Careers in Dietetics

Registered Dietitians (RD) and Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDN) are food and nutrition experts. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics recognizes these two credentials as synonymous. Professionals who have met the criteria outlined below earn the RD/RDN credential.

Registered Dietitians apply the science of nutrition by utilizing nutrition and food knowledge to promote health and/or to treat disease. Registered Dietitians work in a variety of settings including hospitals, health departments or clinics, long-term care facilities, community outreach, government agencies, school food service, corporate wellness programs, food and hospitality industry, pharmaceutical companies, private practice, supermarkets, and research, among other settings.

Most of Auburn’s RD graduates work in hospitals as clinical dietitians or in out-patient clinics, including renal dialysis centers. Others work as nutrition educators in public health settings and corporate wellness programs, as directors of child nutrition programs in schools, and as managers of foodservice systems in healthcare and other settings. A few work in sales, most notably for pharmaceutical and nutrition support companies. Some are self-employed as nutrition consultants to long-term care facilities or in private practice specializing in areas such as eating disorders and obesity management. Dietitians may be found on the staffs of food magazines and in public relations firms. Dietetics is a very flexible career with many emerging employment opportunities.

Pathways to Becoming a Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

1. Earn a minimum of a graduate degree from an accredited dietetics program. Classes vary according to program, but in general, coursework covers subjects that may range from food and nutrition sciences, foodservice systems management, business, economics, computer science, culinary arts, sociology and communication to science courses such as biochemistry, physiology, microbiology, anatomy and chemistry. A master's degree is required to be eligible for the RDN exam. Some accredited programs include a master's degree, while other students complete their undergraduate in dietetics and earn a master's degree in another field (e.g. public health, communications, etc.).
2. Complete a supervised practice requirement. In addition, individuals must complete at least 1,000 hours of supervised practice to gain real-world experience and apply knowledge learned in the classroom to the context of a variety of work settings.
3. Pass a national exam for RDNs. Once you complete your degrees and supervised practice, you may schedule to take CDR's Registration Examination for Registered Dietitians to become a credentialed as registered dietetics nutritionist. This is called "RDN eligibility," meaning you have completed the requirements to become eligible to take the national exam.
4. Meet requirements to practice in your state. Many states have regulatory laws (i.e. licensure) for food and nutrition practitioners. All states accept the RDN credential for state licensure purposes. In the state of Alabama, you must be licensed to practice.
5. Stay up-to-date in dietetics through continuing education. After successfully passing the national exam and earning the credential, RDNs maintain ongoing professional development in order to stay up to date on the latest research, recommendations and best practices.

Advanced Practice Certificatons:

Some RDs hold additional advanced practice certifications in specialized areas of practice such as pediatric or renal nutrition, obesity management, nutrition support, sports nutrition, and diabetes education. These certifications are awarded through the Commission on Dietetic Registration and/or other medical and nutrition organizations. Such specialty certifications are recognized within the profession and may be required only for advanced-level positions

Dietetic Internships and Supervised Practice

Auburn’s Didactic Program in Dietetics (DPD) equips students with the academic foundation required to pursue a career as a Registered Dietitian (RD). Upon earning a Baccalaureate degree and receiving a DPD Verification Statement, graduates must then be accepted into both a master's degree program and an ACEND-accredited supervised practice program as the next steps toward becoming an RD. Supervised practice programs, such as dietetic internships, require a minimum of 1,000 hours of hands-on experience. These programs typically charge tuition and fees, and full-time programs can take between 9 and 24 months to complete, depending on whether graduate coursework is included alongside the practice component.

Students apply for graduate programs and supervised practice programs (e.g., internships) primarily during the Fall semester of the senior year in the DPD. Academic performance is a strong predictor of student success in obtaining a placement. Paid and volunteer work experience in nutrition, dietetics, food service, community settings, or related fields is also valued. Acceptance into dietetic internships and other practice programs is highly competitive.

Auburn University M.S. in Nutrition Non-Thesis Option with Dietetic Internship

Auburn University offers an opportunity for all Auburn DPD students to apply for EARLY ENTRY into its MS-DI Program. Auburn University students are able to complete the MS-DI program in 4-semesters making them eligible to sit for the RD Exam upon completion. Interested Auburn University DPD students should apply to DICAS for the dietetic internship and to the graduate school by October 1 of their senior year for EARLY ENTRY.

Registration Examination for Registered Dietitian/Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

After completing an ACEND accredited supervised practice (e.g., ISPP or dietetic internship), Auburn DPD graduates are eligible to sit for the National Registration Examination. This is a computerized test that graduates must pass in order to receive the RD/RDN credential. Additional information about the Registration Exam can be found at www.cdrnet.org. Registration exam review materials can be purchased through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) (http://www.eatright.org/). Review courses are also available to assist with exam preparation. The Auburn University MS-DI program includes a study course to assist students with RD Exam preparation.