Who Is A Nutrionist?
An expert on food, nutrition, and the effects on health is referred to as a nutritionist. Some people choose to specialize in certain fields, such animal nutrition, public health, or sports nutrition, among others.
The Work Of A Nutritionist
Experts in food and nutrition are nutritionists.They are regarded as experts who provide advice on what to eat in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle and can promote health utilizing nutrition information.
Nutritionists usually have intimate relationships with patients who are dealing with medical conditions, such as diabetics or patients undergoing life-saving treatments.
What Kind Of Schooling Is Required To Work As A Nutrionist?
The minimum educational requirement for nutritionists is typically a bachelor’s degree in nutrition science or a closely related subject of science or health.
Depending on the area of their employment, a nutrition specialist needs to pursue additional certification and accreditation after receiving a bachelor’s degree.
Do I Need A Degree To Work As A Nutritionist?
In South Africa, the term “nutritionist” is not regulated, therefore anyone can use it to describe themselves.
How To Become A Nutritionist In South Africa?
Below are steps to Become A Nutritionist In South Africa
Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree in a Health-Related Field
Many entry-level nutritionists have a bachelor’s degree in health, nutrition or a related field, such as dietetics or food service system management. Undergraduate programs that lend themselves to a career as a nutritionist may include the following:
Food science
Microbiology
Dietetics
Chemistry
Nutrition
Biochemistry
Clinical nutritional care
Anatomy
Community nutrition
Psychology
Biology
Bachelor’s degree programs can typically be completed in four years. During their training, students may also have to complete an internship, either during their undergraduate program or shortly after graduation.
Step 2: Meet Your State’s Licensing and Certification Requirements
Licensure and certification requirements differ across the country. Many states require nutritionists to obtain and update special certifications, while others require completion of exams to prove knowledge and skills. Make sure you research your state’s requirements and procedures before moving forward with training.
The Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and Registered Dietitian (RD) credentials, which are administered by the Commission on Dietetic Registration, meet the requirements for licensing in some states. In order to earn one of these credentials, you need to:
Graduate from an approved and accredited bachelor’s degree program
Complete a supervised practice program
Pass a national examination
Complete continuing education requirements
Nutritionists who have graduated from a master’s or doctoral degree program and have completed 1,000 hours of experience may earn the Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) credential administered by the Certification Board of Nutrition Specialists.
Step 3: Complete an Advanced Program or Degree (Optional)
Some nutritionists decide to continue their education by completing a master’s or doctorate degree program in nutrition. Although advanced degrees are normally not required to work as a nutritionist, they can prepare students to work as educators and researchers in the nutrition field.
A master’s degree program typically takes an additional two years of full-time schooling, and often includes the following courses:
Medical nutrition therapy
Probability or Statistics
Molecular biology
Public policy and health issues
Doctoral programs in nutrition normally require students to take graduate-level courses in nutrition, chemistry and biology, perform fieldwork, and complete a dissertation. The curriculum may include the following coursework:
Advanced nutrition
Research applications
Nutrition assessment methods
Future Prospects for Nutritionists
The South African Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 21 percent rise in work prospects for dietitians. According to the organization, this rise is significantly higher than the overall average for all occupations.
This rise has been attributed to national anxiety over rising obesity rates and diseases like diabetes and heart disease that can be made worse by obesity.Nutritionists are also required to interact with geriatric patients in settings like nursing homes as people live longer. Opportunities for dietitians who focus on locally grown, organic, and non-genetically modified foods have also arisen as a result of trends in eating these types of foods.
