Dietitians and nutritionists are experts in food and nutrition, and they advise clients how to eat in order to achieve a desired goal, whether that’s losing weight or managing a chronic condition such as diabetes. Their clients might include low-income people who need to eat right on a budget. A large segment of dietitians and nutritionists are employed by hospitals to provide medical nutrition therapy and support.

Evelyn Crayton, director at Living Well Associates and former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, started down her career path because, as she puts it, "a man who would be considered sexist now" pointed her in the right direction.

Crayton, who attended Grambling State University in the 1960s, excelled in her science classes, and one of her professors wanted to give her some advice. He suggested that, instead of becoming a professor, she should consider home economics because men wanted their women to cook, clean and have children. She wasn’t offended. "This was the ’60s," Crayton laughs. "We hadn’t become liberated women yet."

Nonetheless, she took his advice and visited the university’s Institute Management department, where she excelled in dietitian courses that eventually helped her acquire a coveted internship at St. Louis University. Graduate and doctorate degrees followed, as did a career that included clinical jobs, research and mentoring the next generation of professionals.

Crayton wishes her late mother could see her career trajectory. "People told her I was a cook," she says. "They didn’t really know (what I did as a dietitian and nutritionist)."

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 6.6% employment growth for dietitians and nutritionists between 2022 and 2032. In that period, an estimated 5,200 jobs should open up.

Dietitians and nutritionists are both considered nutrition experts, but dietitians receive additional training and certifications. Here’s how to get started in a nutrition career:

1. Earn your bachelor’s degree. The majority of dietitians and nutritionists have a bachelor’s degree in dietetics, nutrition, food service systems management, clinical nutrition or a related area. Critical coursework includes nutrition, psychology, chemistry and biology.
2. Complete an advanced degree. Many professionals in this field have an advanced degree.
3. Gain internship experience. Dietitians and nutritionists usually undergo hundreds of hours of supervised training through internships and school programs.
4. Obtain your license. Many states require licenses for dietitians and nutritionists to practice, although some only require state registration. Some states have no regulations at all.
5. Become certified. Many dietitians earn the Registered Dietitian Nutritionist credential, which requires candidates to have a bachelor’s degree and complete a dietetic internship program.

Nutritionists may also become Certified Nutrition Specialists, and other certifications are available from the Commission on Dietetic Registration for specialized practices like sports dietetics, oncology nutrition or pediatric nutrition.