Dietitian vs Nutritional Therapist: What’s the Difference?

Many people need help to eat better or to lose weight, and some of them work with nutrition professionals to pursue their goals. Those who provide nutritional counsel do a lot more than just that, however. They also work with people who need to manage chronic health conditions like diabetes or autoimmune disorders, low-income people struggling with food insecurity, and families with children who have eating challenges.

All of these clients might say that they are seeing a nutritionist. However, chances are that those in the second group are working with registered dietitians (also called RDs and registered dietitian nutritionists). There are lots of different kinds of practitioners offering nutrition support, and most people don’t know what sets them apart.

It’s not surprising, considering that there’s so much overlap in terminology. A Certified Nutrition Specialist will probably have more in common—when it comes to education and credentials—with a registered dietitian than with a nutrition therapist or nutritionist. Dietitians can practice clinically as part of medical teams or work behind the scenes in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other inpatient healthcare facilities. A nutritionist might be hired by a school to work in the food and nutrition services department—or hang out a shingle as a health coach.

Confused about how to tell these professionals apart? In this article about the difference between dietitians and nutritional therapists, we’ll answer the following questions:

• What is the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?
• Do dietitians and nutritionists work with the same kinds of people?
• Can anyone call themselves a nutritionist?
• What education do dietitians need?
• What education do nutritionists need?
• Which certifications do you need to become a nutritionist?
• Which certifications do you need to become a dietitian?
• Do dietitians or nutritionists make more money?
• Should you become a nutritionist or dietitian?

What is the difference between a nutritionist and a dietitian?

The most significant differences between registered dietitians and nutritional therapists are the education requirements and the licensing requirements:

• Anyone can study nutrition—in a degree program or certification course—and then call themselves a nutritionist. While there are educational and certifying bodies for nutritionists, it’s possible to start working as a nutrition therapist without any formal training whatsoever. Most states do not require nutritionists to be registered or to hold a license to practice.
• Dietitians must have at least a college degree (currently a bachelor’s degree, soon to be upgraded to a master’s degree) plus many hours of supervised clinical training, certifications, and a state-issued license.

Do dietitians and nutritionists work with the same kinds of people?

Someone may work with both a dietitian and a nutritionist, but these professionals typically handle different types of cases.

Doctors refer people to dietitians for conditions like diabetes, obesity, eating disorders, poor growth, and even cancer and other diseases that can impact how the body absorbs nutrients. Dietitians can work as members of medical teams in hospitals and other healthcare facilities and are qualified to diagnose eating disorders and design prescriptive diets to treat specific medical conditions. Some dietitians don’t work with patients but instead conduct research into public health issues related to diet, nutrition, and food access or work as food scientists in the public and private sectors.

Nutrition therapists, on the other hand, help people meet personal nutritional goals and deal with behaviors related to food and eating. They can’t legally create prescriptive diets or claim the expertise to treat specific conditions, but they can help their clients make food choices driven by how they feel, health concerns, budgetary constraints, and weight loss goals. They can suggest a diet that helps address their clients’ concerns or physical and mental health goals. Those suggestions are recommendations, not medical advice.

A nutrition therapist may be just as well-informed as a dietitian and may be just as helpful to their patients. The scopes of their authority and work, however, differ.

Can anyone call themselves a nutritionist?

Anyone who offers nutrition advice can legally call themselves a nutritionist, holistic nutritionist, nutrition therapist, or health coach because the role isn’t as highly regulated as is the dietitian role. Nutritionists may need to register with the state or meet specific requirements, but typically no professional training is mandated. This is because nutrition therapists aren’t supposed to provide the kind of clinical advice dietitians are qualified to give. Nutrition therapists can’t diagnose diseases, prescribe medications or cures, claim to be able to prevent or cure any illness or issue, or even use any of those terms when working with clients.

What education do dietitians need?

