You may have heard the terms "registered dietitian" and "nutritionist" used interchangeably. However, there are notable differences between the two titles and their scopes of practice.

By: Libby Pellegrini MMS, PA-C

Medically Reviewed By: Cara Everett, MS, RDN, LDN

Publication Date: January 3rd, 2024

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

If you’ve ever considered talking to a professional about your nutrition and how it impacts your health, you may have looked into dietitians or nutritionists in your area. However, you may not have realized that these nutrition professionals have distinct characteristics—they aren’t actually one and the same. (1) 

For certain situations, you may benefit most from the services of a dietitian. For others, a nutritionist may be qualified to help. Read on to learn everything you need to know about the differences between a registered dietitian and a nutritionist.

Yes. One of the biggest differences between a nutritionist and a registered dietitian is the difference in their education. To summarize: registered dietitians must hold a graduate degree, complete a clinical internship, pass a national credentialing exam, and hold a license in each state where they practice. In contrast, many states do not require nutritionists to have a specific educational background or licensing requirements.

A registered dietitian must earn a graduate degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics (ACEND). 

 Only certain programs meet the requirements set forth by ACEND, and dietitians must have exposure to courses like anatomy, biochemistry, and life cycle nutrition. An ACEND-accredited dietetic internship is also required, and dietitians must pass the national Commission on Dietetic Registration (CDR) exam to obtain registration to practice. After fulfilling these requirements, a registered dietitian will earn the Registered Dietitian (RD) or Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) credential. 

To be clear: RD and RDN are both terms for registered dietitians. A nutritionist isn’t the same as a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN).

To maintain their registration, RDs and RDNs must complete a minimum of 75 continuing education hours every five years. 

A nutritionist is a broader term that refers to professionals who may come from a variety of different educational backgrounds. Unlike dietitians, nutritionists are not required to complete an internship, pass a national exam, or hold a state license to practice.

Often, they will have an educational background informed by similar coursework as a dietitian, but it is not mandated. Use of the term nutritionist is also not regulated by any governing body as the term dietitian is. 

Nutritionists can earn advanced credentials, such as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS), which is conferred by the Board of Certification for Nutrition Specialists (BCNS). A CNS title distinguishes a nutritionist as having a health-related degree (Master’s or above) and applicable experience as well as having passed a certification exam. However, this is not necessary for all nutritionists.

If you’re unsure about whether to use the services of a nutritionist or a registered dietitian, it helps to compare the two.

• Standardization: Working with a dietitian ensures you have absolute confidence in your provider’s professional journey, credentials, and educational background.
  
  
• Care in a medical setting: If you need care for a medical condition, a life stage such as pregnancy, or special dietary needs, you’re most likely to work with registered dietitians because of their medical expertise. At SNP Therapeutics, for example, a team of registered dietitians provides personalized nutritional counseling based on genetic insights from the Genate Test.

• Cost: When it comes to a dietitian vs. nutritionist salary, dietitians tend to be compensated at a higher rate. This means your costs as a client could be higher, too. However, services from registered dietitians may be completely or partially covered by health insurance, such as Medicaid or Medicare. (2)

• Broader scope: If you’re looking for someone to implement a nutrition program for your company, nutritionists may be a good choice. For example, their diverse educational backgrounds might include business or marketing skills.
  
  
• Cost: Working with a nutritionist for a specific health goal (like building muscle at the gym) may not be as costly as working with a registered dietitian.

• Less medical expertise: Nutritionists may not be experienced or even legally able to address a nutrition concern related to a medical condition, because this is not part of their training.

When choosing between a registered dietitian and a nutritionist, evaluating your goals in seeking care is important. For example, if you would like someone to evaluate your eating patterns because you’d like to eat ”cleaner”, you could consult either a dietitian or a nutritionist. 

However, if you're pregnant, have just been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, and need to have someone evaluate your diet and create a nutrition plan to keep your blood sugar under control, you need to see a registered dietitian. Whether you’re looking for advice about first-trimester diets or food allergies, a registered dietician is the medical professional you should turn to first.

Another important consideration is cost. Seeing a registered dietitian for medical issues is often covered by insurance, but consultations with a nutritionist are not.

Yes, registered dietitians must earn continuing education credits to maintain their status. Continuing education ensures they stay updated on the latest research, trends, and advancements in the field of nutrition and dietetics. 

Many RDNs attend workshops, seminars, and conferences and pursue additional certifications or training to enhance their skills and knowledge.

The differences between nutritionists and dietitians could impact which professional you select. Registered dietitian vs. nutritionist care may also depend on your individual scenario. If you have specialized dietary needs or a medical condition, it's best to consult a registered dietitian for nutrition care.

Having full confidence in your care team can give you peace of mind and help you make the best choices possible for your health.

At Genate, our team of registered dietitians specializes in supporting expecting moms with genetic nutrition counseling. To learn more about optimizing your nutrition during pregnancy, check out the Precision-Nutrition Package from SNP Therapeutics.

Libby Pellegrini, MMS, PA-C, is a professionally trained journalist and physician assistant. She has worked in numerous healthcare settings, including the rural United States, an inner-city Level I trauma center, and several suburban acute care centers. It was during her time at a functional medicine clinic in Southeast Asia that she developed an interest in the role of SNPs in personalized genetic evaluation and discovered how gene-guided nutritional counseling can enhance individual health outcomes.

Libby graduated Magna Cum Laude from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, and her medical writing has appeared in a number of outlets, including WebMD, RxSaver, KevinMD, NPHIC, and Men’s Health.

Website: https://libbypellegrini.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/libby-pellegrini-pa-c/

1. Registered dietitian vs nutritionist – unraveling what’s the difference. NutritionEd.org. https://www.nutritioned.org/dietitian-vs-nutritionist/. Accessed September 24, 2023.
   
   
2. Medical nutrition therapy services. Medicare.gov. https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/medical-nutrition-therapy-services Accessed October 15, 2023.