How To Become a Dietitian
What Is a Dietitian?
A dietitian helps clients lead healthier lifestyles and manage health conditions by guiding them to make good dietary choices. A dietitian’s mission is to empower clients to make healthier dietary choices to help reduce the risk of disease, manage existing disease and improve recovery from surgery or illness. Dietitians are also referred to as registered dietitians (RDs) and registered dietitian nutritionists (RDNs).
Dietitians who use the RD or the RDN credential are the same type of professional. However, nutritionists are not. Depending on the state, a nutritionist might not necessarily have formal training or licensing. All dietitians are both nutritionists and dietitians, trained and credentialed to provide care.(See disclaimer 1)
Number of deaths per year in the U.S. attributed in part to poor nutrition(See disclaimer 2)
What Does a Dietitian Do?
Dietitians help their patients improve their health by assessing nutritional needs, developing individualized meal plans and analyzing lab results and medical histories to create targeted recommendations. They also educate patients on healthy food choices, collaborate with healthcare providers, monitor progress and provide ongoing support to promote sustainable lifestyle changes.
Dietitians play a vital role in supporting patient health through a variety of specialized responsibilities, including:
Assessing
Dietitians assess clients’ nutritional needs and review their health history.
Meal planning
They develop meal plans for clients based on needs and preferences.
Counseling
Dietitians will counsel clients on nutrition and healthy dietary choices.
Collaborating
They can work with other healthcare providers to ensure the meal plan meets the client’s needs.
Monitoring
Dietitians keep track of clients’ progress and adjust the plan as needed.
Outreach
They will develop and implement community programs to educate the public.
What Dietitian Education Requirements and Experience Are Needed?
An aspiring RDN needs a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree. They also need to complete supervised practicum/field experience hours, pass a national exam and meet other licensure requirements in the state in which they would like to practice. Formal education is essential for getting started in this field; after earning their credential, RDNs are expected to complete continuing education to keep their practice up to date.(See disclaimer 3)
Learning how to become a dietitian typically involves the following:
High School Diploma
College Degree
Internships
Professional Certifications
Best Degrees for Dietitians
Although aspiring dietitians can choose from a variety of bachelor’s degrees before pursuing a dietetic master’s degree, the most relevant choice is a bachelor’s in nutritional sciences.(See disclaimer 4) This type of bachelor’s degree can prepare students to pursue a master’s in the field, although those with a bachelor’s degree in another area might take a bridge program to prepare for a nutrition science master’s. At both the baccalaureate and graduate levels, students can expect a blend of didactic coursework and hands-on experiential learning.
Bachelor’s degree programs to meet the dietitian education requirements typically cover topics such as:
Human anatomy and physiology
General and organic chemistry
Nutrition theory
Nutrition therapy for medical conditions
Behavioral sciences
Community nutrition
GCU Recommends These Degree Programs for Prospective Dietitians
2 Matching Degrees
What Skills Does a Dietitian Need?
Registered dietitians work closely with clients. This means they can benefit from having a range of soft skills that facilitate productive interactions. Dietitians also need a solid academic framework of nutritional knowledge, and they need to be able to turn insights from scientific studies into easy-to-understand guidance for their clients.(See disclaimer 5)
What is a dietitian’s most important skill? Some top skills include:(See disclaimer 5)
Nutrition science knowledge
Speaking skills
Analytical reasoning
Compassion
Active listening
Organizational skills
Where Do Dietitians Work?
Registered dietitian nutritionists may work in a variety of settings. They may stay within an office setting or travel to meet clients in different facilities or in private homes.(See disclaimer 4) Job requirements can vary by employer.
Some of the places where a dietitian might work include:(See disclaimer 4,7)
Healthcare facilities
Dietitians often work alongside medical providers in hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities.
Residential care facilities
Some dietitians may decide to focus their practice on providing nutritional guidance to elderly individuals in nursing homes.
Private practice
An entrepreneurial dietitian may decide to establish their own private practice.
Community centers
Dietitians who work in community centers often focus on planning and leading educational programs on nutrition.
Median annual salary for dietitians and nutritionists as of May 2024(See disclaimer 6)
Projected job growth rate for dietitians and nutritionists from 2024 through 2034(See disclaimer 8)
Advancement Opportunities Within Dietetics
Some dietitians may seek professional certifications to specialize in areas like sports nutrition, health coaching or holistic nutrition.(See disclaimer 9 )With sufficient work experience and additional credentials, dietitians may also pursue career progression by directing nutritional services, teaching nutrition science or conducting clinical nutrition research.(See disclaimer 10)
Explore More on Dietitian Careers
If you’re passionate about empowering others to improve their wellness, consider learning more about becoming a registered dietitian.
Take a closer look at the main differences between dietitians and nutritionists as you plan your own career path.
Explore the mission and job responsibilities of a nutritionist, including important skills for this profession.
Explore one health educator’s journey to discover the importance of nutrition and apply it to her own life.
Start your journey toward promoting better health through nutrition. Earn a nutritional science degree at GCU.
- Center for Science in the Public Interest. (n.d.). Why Good Nutrition Is Important. Retrieved February 2026.
- Indeed Editorial Team. (2025, Dec. 10). RD vs. RDN: Here's What You Need To Know. Indeed. Retrieved February 2026.
- EatRight.org. (n.d.). Become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Retrieved February 2026.
- Ghosh, S. (2025, Dec. 10). How To Become a Registered Dietitian in 5 Steps: A Guide. Indeed. Retrieved February 2026.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). How To Become a Dietitian or Nutritionist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved February 2026.
- The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Dietitians and Nutritionists, as of May 2024, retrieved February 2026. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as dietitians and nutritionists, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It is very unlikely that a median salary will reflect an entry-level salary. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2025, Aug. 28). Dietitians and Nutritionists: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved February 2026.
- COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective August 2025, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Dietitians and Nutritionists, retrieved February 2026.
- Indeed Editorial Team. (2025, Dec. 16). How To Become a Nutritionist or Registered Dietitian: Careers in Nutrition. Indeed. Retrieved February 2026.
- Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science. (n.d.). Dietitian. Retrieved February 2026.