 2019!), you can find more information here and here. Overall, I highly recommend the NYU program for anyone in New York or looking to move to New York. I also recommend the program for anyone looking for a highly clinical degree and education, since that is the focus of the program at this time. I don’t plan to pursue clinical nutrition full-time once I’m an RD, but I understand the importance of a clinical nutrition foundation for all areas of nutrition counseling. Plus, I was able to still take a variety of classes that interested me like Sports Nutrition, Complementary and Alternative Nutrition Therapies, and Weight Management.
If you don’t live in New York or plan to move there, you may want to research other programs. Some schools offer more integrative or functional nutrition approaches alongside the Dietetic Internship. They are few and far between but I do think there will be more in the coming years as the health landscape shifts toward a more integrative approach!
What is a Dietetic Internship?
Before taking the RD exam, you must complete a dietetic internship. It’s 1200 hours of clinical, food service, and community rotation. In addition to the hands-on experiences at the hospital, food service or community setting, many dietetic internships will have additional assignments, readings, and projects to help you integrate learnings and better prepare you for the RD exam.
Much more to come on this front in January as I begin my Dietetic Internship at NYU!
What’s the workload like and can I still have a social life?
My workload over the last 3 years has looked something like this:
- Classes & labs: 10 hours/week
- Homework & studying: 20 hours/week
- Volunteering & extracurricular activities: 10 hours/week
- Paid work (TA’ing, research, blogging): 10 hours/week
If you add that up, it’s about 50 hours a week – pretty comparable to my 8-year career in PR! So, my point is that the workload is manageable if you’re a full time student, but you’ll definitely be busy. I also know many girls that worked part time (20-30 hours/week) and did fine because they were able to study or work on the weekends in addition to weekdays.
Going back to school definitely impacted my social life. At the same time, I was engaged, got a puppy, and had just turned 30 — so I didn’t want to go out as much anyway. At the same time, I was building Nutrition Squeezed. I often worked on it during weekends, late nights, and early mornings. I still see friends at least once a week and make “me time” a priority, but it is harder to go out drinking on the weekends and still feel perky and alert the next day to study or recipe test, so it’s all about balance.
Thanks for reading. Don’t hesitate to reach out with comments or additional questions you want me to answer and I’ll continue adding to this post!
Disclaimer: I am not yet a registered dietitian and do not claim to know all the ins and outs of the career. The above are based on careful research and my personal opinions and experiences!
