Posted by forlife | Posted in Nutrition & Education
You may wonder what these titles mean and what the difference is between the two. There are many titles for people who work in the area of nutrition. I have been called dietitian, dietician (both spellings are correct), dietrician (I’m not sure of the spelling for that one – I think it’s similar to electrician), nutritionist, nutritionalist, nutrition and wellness counselor, nutrition expert, dietary specialist and probably many other titles that I’ve forgotten.
So what does it all mean and how can you choose the right person to help you with your nutrition concerns? I’ll try to walk you through the confusion so that you can be an educated consumer. Registration and Licensure can vary from state to state. I will address our situation in Pennsylvania. When I was a student and for several years after I started working in the field, we had registration for dietitians. Registration came from the American Dietetic Association Commission on Registration. In order to become registered you needed to have a degree in nutrition, a BS or higher, complete an approved dietetic internship (about 10 months)and you had to pass an exam. When you had completed all these steps, you could be a registered dietitian. In order to retain that title you had to complete a specific number of hours of continuing education each year. This system was set up to guarantee the public would be able to identify educated and qualified nutrition experts to work in hospitals, communities, laboratories and all other areas. That has not changed and dietitians in Pennsylvania continue to be registered.
Next came licensure in Pennsylvania. In 2003, nutrition professionals in Pennsylvania finally obtained the right to be licensed. Licensure is regulated by the same board that oversees nurses. For anyone who had their Registered Dietitian (RD) title, it was simply a matter of applying for the license. It also gave the opportunity for other nutrition specialists who had education but may not have been able to participate in an internship a chance to have a title that would be widely recognized and accepted. In order to obtain and retain a license, one must meet certain levels of education, experience and pass an exam.
When an individual is registered or licensed, you can be sure they are qualified to help you. If for any reason you are unhappy with the professional that you choose, you can report it to the overseeing board. Individuals who are licensed or registered must answer to the overseeing board and follow strict guidelines laid out by the board.
I am a Registered Dietitian(RD) well as a Licensed Nutritionist (LDN). I also use the title Nutrition and Wellness Counselor. I chose that title because I feel that it describes what I do. I meet with clients for nutritional reasons but I also try to help clients identify what else is going on their life that may be having an effect on their health and nutrition.
RDs and LDNs are certainly not the only ones who would like to be your nutrition specialists. There are many other certificates available through a variety of institutions. There are also many companies that produce nutritional products such as pills, shakes and other products as well as people who sell these types of products as health enhancers.
Who should you turn to for nutrition advice? The choice is yours but here’s are some guidelines. If you have a health issue, your doctor, hospital, or insurance company will send you to someone who is registered or licensed or both. You can look on The American Dietetic Association website to locate a Registered Dietitian near you www.eatright.org.
If you’re considering trying a new supplement, diet aide or other product you’ve seen advertised or heard about, please consult your doctor first. Even natural products can cause unwanted side effects and even death in some cases when used by themselves or in combination with other products or prescribed medications.
Titles are important but look behind the title to find out if someone is qualified to give you nutrition information. Where they were educated, what degree or certificate they received, what kind of experience they have. If they are selling a product, make sure they can tell you about the product’s quality, sources and manufacturing procedures.
