What Is the Difference Between a Dietitian and Nutritionist?

You know that bottle of artisan rosemary infused organic olive oil you’ve been saving for a special occasion? It’s time to pop the cork! The occasion is here, for today, March 11, 2015, is…

NATIONAL REGISTERED DIETITIAN NUTRITIONIST DAY!

I’ve celebrated this day on the blog in various ways. I asked you to thank the registered dietitian your life, highlighted some of my inspiring colleagues, and pleaded with you to enjoy your diet.

Today, we’re celebrating with a lesson in semantics. WHY?? Because I’m no longer ‘just’ a Registered Dietitian.

I’m a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

What does it mean? And, what is the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist? After decades of consumer confusion, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, my professional mothership, has finally decided to add ‘nutritionist’ to our title to help clear things up.

I can see that this has not cleared things up.

Here’s one way to think about the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist:
“A registered dietitian is always a nutritionist, but a nutritionist is not necessarily a registered dietitian.”

For example, early in my career I worked as a clinical dietitian in hospital settings, where docs and nurses and managers all knew me as such. The regulations under which hospitals operated require a registered dietitian to do what I do. If the patient didn’t understand his carbohydrate-restricted diet? “Call the dietitian.” If the kitchen was out of high protein supplements? “Call the dietitian.” There was no question of my role or my title, and if there ever was, the prominent ‘RD’ after my signature in the chart made it clear.

After several years, I transitioned into a public health job. My duties varied quite a lot from those I performed in the hospital, but the job still required a registered dietitian. I worked with schools across the state to promote nutrition and physical activity for adolescents. When these schools saw me coming, they didn’t say, “Phew! The registered dietitian is here.” They called me a nutritionist. This is quite common in the public health sector. Also common in this sector, however, is to apply that title to the many non-registered dietitians also providing services in the nutrition realm. WIC and Head Start nutritionists, for example, are not always registered dietitians, but do have the nutrition background necessary to work effectively with clients in that setting.

Now, is that clear as mud?

The bottom line in the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist…

No matter what you call me – registered dietitian (RD), registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), nutritionist, or dietitian, I will answer. What makes the registered dietitian distinct? We’ve traveled a well-paved path to earn the reputation as a nutrition expert. The RD/RDN is an extensively educated and trained nutrition professional. To achieve the RD/RDN, we complete rigorous coursework and hundreds of hours of hands-on training. Then, we successfully pass a national registration exam.

So, whether you’ve got high cholesterol, a desire to lose weight, a picky eater, or a food allergy, the RDN is your go-to for the right guidance.

I hope this clarifies the difference between a dietitian and nutritionist.

Now, if you want to see what a RDN really eats, check out my Tell-All Tuesday posts for the whole month of March at the JWJ Facebook page (link on the top right of the page).

See you next time!