... Thanks for clarifying the differences between a nutritionist and an RD and what they both do...this is so helpful!!

... A great question and a thorough answer. Very helpful information. Thanks much!

... Hello,
I am glad that you mentioned more than just the Nutritionist title in your article, but I am afraid your description of the requirements for becoming a Certified Nutrition Specialist are wrong. I am currently in the process of becoming a Certified Nutrition Specialist and this requires me not only getting my bachelor's degree, but also my masters or doctorate. I also either have to do 500 or 1000 hours of supervised internship in the field of nutrition before I sit for the national exam that is required. Continued education is also required. So as you can see, becoming a CNS is actually more involved than becoming a RD. The reason I have chosen to become a CNS over a RD is that the education involved is much more all encompassing and cutting edge. Think raw-foodist research vs. the food pyramid. It is comparable to the difference between becoming a naturpathic doctor vs. a MD. You can read the exact requirements for the CNS license below. Thank you for providing this forum.
Heidi Akers



CERTIFICATION PROCESS



ELIGIBILITY


Certification as a Certified Nutrition Specialist (CNS) requires an advanced degree, professional experience, and a passing score on the CBNS certifying examination. Authorization to sit for the examination requires the following documentation:

1) An advanced degree, masters or doctoral level from a regionally accredited institution in the field of nutrition, or a field allied to nutrition and relevant to the practice of nutrition. Advanced degrees earned from regionally accredited United States institutions or from equivalent institutions outside the United States will also be considered by the CBNS on an individual basis.

2) For qualified professionals in licensed categories, including but not limited to, holders of MD, DO, DC, DDS, DPM, OD, PharmD, DPT, PA and ND, a requirement of, in addition to documentation of graduation, 50 hours of documented continuing education in nutrition, or 10 written detailed case studies are required prior to taking the examination. The case studies should be structured so as to include a standard medical and a focused nutrition history, nutrition assessment including anthropometry, identification of nutrition concerns, the plan of management, and the outcome of the intervention is required.

3) Master’s, Ph.D. and D.Sc. degree applicants are eligible to take the examination with or without post-graduate professional experience. Master’s degree applicants who pass the examination but are without the required professional experience, are required to complete a 1000 hour post-graduate supervised experience in nutrition. Similarly, Ph.D. and D.Sc. applicants must complete a 500 hour post-graduate professional experience in nutrition, which may include nutrition research. Upon completion of the required professional experience, the applicant will be granted the CNS credential. Master’s, Ph.D. and D.Sc. degree applicants, having fulfilled the professional experience requirement prior to the examination, will be granted the CNS credential upon passing the examination. The experience component may not include work for which graduate credits were awarded while matriculated in a full or part-time program of the degree-conferring graduate study being cited to satisfy the educational requirement noted above. The Credentials Committee of the CBNS will evaluate the applicability of unusual experience in individual cases.

4) Successful candidates for CNS certification are urged to become members/fellows of the American College of Nutrition (ACN). Membership fees will be processed at a 50% reduction for the first year following CNS certification. All benefits of membership, including a subscription to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, will accrue.

... Thank you for your input Heidi! We completely respect all people studying in this fabulous field of nutrition. We make sure to provide websites so our readers can find out more information if they are interested in any topic we discuss, in this case, CNS certification.

-Your friends at Skinny

... Thank you for this! I'm currently working on completing my dietetic internship to become an RD, and we were just talking about this and how frustrating it is that people use the terms interchangeably! Hopefully the word continues to spread!

... Thank you all for the information regarding the requirements and differences in terms of this professional field. I have been an independent study of food and nutrition and now I wish to become a certified professional. I would like information on schools that provide these degrees and on-line classes as I live in the mountains of Oregon.

Joyfully, Jacquelyn

... Check out this website for requirements prior to a dietetic internship and accredited programs in your area: http://www.eatright.org/cps/rd...CADE.html.

... Heidi,

Dietitians do not study the Food Pyramid. The Food Pyramid is a teaching tool for the average person. Dietitians must study anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, organic chemistry, food science, etc. A large number of R.D.'s also have advanced degress including MPH, MS, PhD, MBA, MEd, etc.

... there is also something called a cfns, certified fitness nutrition specialist, which is a certification program that was created by lucho crisalle who is a long time Registered Dietitian, This program is accredited, and is much more than a piece of paper, I am almost certified through his program, and I can create specified meal plans for healthy people who are trying to lose weight, or atheletes who are trying to improve. Much cheaper than a degree, but the certification program is no joke. I alone have dropped my body fat percentage in a healthy manner by %5 in only a month an a half.