So many people ask what is the difference between a registered dietitian and a nutritionist. A registered dietitian must have a bachelor’s degree, completed a supervised practice program, and then must pass a national examination by the Commission on Dietetic Registration. To keep registration a dietitian must also complete 75 continuing education credits every 5 years. A nutritionist has no real defining factors. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist without any training at all. Scary, isn’t it?!?
To quote the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “All registered dietitians are nutritionists, but not all nutritionists are dietitians”.