Changing Fields & Becoming a Registered Dietitian

You already have a bachelor's degree and you want to become a counselor in nutrition. You should think about becoming a Registered Dietitian.

To become a Registered Dietitian you need to do four things:

• Complete a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university
• Meet the current academic requirements set by the American Dietetic Association at an accredited dietetics program
• Complete an American Dietetic Association accredited supervised field experience
• Successfully write the Registration Examination for Dietitians

You completed the first of the four requirements by earning a bachelor’s degree. At this point the next thing to do is to find an accredited dietetics program to complete your academic requirements. There are two kinds of programs available: four-year undergraduate programs (didactic programs) and coordinated undergraduate programs. Coordinated programs include the supervised field experience.

Unfortunately, we do not have an accredited didactic program at IUPUI, although some of the required courses are available on this campus. IUPUI offers many of the required science courses and the food service courses. Before enrolling in courses at IUPUI, decide which dietetic education program you will attend. Talk with the advisors at this program and find out which IUPUI courses their program will accept as transfer courses. There is no point in taking a class that will not transfer!!

A complete listing of both four- year programs and coordinated programs in the United States is available at the American Dietetic Association website www.eatright.org. The American Dietetic Association website includes a listing of online dietetic education programs. Dietetic education programs available in Indiana are attached. Please contact these programs directly.

There are several websites that provide information on your current opportunities in dietetics: The U.S. Department of Labor, the American Medical Association Allied Health and the American Dietetic Association.