{"id":497,"date":"2026-09-03T02:37:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-03T02:37:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/?p=497---96ab52da-9407-42a7-a05c-c45d3344f73a"},"modified":"2026-10-01T15:36:01","modified_gmt":"2026-10-01T15:36:01","slug":"degree-need-become-nutritionist","status":"publish","type":"query","link":"https:\/\/www.degreequery.com\/queries\/degree-need-become-nutritionist\/","title":{"rendered":"What degree do I need to become a Nutritionist?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Are you fascinated with the world of Nutrition? Do you gravitate toward that section at the bookstore or library? Do you know all the new studies out there, like how a picky child can get well over the Recommended Daily Requirement of Vitamin C in just 8 medium strawberries? If you never tire of these findings, you need to study Nutrition!<\/p>\n

Nutritionist vs. Dietitian<\/strong><\/p>\n

Nutritionists and Dietitians are both nutrition and food experts. Dietitians are actually nutritionists with a very specific degree and their background and training promote nutritional guidelines set forth by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics which incidentally gave them their credentials RD or RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.<\/p>\n

A Nutritionist is a little more subjective in his or her scope. Usually a Nutritionist will have a graduate degree (M.S. or Ph.D.) in Nutrition from an accredited school, but not all Nutritionist are Dietitians. So all Dietitians are Nutritionists, but not all Nutritionists are Dietitians. A Nutritionist may obtain the credentials CNS (Certified Nutrition Specialist) from the Certification Board for Nutrition Specialist<\/a>, or a CCN from the Clinical Nutritionist Board, another organization that certifies professionals through testing. According to the Bureau of US Labor Statistics<\/a>, \u201c to qualify for the CNS exam, applicants must have a master\u2019s or doctoral degree, and 1000 hours of experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s important to note that only a Dietitian can use that term Dietitian. A nutritionist has no such protected title. That is because to become a registered Dietitian, one MUST become licensed. Licensure is encouraged for those studying Nutrition but not required as it is for those in the field of Dietetics.<\/p>\n

Education<\/strong><\/p>\n

Like we said above, a graduate degree is most often needed for this field. You should acquire a Master\u2019s level or Ph.d. from an accredited University. Because an internship is not required, an online or distance learning program may be ideal. Many professional in other health professions study nutrition as a complementary addition to their current work i.e.. doctors, chiropractors, or psychologists working with eating disordered clients. Possible Majors:<\/p>\n