Currently, registered dietitians need only a bachelor’s degree from a university accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND) of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics to practice legally. The organization sanctions three acceptable educational pathways:

• The completion of a bachelor’s degree in dietetics plus 1,200 hours of supervised field practice
• The completion of a Master of Public Health, Master of Medical Nutrition, MS of Nutrition, or master of professional studies from an ACEND-accredited college or university
• The completion of a didactic program in dietetics plus one or more approved hands-on dietetics internships in a variety of clinical settings

Many different degree types can fulfill the ACEND requirements, which means that aspiring dietitians take many kinds of courses, from anatomy to food-service management, during their undergrad and graduate degree years.

There are strong bachelor’s degree programs for nutrition at:

• Baylor University
• Florida State University
• Michigan State University
• New York University
• Texas A & M University – College Station
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Only dietitians who want to become a Certified Nutrition Specialist need to earn a master’s degree in nutrition. That will change in 2024, however, when the Commission on Dietetic Registration will raise the minimum required education level for registered dietitians, and all aspiring RDs will be required to earn a master’s degree (e.g., a Master of Science in Nutrition or a Master’s in Nutrition and Exercise Science). One reason for the change is that many people—even in clinical settings—don’t understand the difference between dietitians and nutritional therapists; consequently, RDs are typically paid a lot less than other non-physician clinicians. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics keeps a searchable list of advanced degree programs in dietetics, food science, nutrition, and related areas. That list will likely grow once dietitians are required to hold master’s degrees.

Which certifications do you need to become a dietitian?

Once an aspiring dietitian passes the national registration exam administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, they become a full-fledged RD and can begin working (assuming they meet their state’s licensing and certification requirements). Many registered dietitians also go on to pursue voluntary certifications related to the specialty practice area or areas in which they plan to work. Some examples of certifications for dietitians are:

• The Certified Specialist in Oncology Nutrition credential offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• The Certified Specialist in Obesity and Weight Management credential offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• The Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics credential offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• The Certified Specialist in Gerontological Nutrition credential offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• The Certified Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition credential offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• The Certified Specialist in Renal Nutrition credential offered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration
• The Certified Diabetes Educator credential offered by the National Certification Board for Diabetes Educators
• The Certified Nutrition Support Clinician credential
• The Certified Lactation Counselor credential offered by the National Board of Nutrition Support Certification
• The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Commission on Dietetic Registration Advanced Practice credential
• The ServSafe credential offered by the National Restaurant Association

What education do nutritionists need?

There’s no one educational path you must follow to become a nutritionist. Dietitians need to complete at least a bachelor’s degree and a set number of supervised clinical hours to earn their legally mandated license. However, these standards don’t apply to nutritionists because state agencies typically don’t regulate nutritionists.

This can make choosing an undergraduate program (and possibly a master’s degree program) more difficult. Aspiring nutritionists can choose any of the degree pathways open to dietitians or attend a non-degree nutrition therapy program. Students in these programs take courses like:

• Anatomy and Physiology:
  • Covers the structure and function of the human body.
  • Includes study of major body systems and their role in health and disease.
• Nutrition Science:
  • Fundamental course on the principles of nutrition.
  • Covers nutrient functions, food sources, and dietary guidelines.
• Macronutrients and Micronutrients:
  • Focuses on the role of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, and minerals in the diet.
  • Discusses how these nutrients contribute to health and wellness.
• Biochemical Foundations of Nutrition:
  • Examines the biochemical processes related to nutrition and metabolism.
  • Explores how nutrients are absorbed, metabolized, and utilized in the body.
• Nutrition Therapy in Practice:
  • Applies nutrition knowledge to clinical and therapeutic settings.
  • Covers dietary interventions for various health conditions.
• Digestion and Detoxification:
  • Studies the digestive system and the body’s detoxification processes.
  • Focuses on how these processes affect nutrient absorption and overall health.
• Nutrition for Each Stage of Life:
  • Discusses nutritional needs at different life stages, from infancy to older adulthood.
  • Includes topics like pediatric nutrition, geriatric nutrition, and nutrition during pregnancy.
• Sports Nutrition:
  • Covers the nutritional needs of athletes and active individuals.
  • Focuses on performance nutrition, hydration, and dietary supplements for athletes.
• Weight Management and Metabolism:
  • Explores the principles of weight management and the factors affecting metabolism.
  • Discusses dietary approaches and lifestyle interventions for weight control.
• Pathophysiology and Clinical Applications:
  • Examines the relationship between nutrition, disease processes, and clinical practice.
  • Covers nutritional management of common diseases and disorders.
• Nutritional Endocrinology:
  • Studies the interplay between nutrition and the endocrine system.
  • Focuses on how diet affects hormones and related health conditions.
• Nutrition for Reproductive Health:
  • Discusses the role of nutrition in fertility, pregnancy, and reproductive health.
  • Covers nutritional strategies to support reproductive health in men and women.
• Nutritional Lab Reports:
  • Teaches how to interpret laboratory reports and use them in nutritional assessment.
  • Includes understanding biomarkers, blood tests, and other diagnostic tools.
• Supplements and Herbs:
  • Focuses on the use of dietary supplements and herbal remedies in nutrition.
  • Covers the efficacy, safety, and regulatory issues related to supplements and herbs.

The best non-degree programs for nutritionists help students qualify to pursue board certification and begin working in entry-level nutrition therapy jobs. Enrolling in a bachelor’s degree program is probably the better option; many employers prefer to hire nutritionists with bachelor’s degrees (or, at the very least, a two-year Associate of Science in Applied Nutrition).

Which certifications do you need to become a nutritionist?

About half of all states (including the three biggest: California, Texas, and New York) enforce no regulations on nutritionists. Among those that do, many limit regulations specifically to practitioners who wish to call themselves dietitian/nutritionists. Fewer require separate credentials specifically for nutritionists. To find out what certifications, if any, you’ll need to work in your state, check with the relevant state board (which will likely be called something like the Board of Registration of Dietitians and Nutritionists or the Dietetics and Nutrition Practice Council).

Of course, it’s worth pursuing certifications regardless of whether your state requires them. Having one or more of the following certifications can make you a more attractive candidate when you’re looking for work and give your clients confidence when you’re practicing independently.

• The Certified Nutrition Professional offered by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals
• The Certified Clinical Nutritionist credential offered by the Clinical Nutrition Certification Board
• The Nutritional Therapy Practitioner credential offered by the Nutritional Therapy Association
• The Certified Nutritional Consultant credential offered by the American Association of Nutritional Consultants
• The Certified Nutrition Coach credential offered by the National Academy of Sports Medicine
• Board Certification in Holistic Nutrition offered by the National Association of Nutrition Professionals

Do dietitians or nutritionists make more money?

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lumps dietitians and nutritionists into one category when compiling job statistics. According to the agency, both make about $66,450 per year. Other sites that report salary numbers for dietitians and nutritionists separately disagree on who makes more; even having a master’s degree and becoming a CNS is no guarantee that you’ll make more money than a self-educated nutritional therapist who hangs out a shingle. Don’t let that uncertainty stop you from pursuing either role, however. The BLS also reports that the job outlook for both dietitians and nutritionists is good, and sometimes that’s more important than how much you may or may not earn in your entry-level years.

Should you become a dietitian or a nutritionist?

No one can answer this question for you. Both careers require an investment of time, money, and energy. Both involve working with people, food science, and healing. It’s up to you to decide whether you want to become a registered dietitian, a nutritional therapist, or one of the many careers that fall somewhere in between. Asking yourself the following questions may help steer you in one direction:

• In what settings do you imagine yourself working?
• What types of clients do you want to work with?
• Do you want to open your own practice?
• What is your personal food philosophy?

Don’t stress too much; you can’t really go wrong no matter which career path you choose. Dietitian and nutritionist are grouped together in the twenty-fourth slot in US News & World Report‘s Best Healthcare Jobs, which are ranked by job outlook, salary, and work-life balance. Also, just because you start out by becoming a dietitian or a nutritionist doesn’t mean you can’t make the switch later on in your career.

If you’re still unsure about which role is right for you after reading everything above, reach out to some dietitians and nutritionists. Their insights can help you decide whether you’ll ultimately be happier in a clinical or an advisory role.

(Updated on January 24, 2024)

Questions or feedback? Email editor@noodle.com